Chipotle Chicken Marinade

Craving Chipotle chicken? This copycat recipe brings all those delicious flavors right to your table thanks to a simple Chipotle-style chicken marinade.

4-Hour Chipotle Chicken Marinade

My kids love going to Chipotle, and let's be honest, I get the appeal. There's something about that smoky, flavor-packed chicken that's totally crave-worthy. I created this marinade to bring those same vibes home, and now it's a staple as a main protein or to make Chipotle bowls at home.

The flavor is bold but balanced, and it works perfectly with chicken thighs or breasts. Grill it, slice it, and load it into tacos, bowls, or salads. This chicken disappears fast.

Ingredients 

The main ingredient of this chicken marinade is the adobo sauce from the can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. You’ll mix it with oil and simple seasonings, including chili powder, cumin, and oregano, to infuse the chicken with tons of flavor. I prefer Mexican oregano since it’s more intense, but regular oregano also works.

How to Make Chipotle Marinade for Chicken 

This marinade is as simple as placing all the ingredients in the blender and blending until you have a thick paste. Toss the chicken with the chipotle marinade in a zip bag or an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight. That’s it!

Way to Cook Chipotle Marinated Chicken

This Chipotle chicken can be cooked as you prefer. My go-to methods are pan-searing on the stove when I need the chicken to be cooked quickly, grilling it, or baking it in the oven for extra deliciousness.

Once your chicken is done, it’s time to enjoy! Add some delicious chicken side dishes, serve yourself a classic Margarita, and devour this better-than-Chipotle homemade dinner!

Chipotle Chicken Marinade

Servings: 4 -6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Marinate: 4 hours hrs

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Make this simple chicken marinade to enjoy Chipotle chicken at home that's super tasty and more budget-friendly!

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Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 4 cloves garlic
• ¼ cup adobo sauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, Mexican oregano if you have it
• 1 tablespoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup water
• 2 lbs chicken breasts, or thighs

Instructions

Make the marinade:

• Place all the marinade ingredients inside a blender and blend until smooth. It should be thick, paste-like.

Marinate the chicken:

• Place the chicken breasts inside a zip bag or air-tight container. Add the marinade and toss to combine. Seal the bag or container.
• Refrigerate the chicken and marinade for 4 hours or overnight.

Cook:

• Pan sear the chicken or grill it, discarding the marinade.

Equipment

Marinade Bags

marinade tray

Nutrition

Serving: 1 chicken breast | Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 3431mg | Potassium: 648mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 678IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg