Chipotle Vinaigrette (Copycat)

Make a batch of this chipotle vinaigrette and look forward to your salads all week! It's sweet from the honey, smoky from the chipotles in adobo, and tastes just like the dressing at Chipotle.

If you're wondering "does Chipotle sell their vinaigrette?", sadly the answer is no, but luckily we've got this copycat recipe that's just as good, maybe better!

I am obsessed with Chipotle's Honey Vinaigrette dressing. I'm guessing you're a fan of Chipotle mexican grill too since you landed here! I always order a salad and the dressing is my favorite part.

I was craving the dressing when we made BBQ chicken salads and I wanted to make my homemade vinaigrette. The smoky flavors from and the sweetness from the honey makes the most delicious sauce to top salads or burrito bowls.

Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

Although the calories in the Chipotle vinaigrette are somewhat high, it's made of pretty quality ingredients. I love making it at home because you can control the ingredients and amounts. Chipotle's version is made with rice bran oil and a good amount of honey, but this recipe is made with olive oil and less honey to make it healthier.

Ingredient Notes

Here's a list of what Chipotle uses in their restaurant version, as well as our copycat chipotle vinaigrette.  Most are pantry staples and easy (and affordable) to find at the grocery store. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.

• Olive oil: I like to use light olive oil or a good quality EVOO in dressings because they're the base and you can really taste them. Avocado oil is also really light and great quality.
• Red wine vinegar: this is what Chipotle uses in their recipe and it is full of acid so it balances out the oil really well and gives the dressing a tang. You could use apple cider vinegar wf you have that on hand.
• Honey: it's in the name of the recipe after all! This gives the dressing sweetness but could be swapped for maple syrup, agave or omitted for a whole30 option.
• Chipotle in adobo sauce: these chipotle peppers come in the can and add so much spice and smoky flavor. Add more chipotle chiles if you want a deeper flavor.
• Garlic: fresh garlic is best but you could also use garlic powder.
• Lime juice: this also adds acid, but also gives it a real Mexican flavor.
• Spices: oregano, cumin, salt and pepper combine round out the flavor and spice. They really add so much to this dressing!

What to do with leftover chipotle's in adobo: make these Instant Pot chicken tinga tacos!

Watch How to Make It

FAQs

• Salads: Pour it over your favorite salads like this roasted sweet potato and kale salad, kale and goat cheese salad, BBQ chicken salad, simple green salad, or the classic taco salad.
• Raosted vegetables: Drizzle the dressing over roasted sweet potatoes or other veggies.
• Toss it in a burrito bowl: make your own homemade chipotle with rice, chicken, black beans, guacamole, cheese or drizzle it over our fiesta lime shrimp bowls.
• Use it as a marinade for meat/seafood like in this cilantro lime chicken or fiesta lime shrimp bowls. Learn how to marinate chicken and thank us later!
• Toss it with pasta salad or veggie salads like this cucumber tomato avocado salad or Mexican street corn pasta salad.

Ways to Use Chipotle Vinaigrette

• Salads: Pour it over your favorite salads like this roasted sweet potato and kale salad, kale and goat cheese salad, BBQ chicken salad, simple green salad, or the classic taco salad.
• Roasted vegetables: Drizzle the dressing over roasted sweet potatoes or other veggies.
• Toss it in a burrito bowl: make your own homemade chipotle with rice, chicken, black beans, guacamole, cheese or drizzle it over our fiesta lime shrimp bowls.
• Use it as a marinade for meat/seafood like in this cilantro lime chicken or fiesta lime shrimp bowls. Learn how to marinate chicken and thank us later!
• Toss it with pasta salad or veggie salads like this cucumber tomato avocado salad or Mexican street corn pasta salad.

If you make this chipotle honey vinaigrette recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!

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Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

Make a batch of this chipotle honey vinaigrette and look forward to your salads all week! It's sweet from the honey, smoky from the chipotles in adobo, and tastes just like the dressing at Chipotle.

4.67 from 15 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 7 (1-2 ounces per serving)

Calories: 210kcal

Author: Molly Thompson

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Ingredients

• ⅔ cup olive oil (or avocado oil/vegetable oil - see note 1)
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 chipotle in adobo + 1 teaspoon of the sauce (more or less to desired spice level)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons lime juice (about ½ large lime)
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Recommended Equipment

• High speed blender or food processor

Instructions

• Add all of the dressing ingredients to a high speed blender or food processor and blend on high for 1-2 minutes until it's completely combined and the chipotles are broken down.
• Taste test the dressing and add more spices if needed. You can add another chipotle in adobo if you want a deeper, smoky, spicy flavor. Blend again if needed.
• Serve over your favorite salad or store in a mason jar in the fridge for later.

Notes

Oil: Chipotle uses rice bran oil in their recipe. We chose to use olive oil or avocado oil for added flavor and nutritional reasons, but rice bran, canola oil or vegetable oil will work too.

Chipotle in Adobo: we're only using a few in this recipe, so use the rest to make sheet pan shrimp fajitas, white bean vegetarian chili, Instant Pot chicken tinga, or spicy chicken chipotle pasta. You can also flash freeze them on a sheet pan and then store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Storage: Store leftover dressing in an airtight container for 7-9 days. A wide-mouth mason jar with a lid is one of our favorite ways to store dressings and marinades. These chipotle peppers have a strong pigment so choose a container that won't stain. This is why we love a glass container!

Nutrition

Serving: 2ounces | Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.9g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 21.4g | Sodium: 1.5mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 5.1g

Did you make this recipe?Mention @What_MollyMade or tag #whatmollymade!