Mia Patel
Chipotle Mexican Grill has expanded its menu by introducing Chicken al Pastor, a new protein option that adds a sophisticated flavour profile and elevated taste to its customers' go-to orders. Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor is made with spicy adobo chicken, a marinade with seared morita peppers and ground achiote, pineapple, fresh lime, and hand-chopped cilantro. The chicken is juicy and aromatic with slightly smoky notes and a hint of fruitiness. It is available at all 3,200+ company-owned Chipotle restaurants worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, and Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | March 14, 2023 |
| Availability | For a limited time |
| Preparation | Made in small batches throughout the day |
| Chicken | Humanely and Responsibly Raised® |
| Marinade | Adobo, Morita peppers, ground achiote, pineapple juice, lime juice, onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, salt, pepper, olive oil |
| Type of Dish | Burritos, burrito bowls, salads, quesadillas, and tacos |
| Delivery Fee | $0 |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken al Pastor's ingredients and recipe
Chicken al Pastor is a Mexican-inspired dish where chicken is marinated in a blend of chilli peppers, pineapple, achiote, and spices, then cooked until caramelised and juicy. The key ingredients in Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor are spicy adobo chicken, a marinade with seared morita peppers and ground achiote, pineapple, fresh lime, and hand-chopped cilantro.
To make the marinade, blend pineapple juice, vinegar, lime juice, onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and guajillo powder until smooth. You can also add orange juice and brown sugar for a nice sweetness in the marinade, creating crispy, caramelised edges as the chicken cooks.
Next, pour the marinade over the chicken thighs in a large shallow dish or ziplock bag. Cover the bowl or seal the bag and transfer the chicken to the fridge. Leave to marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to four hours. If chilled, bring the chicken to room temperature before cooking.
To cook, heat some oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add a few spoonfuls of the marinade to the skillet, followed by the chicken thighs. Sear on both sides until charred, then add the pineapple and excess sauce. Toss everything together, then serve.
Chicken al Pastor can be served in tacos, quesadillas, burritos, burrito bowls, nachos, and more.
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Customer feedback and popularity
Customer feedback for Chipotle's new Chicken Al Pastor has been mixed. While some customers have expressed disappointment with the taste and authenticity of the dish, others have praised its flavour and tenderness.
Some customers have criticised the dish for not tasting authentic enough. One customer on Reddit who lived in Mexico for six years described it as a "disgrace", while another compared it to "chicken chorizo". Another customer pointed out that traditional Al Pastor is made with spit-roasted pork, not grilled chicken, and that Chipotle's version is therefore not a true Al Pastor.
However, other customers have enjoyed the dish, describing it as "tasty" and "delicious". One customer who tried the Chicken Al Pastor in a taco in Denver noted that the chicken was "juicy" and "tender", with a "subtle" marinade that was "slightly smoky" with a hint of fruitiness. Another customer who tried the dish in a burrito bowl and fajita quesadilla found it to be flavourful and delicious, especially in the quesadilla.
The new menu item has also been well-received in terms of its popularity and accessibility. Chicken Al Pastor was first tested in Denver and Indianapolis, where it received strong feedback, leading to its global launch in over 3,200 Chipotle restaurants worldwide. To celebrate its launch, Chipotle offered free delivery through the Chipotle app and website for a limited time.
Chicken Al Pastor has also sparked conversations around portion sizes and pricing. Some customers have noted that they received larger portions of the dish, possibly due to the sauce making the chicken pieces stick together. Others have commented on the higher menu prices for delivery and additional service fees.
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Availability and pricing
Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor was first added to the menu in March 2023, marking the company's first global menu innovation. It was launched simultaneously in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, and Germany. The new menu item was initially available for a limited time, but due to its popularity, Chipotle brought it back in March 2024.
Chicken al Pastor is available at all 3,200+ company-owned Chipotle restaurants worldwide. In the U.S., Canada, and Europe, it joins Chipotle's menu of customizable burritos, burrito bowls, salads, quesadillas, and tacos.
Chicken al Pastor is prepared in small batches throughout the day and made with humanely and responsibly raised chicken. The key ingredients in the marinade are adobo, morita peppers, and ground achiote, with a splash of pineapple and fresh lime.
To celebrate the menu item's launch and return, Chipotle offered a \$0/£0/€0 delivery fee promotion on all Chicken al Pastor orders placed through the Chipotle app, Chipotle.com, and Chipotle.ca. In the U.K., the promotion was valid on Uber Eats orders of at least £15, and in France, it was offered via Deliveroo. These promotions were available for a limited time, from March 14 through March 24 or 28, 2024.
There is no information on whether Chicken al Pastor will become a permanent menu item at Chipotle, but it seems to be available for a limited time only.
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Comparison to traditional al pastor
Traditional al pastor is a Mexican dish that is typically made with boneless pork and is often served as a taco. The name 'al pastor' translates to 'shepherd-style' in English. The dish is usually cooked on a trompo, which is a vertical rotisserie, and is seasoned with a variety of spices and chillies.
Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor is made with chicken thigh meat instead of pork. The chicken is grilled and chopped into chunks, which are then marinated in a blend of spices and chillies, including Chipotle's signature adobo, morita peppers, and ground achiote. Pineapple juice and fresh lime are added to the marinade to give it a tangy and fruity flavour. The chicken is then cooked on a grill, adding a slightly smoky flavour to the dish.
The use of chicken instead of pork and the absence of a trompo mean that Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor is not a traditional preparation of the dish. However, the marinade used by Chipotle incorporates many of the same spices and chillies that are typically used in traditional al pastor, giving the dish an authentic flavour profile. The addition of pineapple and lime gives the dish a unique, tangy twist that sets it apart from the traditional version.
The Chicken al Pastor has been well-received by customers, with many praising the tenderness and bold flavour of the dish. Some have noted that the marinade is subtle, with a slight smokiness and a hint of fruitiness from the pineapple. The dish has a gentle heat that lingers after the first bite, leaving a tingling sensation on the lips and tongue.
Those who have tried both the traditional and Chipotle versions of al pastor have noted that the Chipotle version offers a unique take on the dish that is tasty and satisfying. The chicken is considered a good substitute for pork, and the dish as a whole is seen as a successful innovation on the traditional Mexican favourite.
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Homemade alternatives
Chicken al pastor is a Mexican-inspired dish featuring chicken marinated in a blend of chilli peppers, pineapple, achiote, and spices. It is then cooked until caramelised and juicy. The key ingredients in Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor are spicy adobo chicken, a marinade with seared morita peppers and ground achiote, pineapple, fresh lime, and hand-chopped cilantro.
Ingredients
- Skinless and boneless chicken thigh fillets
- Pineapple juice and pineapple chunks
- White vinegar
- Lime juice
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Oregano
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Pepper
- Achiote paste
- Guajillo chilli powder
- Olive oil
Method
- Slice the chicken thigh fillets into four pieces and place them in a bowl.
- In a high-speed blender or food processor, add the pineapple juice, white vinegar, lime juice, onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, salt, pepper, achiote paste, and guajillo chilli powder. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken thigh pieces and mix well.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes or up to four hours.
- If the chicken was chilled, bring it to room temperature before cooking.
- Add olive oil to a non-stick skillet and place it over medium heat.
- Once hot, add a few spoonfuls of the marinade, then add the chicken thigh pieces.
- Grill each side for about 7 minutes or until charred.
- You can also bake the chicken in an oven. Place the marinated chicken on a baking sheet and add pineapple chunks, stirring to coat them in the marinade.
- Bake for about 15-18 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Finish by broiling to create crispy, caramelised bits.
You can serve the chicken al pastor in tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, salads, or any other dish of your choice. Enjoy!
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken al Pastor is a new protein option at Chipotle, featuring the savoury, satisfying flavour of adobo, morita peppers, and ground achiote with a splash of pineapple and fresh lime.
The key ingredients in Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor are spicy adobo chicken, a marinade with seared morita peppers and ground achiote, pineapple, fresh lime, and hand-chopped cilantro.
No, Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor is only available for a limited time.
You can order Chipotle's Chicken al Pastor through the Chipotle app, Chipotle.com, or Chipotle.ca. It is also available for delivery through Uber Eats in the U.K. and Deliveroo in France.
