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chipotle chicken with rice, guacamole, and pico de Gallo in a bowl
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Copycat Chipotle Chicken Recipe with White Meat

Bite-sized white meat chicken is marinated in a thick marinade from chipotles in adobo, garlic and Mexican spices. The chicken is cooked in a hot skillet until golden brown and served just like Chipotle.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Marinade Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chipotle
Servings: 6
Calories: 231kcal
Author: Alexis Leonhardt

Equipment

  • 1 smoothie blender
  • 1 12" Cast Iron Skillet
  • 1 Tongs

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Chicken Tenders cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 Chipotle peppers
  • 2 Garlic Cloves
  • ¼ cup Fresh Orange juice optional
  • 2 tablespoon Fresh Lime juice
  • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Ancho Chile Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon Water as needed to thin

Instructions

Make the Marinade

  • Combine the chipotle peppers, garlic cloves , orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a smoothie blender. Blend until smooth, adding water 1 tablespoon at a time if it's too thick to pour.
  • Place the chicken tender pieces in a bowl or zip-top bag and pour the marinade over them, making sure every piece is coated.
  • Let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight in the fridge for deeper flavor.

Cook the Chicken

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add a drizzle of olive oil to your hot pan.
  • Add the chicken in batches to the pan and avoid crowding. Sear the chicken for 5–6 minutes per side, until charred in spots develop and cook through to an internal temperature of 165F.
  • Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes while you assemble the rest of your dinner ingredients.

Notes

For less heat and a milder marinade, only 1-2 chipotle peppers or just 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce. 
For more heat and a spicier marinade, add 3 or more chipotle peppers.
This is a freezer-friendly marinade. Add marinated chicken to a vacuum-seal bag and freeze for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 572mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg