How Much Protein is in a Chipotle Chicken Bowl?

A lot of people like going to Chipotle for a quick, customizable meal. Chipotle lets you make your own burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and more, so you can make any combination you like.

But for people who are watching how much protein they eat, one important question is how much protein is in a Chipotle chicken bowl?

This is something I recently wondered myself. As someone who aims for high protein in my diet, I rely on Chipotle as an easy high protein meal option when I’m pressed for time. But I wanted to dig deeper into the actual protein amounts to make sure I’m getting as much as I think.

In this article, we’ll break down the protein sources in a Chipotle chicken bowl and look at how you can calculate your protein with each customized order.

The Different Protein Sources in a Chicken Bowl

The main protein contributor is obviously the chicken itself. But other ingredients add a decent protein punch too. Here’s an overview:

• Chicken: A standard 4 oz serving of Chipotle chicken packs about 32 grams of protein. This fresh, grilled chicken is the star of the show in terms of protein.

• Beans: Black beans and pinto beans each provide around 6-7 grams of protein per serving.

• Rice: Brown rice has roughly 5 grams of protein per serving, while white rice has about 4 grams.

• Salsa: Salsas contain trace amounts of protein from ingredients like onions and peppers.

So in a basic chicken bowl with rice, beans, salsa, and chicken, you’re looking at 43-45 grams of protein at a minimum. But amounts can range higher depending on portions and customizations.

Factors That Affect Your Protein Total

Some key factors that affect your bowl’s final protein count include:

• Portion sizes: Asking for “extra” chicken or a lighter scoop of beans significantly changes amounts.

• Ingredients: Swapping rice for fajita veggies cuts carbs but also protein slightly.

• Add-ons: Guacamole and sour cream add fat but not much protein.

As you can see, your specific order significantly impacts totals. That’s why it’s so important to get the protein count right for your bowl.

How to Calculate Protein in Your Bowl

Figuring out exact protein amounts takes a little work, but Chipotle provides two helpful resources:

1. Online nutrition calculator – This allows you to build your bowl virtually and see the nutrition details. It’s accurate for standard servings.

2. Published nutrition info – This lists protein amounts for individual ingredients. Useful for manual calculation.

I recommend using the online calculator for a customized bowl. But you can also add up protein manually using the published figures as a guide.

Just note that actual in-restaurant portions may vary slightly. The online calculator provides estimates based on average portion sizes.

Answering Your FAQs on Chipotle Protein

I know you probably still have questions about the protein situation at Chipotle. Let me answer some common FAQs:

Is Chipotle chicken a complete protein?

Yes! Chicken contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source.

How does steak compare to chicken in protein?

Steak has slightly more at 33 grams protein per serving versus chicken’s 32 grams.

Can you build a vegetarian Chipotle bowl with lots of protein?

Absolutely. Aim for sofritas (tofu), beans, rice, and fajita veggies. Sofritas has about 24g protein per serving.

How much protein is in a double chicken serving?

A double chicken serving (about 8 oz) contains roughly 64 grams of protein.

Do guacamole and sour cream have protein?

No – they have minimal protein, less than 1 gram per serving.

Which beans have more protein: black or pinto?

Very similar. They both have around 6-7 grams protein per serving.

How accurate are Chipotle’s nutrition figures?

Very accurate for averages, but portions may vary slightly from the stated amounts.

Putting It All Together

As you can see, Chipotle chicken bowls can be a tremendous source of protein, ranging from 40 grams up to 80 grams depending on your choices.

My advice is to use the online nutrition calculator before ordering. This gives you the best sense of your protein amounts.

And as always, feel free to customize your bowl to hit your personal protein goals. That’s the beauty of Chipotle – you’re in control!