I have been eating Chipotle for decades! I basically grew up with Chipotle. It was inexpensive and the ability to get FREE add-ons was most appealing for a broke college student.
And if you’re anything like me (a person who once ate Chipotle 2-3 times a week), you’re going to love these hacks to help you get more Chipotle for your hard earned $$$.
#1 ALWAYS get a Chipotle Bowl
A Chipotle bowl gives you the best bang for your buck!
With a burrito or taco, you have constraints based on what you can fit between and within the tortilla. With a bowl, the possibilities are (almost) endless.
I love Chipotle bowls because you can continue to build up until it’s time to pay.
Pro Tip: Can’t finish your mountain of Chipotle? Dine in and ask for a lid on the side so that you can pack it up for tomorrow’s lunch.
#2 Ask for 1/2 and 1/2 Meat
One of the ways to get more meat in your bowl is to divvy up your proteins. I typically order chicken and then ask for half and then another half scoop of another protein of the same or lesser value.
You’re guaranteed to get more protein doing it this way (4 oz versus 5.5 oz).
Also, while I love the cubed meat texture, you can typically get more (weightwise) if you opt for their shredded meats like the barbacoa (beef) or carnitas (pork).
#3 Go for One of EVERYTHING
The trick is to focus on no-cost modifications when assembling your bowl!
This means, that EVERYTHING (except protein or guac) you add into your bowl, you can double up on. That is one of the reasons why we LOVE Chipotle!
#4 Double Up (When Possible)
Here is how to discreetly double up on your bowls. Wait for them to add one scoop of your add on and then ask for another scoop. Again, only go for no-cost add ons which is pretty much everything but protein, guac, and tortillas.
Try not to say the words “extra” or “double up on” because this could potentially get you into a situation where you’re paying for extra sides. OOF!
#5 Dine In WHEN POSSIBLE (NEVER ORDER ONLINE)
You almost always get less ordering online or for pick up than if you prepared your meal in person.
When ordering in person, you can continue to request extra no-cost ingredients.
#6 The Single Taco Hack DOESN’T WORK ANYMORE
Trust me, I tried it in July 2024.
While you can still buy a single taco online or via their App, Chipotle has limited your modifications to only a maximum of three. Boo hiss argh!
And if you try to add your taco into a bowl and continue to add on more ingredients, they will charge you for A BOWL, not a single taco.
#7 Order Taco Shells instead of Chips
Over the years, the price of chips and salsa has soared!
Chips (depending on where you live) can range from $2.75 to $7! And Chipotle now charges for sides of tortillas.
Here is a cost saving alternative! You can buy a tortilla (soft or hard shells) on the side for only 50 cents! We like to buy side of hard shell tortillas to eat with our bowls. It gives my otherwise mushy bowl a satisfying crunchy mouthfeel.
And if you’re wondering…tortillas USED to be free!
#8 Load Up on Kid’s Meals
Here is one REALLY good hack!
If you want a filling meal for one (without leftovers) order a kids taco meal (option for hard or soft shell) and ADD ON no cost modifications.
They can’t charge you for a full-size bowl if you’re not getting a bowl. Just know that you’re piling up no-cost add-ons on the kid’s tray, which has plenty of space for an adult-sized meal.
#9 Four Ways to Score Free Guac
Yes, you can get free guacamole!
Here are the ways:
- Order a veggie burrito, bowl, or tacos. They come with veggies and guac!
- Sign up for their rewards program for some free guac!
- Get FREE guacamole and chips for your birthday. Purchase of an entree is required AND you’ll need to use their app to redeem.
- Or go in during busy hours and be super friendly to the workers. Distract the employees as they add items to your bowl, and hope they forget!
#10 Take Advantage of Chipotle Gift Card Promos
Chipotle often offers a “buy a $30 gift card, get a free burrito” deal around Valentine’s Day, Christmas, etc.
I love buying gift cards to get a free entree and then immediately loading my gift cards into my Chipotle App for future purchases.
Sign up for their e-mails to get in the know!
#11 JOIN the Chipotle Rewards program!
The program is available via their handy dandy app! You can easily rack up points for eating at Chipotle.
You earn 10 points for every dollar spent. The point redemption for a burrito is 1640 points, and when that happens, you can go ham on what you want to add to your bowl.
Extra guacamole, meat, all the FOR PURCHASE extras puh-leeze.
#13 Look for FREE Burrito Deals
Sometimes Chipotle is nice and offers free or discounted food. But this doesn’t come often and not without some hurdles.
Back in the day, Chipotle offered a great BOGO deal during Halloween (they called it BOORITO). You had to go in person, the lines were long, and you had to wear a costume. I was a broke college student then and your girl will do anything for FREE Chipotle.
In 2023, they brought back BOORITO and offered entrees for only $6 but you had to place the order online via their app and a coupon code. But this time no costumes were required and you could go in and grab your meal from their pickup orders racks.
They also offered free Chipotle to healthcare workers. The caveat was that you had to sign up and prove you worked in the healthcare industry AND they had a limit. (Source: https://healthcare.chipotle.com/)
SAVE these important dates! Because who doesn’t love free add-ons?
- First Thursday of April – National Burrito Day
- May – National Salsa Month
- June 4 – National Cheese Day
- July 31 – National Avocado Day! Chipotle gives out FREE guacamole with your orders.
- October 4 – National Taco Day
Ready to Try Out These Chipotle Hacks?
Chipotle is affordable, but here’s to making it even more affordable. Try out our hacks and let us know what you think!
We’ll continuously try to update this post as Chipotle makes updates to curtail my savings.
And if you’re curious, here is my order for reference!
My order always comes out MASSIVE! It’s two burritos worth of filling and so tasty!
- Burrito bowl!
- Brown Rice (one scoop is usually enough)
- One scoop of pinto, wait, then ask for one scoop of black beans
- Half chicken, wait, then the other half chicken
- ALL THE FAJITA VEGGIES (I ask for a third serving sometimes.)
- Double scoop of all the sauces
- Double the cheese, corn, and sour cream.
- Sprinkle of lettuce on top.
- Order a side of hard shell tacos for 50 cents! You’ll get three taco shells.
And one thing I love eating with my bowls is these La Banderita Carb Counter tortillas. TRUST ME when I say these are so good for your diet and soul.
If you found our Chipotle hacks helpful, please share them with your burrito besties. Thanks for your support!
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