Chipotle Salad (2026): Prices, Calories & The Best Way to Build One
How much is a Chipotle Salad, and what comes in it? A Chipotle Salad costs between $10.95 and $12.20, based on the protein you pick. It comes on a bed of fresh romaine lettuce with your choice of protein, beans, salsa, and toppings, plus a dressing called Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette. A full salad can be as low as 400 calories or as high as 800+ calories, so what you add really matters.
Think of this page as your friend who works the line telling you exactly what to order, let’s go step by step.
Chipotle Salad Menu 2026
Chicken Salad
$10.95
Steak Salad
$12.20
Barbacoa Salad
$12.20
Carnitas Salad
$11.45
Sofritas Salad
$10.95
Veggie Salad
$10.95
High Protein Salad
$14.95
Low Calorie Salad
$10.95
Chipotle Salad Prices by Protein (2026)
| Protein | Salad Price |
|---|---|
| Chicken | $10.95 |
| Sofritas (Plant-Based, Free Guac) | $10.95 |
| Veggie / No Protein (Free Guac) | $10.95 |
| Carnitas | $11.45 |
| Steak | $12.20 |
| Barbacoa | $12.20 |
| Double Protein (Any Type) | +$3.00 - $4.50 |
With extra add-ons:
| Add-On | Price |
|---|---|
| Guacamole | $2.95 (Free with Veggie or Sofritas Entrées) |
| Queso Blanco | $2.55 |
| Extra Protein Scoop | $3.00 - $3.50 |
| Chips & Side Salsa | $2.45 |
Simple Tip: Chicken, Sofritas, and Veggie are the cheapest choices. Prices go up a little for Steak and Barbacoa. Your app price is always correct, this is a national average.
Want to explore more? Browse our complete Chipotle Full Menu to see every menu item
Chipotle Salad Calories & Nutrition
How many calories are in a Chipotle Salad? The lettuce base alone is only 15 calories, one of the lightest starting points on the whole menu. But the total salad can land anywhere from 400 to 800+ calories, mostly depending on the dressing and toppings you pick.
| Ingredient | Calories | Protein (g) | Carbs (g) | Fat (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romaine Lettuce (Base) | 15 Cal | 1g | 3g | 0g |
| Chicken | 400 Cal | 32g | 0g | 7g |
| Steak | 370 Cal | 21g | 1g | 6g |
| Barbacoa | 390 Cal | 24g | 2g | 7g |
| Carnitas | 390 Cal | 22g | 0g | 12g |
| Sofritas | 370 Cal | 8g | 9g | 10g |
| Black Beans | 130 Cal | 8g | 22g | 1.5g |
| Pinto Beans | 130 Cal | 8g | 20g | 1.5g |
| Fajita Veggies | 20 Cal | 1g | 3g | 0.5g |
| Fresh Tomato Salsa | 20 Cal | 1g | 4g | 0g |
| Tomatillo Green Salsa | 15 Cal | 0g | 3g | 0g |
| Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa | 80 Cal | 3g | 16g | 1g |
| Monterey Jack Cheese | 110 Cal | 6g | 1g | 8g |
| Sour Cream | 110 Cal | 2g | 2g | 9g |
| Guacamole | 230 Cal | 2g | 8g | 22g |
| Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette | 220 Cal | 0g | 12g | 18g |
Watch this: the dressing alone is 220 calories, which is more than most single proteins. This is the biggest calorie trap on the whole salad, and most menu guides don’t point it out.
Build-Your-Own Salad: Every Step
Unlike a bowl, a Chipotle Salad skips rice, but you still get to build it your way:
| Step | Choices |
|---|---|
| 1. Base | Romaine Lettuce (Always Included) |
| 2. Beans | Black Beans, Pinto Beans, or No Beans |
| 3. Protein | Chicken, Steak, Barbacoa, Carnitas, Sofritas, or No Protein |
| 4. Salsa (Choose up to 4 – Free) | Fresh Tomato Salsa, Tomatillo Green Salsa, Tomatillo Red Salsa, or Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa |
| 5. Toppings (Free) | Fajita Veggies, Monterey Jack Cheese, Sour Cream, or Extra Romaine Lettuce |
| 6. Dressing | Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette (Included) or Skip the Dressing |
Best Salad Combos by Goal
| Goal | Recommended Build | Approx. Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest Calorie | Chicken + Fajita Veggies + Fresh Tomato Salsa (No Dressing, No Cheese) | ~350 Cal |
| High Protein, Still Light | Double Chicken + Black Beans + Fajita Veggies + Fresh Tomato Salsa | ~500 Cal / 60g+ Protein |
| Keto / Low-Carb | Steak + Cheese + Sour Cream + Guacamole (No Beans, No Dressing) | ~600 Cal / Low Carb |
| Vegan | Sofritas + Black Beans + Fajita Veggies + All Salsas (No Dressing) | ~450 Cal |
| Best Value | Veggie or Sofritas Salad (Free Guacamole Included) + Beans + Salsa | ~500 Cal |
| Most Flavor | Barbacoa + Beans + Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa + Cheese + Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette | ~750 Cal |
What Other Guides Miss
Most salad pages just list prices. Here’s what they skip:
- The dressing is the real calorie problem, not the protein. At 220 calories per serving, the vinaigrette alone can equal a whole protein choice. Swap it for a squeeze of lime and a spoon of salsa to save 180+ calories with barely any flavor loss.
- Salads are the lowest-calorie entree at Chipotle by a wide margin and lower than the bowl, burrito, or even tacos in most builds, because there’s no rice and no tortilla.
- You can turn a Salad into a Keto Bowl for free. Order it with no beans, extra fajita veggies, and skip the sweet dressing; this is basically what Chipotle’s own paid “Keto Salad” Lifestyle Bowl gives you, but built for free from the regular menu.
- Double protein is the best value trick for gym-goers. A double chicken salad with beans gets you 55 to 65g of protein for one entree price.
Diet-Specific Salad Guide
| Diet | Best Build | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Keto | Chicken or Steak + Cheese + Sour Cream + Guacamole (No Beans, No Dressing) | Beans, Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette, Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa |
| Low-Carb | Light Black or Pinto Beans, Protein of Choice, Fresh Salsas, Fajita Veggies | Full Bean Portions, Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa, Heavy Dressing |
| Gluten-Friendly* | Any Chipotle Salad is Naturally Gluten-Friendly | Chips on the Side (Check Restaurant Cross-Contact Notice) |
| Dairy-Free | Chicken, Steak, or Sofritas + Guacamole + Salsas + Fajita Veggies | Cheese, Sour Cream, Queso Blanco |
| Vegan | Sofritas (or No Protein) + Beans + Salsas + Guacamole (Skip Dressing) | Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette, Cheese, Sour Cream |
| High-Protein | Double Chicken or Double Steak + Beans + Fajita Veggies | No Required Restrictions. Just Watch the Dressing if Reducing Calories |
For more detail on which ingredients contain which allergens, see our full Chipotle Allergen Menu guide.
Pro-Tips: Visual Cues for a Better Salad
- Fresh romaine looks crisp and bright green, not wilted or watery at the bottom of the bin. Ask for a fresh scoop if it looks limp.
- Good guacamole is bright green with visible bits of lime and cilantro; if it looks brown on top, ask staff to scoop from underneath or from a fresher batch.
- Properly grilled steak or barbacoa has slightly charred edges, not a flat gray color; gray meat has usually been sitting too long.
- Ask for dressing on the side if you’re watching calories; this lets you control exactly how much you use instead of a full pour over the whole salad.
- Salsa should look chunky and fresh, not watery; watery salsa has often been sitting out for a while.
How to Order a Chipotle Salad
| Method | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chipotle App / Website | Fastest Ordering & Earning Rewards Points | Best option for precise meal customization and collecting Chipotle Rewards on eligible purchases. |
| In-Store | Full Visual Control While Your Meal Is Prepared | Ideal for first-time customers who want to watch ingredients being added and request changes on the spot. |
| DoorDash / Uber Eats / Grubhub | Convenient Home or Office Delivery | Menu prices are typically 15 to 25% higher than ordering directly through Chipotle. |
| Catering / Salad Bar Kit | Groups of 8 or More | Starts at approximately $8.75 - $10.75 per person, making it a practical option for meetings, parties, and events. |
Chipotle Salad FAQ's
What comes in a Chipotle salad?
Romaine lettuce, your choice of protein, beans, salsa, toppings, and the Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette dressing, all included in the base price.
How much does a Chipotle salad cost?
Between $10.95 and $12.20 depending on protein, before any extra add-ons like guacamole.
How many calories are in a Chipotle salad?
Usually 400 to 800+ calories, depending on toppings, the dressing alone adds 220 calories, so skipping or swapping it makes the biggest difference.
Is a Chipotle salad healthy?
It can be one of the healthiest fast-casual meals around, especially with lean protein, beans, and fajita veggies. The dressing and heavy toppings are what push it into “less healthy” territory.
What is the healthiest Chipotle salad?
Chicken or Sofritas with black beans, fajita veggies, salsa instead of dressing, and light cheese; this keeps it around 400 to 500 calories with strong protein.
Is Chipotle salad gluten-free?
Yes, every salad is naturally gluten-free since there’s no tortilla involved.
What is the best protein for a Chipotle salad?
Chicken gives the best protein-to-calorie ratio. Barbacoa and carnitas add more flavor but also more fat and calories.
Can I get a Chipotle salad for under $10?
Yes, Chicken, Sofritas, and Veggie salads all cost $10.95 without extra add-ons.
Conclusion
A Chipotle Salad is the lightest, most flexible entree on the menu, as low as 350 to 400 calories if you build it smart, or 800+ if you load it up. The single biggest thing to watch is the dressing, not the protein, swap it for salsa or ask for it on the side and you’ll save more calories than any other change. Pick a lean protein, add beans for staying power, and load up on free toppings like fajita veggies and salsa for flavor without the calorie cost.