Chipotle Keto Options: Best Low Carb Meals to Order

Craving Chipotle while sticking to your keto lifestyle? Good news – you absolutely can enjoy this popular Mexican grill without breaking your carb bank!

As someone who’s been living the keto life for years (and who happens to have a serious Chipotle addiction), I’ve mastered the art of ordering keto-friendly meals that are both satisfying and delicious.

The beauty of Chipotle lies in its customizable menu. With the right choices, you can craft a meal that’s high in healthy fats, moderate in protein, and low in carbs – the perfect keto trifecta.

Chipotle Keto Options

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best Chipotle keto options so you can order with confidence on your next visit.

Let’s dive into how to navigate Chipotle’s menu while keeping your carb count in check and your ketosis intact!

Understanding Keto at Chipotle: The Basics

Before we build our perfect keto bowl, let’s quickly review what makes a meal “keto-friendly.” The ketogenic diet typically aims for:

• 70-80% calories from fat
• 15-25% calories from protein
• 5-10% calories from carbohydrates (usually 20-50g net carbs per day)

The challenge at Chipotle is avoiding the high-carb items that form the foundation of many traditional orders. Rice, beans, tortillas, and chips are all carb-heavy – but there are plenty of delicious alternatives!

To quickly calculate carbs and build the perfect keto bowl, use the Chipotle Nutrition Calculator. This handy tool lets you mix and match ingredients to see the exact nutritional breakdown before you order.

Now, let’s break down which Chipotle ingredients are keto-friendly and which ones you should avoid.

Keto-Friendly Ingredients at Chipotle

Best Base Options

• Salad bowl with lettuce (1g net carbs) – Your absolute best choice for a keto base
• Burrito bowl (0g net carbs for the bowl itself) – Skip rice and beans, but a good vessel

Avoid these high-carb bases:

• Flour tortilla (burrito) – 50g net carbs
• Soft flour tortillas (tacos) – 12g net carbs each
• Crispy corn taco shells – 11g net carbs each
• Soft corn tortillas – 11g net carbs each

Keto-Friendly Proteins

All Chipotle proteins are relatively low in carbs, making them great keto options:

• Chicken (0g net carbs) – Perfectly seasoned and zero carbs
• Steak (1g net carbs) – Minimal carbs with great fat content
• Barbacoa (2g net carbs) – Slightly higher in carbs but still keto-friendly
• Carnitas (0g net carbs) – Zero carbs and higher in fat, making it ideal for keto
• Sofritas (tofu) (9g net carbs) – Higher in carbs, so use cautiously if you’re on strict keto

Keto-Friendly Toppings

• Fajita Veggies (4g net carbs) – Adds flavor, texture, and nutrients for few carbs
• Fresh Tomato Salsa (4g net carbs) – The lowest carb salsa option
• Tomatillo Red-Chili Salsa (4g net carbs) – Spicy option with minimal carbs
• Tomatillo Green-Chili Salsa (4g net carbs) – Another flavorful low-carb salsa
• Sour Cream (2g net carbs) – Adds creaminess and fat with minimal carbs
• Cheese (1g net carbs) – Great source of fat with almost no carbs
• Guacamole (2g net carbs) – Perfect keto food with healthy fats and minimal carbs
• Queso Blanco (4g net carbs) – Can fit into your carb count if you enjoy it
• Romaine Lettuce (1g net carbs) – Almost carb-free volume

Ingredients to Avoid on Keto

• White Rice (40g net carbs) – Major carb bomb
• Brown Rice (36g net carbs) – Still too high in carbs for keto
• Cauliflower Rice (6g net carbs) – Lower carb but still adds up if you’re strict
• Black Beans (14g net carbs) – Too carb-heavy for keto
• Pinto Beans (13g net carbs) – Also too high in carbs
• Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa (16g net carbs) – The corn makes this a no-go
• Chips (68g net carbs per serving) – Definitely not keto-friendly

Best Chipotle Keto Meal Combinations

Now let’s put everything together with some specific keto-friendly meal examples:

The Classic Keto Bowl (6g net carbs)

• Salad base with lettuce
• Carnitas (the highest fat protein)
• Fajita veggies
• Fresh tomato salsa
• Tomatillo green-chili salsa
• Cheese
• Sour cream
• Guacamole

This bowl gives you the perfect keto macros: high fat from the carnitas, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole; moderate protein; and minimal carbs, primarily from the vegetables.

The Double Protein Keto Bowl (7g net carbs)

• Salad base with lettuce
• Double steak (or steak + chicken)
• Fajita veggies
• Tomatillo red-chili salsa
• Cheese
• Guacamole

This option is higher in protein, making it great for more active keto dieters or those doing keto with more intense workouts.

The Spicy Mexican Keto Bowl (8g net carbs)

• Salad base with lettuce
• Barbacoa
• Fajita veggies
• Fresh tomato salsa
• Tomatillo red-chili salsa (extra if you like it hot)
• Queso blanco
• Cheese
• Sour cream

This bowl brings the heat while keeping carbs low!

The Simple Keto Bowl (4g net carbs)

• Salad base with lettuce
• Chicken
• Fajita veggies
• Fresh tomato salsa
• Guacamole

If you’re trying to keep your carb count as low as possible, this minimalist bowl does the trick while still providing plenty of flavor and nutrients.

For a deeper understanding of how to track calories while maintaining keto macros, check out our comprehensive Chipotle calories guide.

How to Customize Your Order for Maximum Keto Success?

Want to create your own perfect keto meal? Here are some pro tips:

Ask for Double Protein

Extra protein can help you reach your macros, especially if you’re not adding cheese or sour cream. It’s a great way to make your bowl more filling while keeping carbs in check.

Don’t Be Shy About Fats

On keto, fat is your friend! Don’t hesitate to ask for extra cheese, sour cream, or guacamole. These additions will help you meet your fat targets and keep you in ketosis.

Watch Out for Hidden Carbs

Some salsas and toppings have more carbs than you might expect. The corn salsa, for instance, packs 16g net carbs – more than many people’s entire daily limit on strict keto.

Consider Your Daily Carb Budget

If you’re allowing yourself 20g net carbs per day, a Chipotle keto bowl with 6-8g carbs fits nicely into your plan. But if you’re on a super strict 10g daily limit, you’ll need to be more selective with your toppings.

Request Extra Lettuce

Adding more romaine lettuce helps create a more substantial meal with virtually no additional carbs. It’s a great way to add volume to your bowl.

Mobile Ordering for Precision

Using Chipotle’s app to place your order ensures nothing gets lost in translation. You can specify exactly what you want (and don’t want) without the pressure of a line behind you.

Common Keto Pitfalls at Chipotle

Even the most devoted keto followers can make mistakes at Chipotle. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

Accidentally Getting Rice or Beans

When ordering in person, make it very clear you want no rice and no beans. Sometimes in the assembly line rush, these can be added automatically.

Underestimating Salsa Carbs

Those delicious salsas do contain carbs – about 4g net carbs each for most varieties, and a whopping 16g for the corn salsa. Factor these into your daily carb count.

Forgetting to Track Condiments

Chipotle’s vinaigrette dressing contains 11g net carbs – a significant amount that could throw off your keto goals. Stick to salsas, sour cream, and guacamole as your “dressings.”

Not Getting Enough Fat

Remember, keto isn’t just about low carbs – it’s also about high fat. Make sure your meal includes enough fat sources to keep you satisfied and in ketosis.

If you’re focused on weight loss in addition to staying keto, you might want to check out our guide to healthy Chipotle orders for weight loss, which includes several keto-compatible options.

Real-World Chipotle Keto Success Stories

I’ve coached dozens of keto clients who regularly incorporate Chipotle into their meal plans. Here’s what some of them have to say:

“I eat at Chipotle at least twice a week on my keto plan. My go-to order is a salad bowl with double chicken, fajita veggies, cheese, and guacamole. I’ve lost 35 pounds in 4 months without ever feeling deprived.” – Jessica, 42

“As a traveling consultant, I rely on Chipotle for reliable keto meals on the road. Their carnitas salad bowl with all the high-fat toppings keeps me in ketosis no matter which city I’m in.” – Mark, 38

“I was worried about eating out on keto until I discovered how keto-friendly Chipotle can be. Now it’s my favorite restaurant option!” – Sarah, 29

Frequently Asked Questions About Chipotle Keto Options

Is Chipotle keto-friendly?

Yes, Chipotle is one of the most keto-friendly fast-casual restaurants around. Their build-your-own model allows you to customize meals to fit keto macros perfectly by focusing on salad bases, proteins, and high-fat toppings while avoiding rice, beans, tortillas, and high-carb salsas.

What is the lowest carb meal at Chipotle?

The lowest carb meal at Chipotle is a salad bowl with lettuce, carnitas or chicken, cheese, and sour cream. This combination provides only about 3-4g net carbs. Adding guacamole only increases it by 2g net carbs while providing healthy fats that are perfect for keto.

How do I eat low carb at Chipotle?

To eat low carb at Chipotle, always start with a salad bowl (skip rice, beans, and tortillas), choose a protein (carnitas is highest in fat), add fajita veggies, select low-carb salsas (avoid corn salsa), and load up on high-fat toppings like cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. This approach can easily keep your meal under 10g net carbs.

Can I have guacamole on keto at Chipotle?

Absolutely! Guacamole is one of the best keto-friendly options at Chipotle. With only 2g net carbs and plenty of healthy fats from avocados, guacamole should be a staple in your Chipotle keto order. It helps you hit your fat macros while adding flavor and creaminess to your meal.

Conclusion: Keto Success at Chipotle

Chipotle offers some of the best keto options in the fast-casual restaurant world.

By sticking to a salad base, choosing the right proteins, and loading up on keto-friendly toppings, you can enjoy a delicious meal that keeps you satisfied and in ketosis.

The key to success is knowledge and planning. Understanding which ingredients fit your macros and which to avoid will help you navigate the menu with confidence.

And remember – you can always use the Chipotle Nutrition Calculator to fine-tune your order before you go.

What’s your favorite keto combination at Chipotle? Do you have any special requests or hacks that make your keto experience even better? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy keto eating!

Note: Nutrition information based on Chipotle’s published data as of May 2025. Carb counts may vary slightly based on portion sizes and preparation methods.