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You can easily recreate the signature Chipotle honey vinaigrette salad dressing at home with this no-fail copycat recipe! Save money, customize ingredients, and enjoy this zesty, smoky dressing in minutes.
I’ve been known to head to Chipotle just to satisfy a craving for their signature honey vinaigrette. It’s the perfect balance of zesty, sweet, and smoky flavors!
It’s the magic that ties together a hearty burrito bowl or adds a flavorful punch to a crisp salad. The good news? You don’t have to head to Chipotle every time you crave it. With this easy copycat recipe, you can recreate the iconic Chipotle salad dressing at home.
Why Make it at Home?
- Save Money: Skip the frequent trips to Chipotle and make a big batch of this dressing at a fraction of the cost.
- Choose Quality Ingredients: You can control what goes into your dressing. For example, use raw, local honey, high-quality olive oil, and your favorite spices.
- Meal Prep-Friendly: This dressing stores beautifully, making it a perfect addition to your weekly meal prep routine.
Copycat Chipotle Salad Dressing Recipe Ingredients
Breaking It Down
Ingredients Explained
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas where applicable. For the full recipe (including the ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – Avocado oil is a good substitute here if you don’t have olive oil.
- MCT oil – Or you can use more olive oil (or avocado oil). If you aren’t familiar with MCT oil (aka medium-triglyceride oil), it’s a flavorless oil made from coconut or palm kernel oil. It has a whole host of potential health benefits, such as weight loss and a quick boost of energy. (You can read more about MCT oil on Cleveland Clinic, WebMD, and Healthline.
- Red wine vinegar – Red wine vinegar results in flavor that’s closest to the original, but you can also use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar here.
- Honey – Adds sweet flavor to balance the spicy heat and complement the smoky notes.
- Chipotle pepper in adobo – This lends a smoky, spicy flavor to the dressing. I add whatever adobo sauce is on the pepper (usually about 1/2 tablespoon), but you can add more or less to taste.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic adds a ton of savory flavor.
- Salt and black pepper – To season the vinaigrette.
- Mexican oregano – Compared with other varieties of oregano, Mexican oregano is more floral and citrusy with subtle notes of licorice. If you can’t find it, you can substitute with regular oregano (also called Italian oregano or Mediterranean oregano).
Pro Tip: The Secret is in the Sauce
The chipotle pepper in adobo sauce is the secret ingredient that gives this dressing its signature smoky kick. Feel free to add a little more if you love bold flavors!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. (Tip: If you don’t have a high-speed blender, peel and crush the garlic before adding it to a regular blender or food processor with the other ingredients.)
- Process until smooth.
Pro Tip: Customize it to Suit Your Tastes
Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning to your preference. Need more sweetness? Add a drizzle of honey. Prefer it smokier? A splash more adobo sauce will do the trick.
Storage
Store the dressing in a covered glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Shake well before using.
How to Use Your Homemade Dressing
This versatile dressing isn’t just for salads! Here are a few ideas to get the most out of it:
- Salad Greens: Toss it with a mix of romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, shredded cheese, and grilled chicken for a Chipotle-style salad.
- Marinade: Use it as a marinade for chicken, salmon, or tofu to add depth of flavor.
- Dipping Sauce: Pair it with fresh veggies or warm tortilla chips for a quick, flavor-packed snack.
FAQs
Yes! You can whisk the ingredients together in a bowl. Just finely mince the garlic and whisk vigorously while slowly adding the olive oil to help emulsify the dressing.
The heat level is mild, but to make it spicier you can add more chipotle peppers in adobo to taste.
Absolutely! While red wine vinegar is closest to the original flavor, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar will also work well.
More Flavorful Salad Dressing Recipes That’ll Have You Craving Salad
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Copycat Chipotle Salad Dressing Recipe
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Equipment
- High speed blender (see Notes)
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons MCT oil optional (see Notes)
- 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo with about 1/2 tablespoon adobo sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 clove garlic peeled (add another clove if you like it garlicky)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender, and process until smooth.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
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I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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