How to Make Copycat Honey Chipotle Vinaigrette

We’ve all been there. It’s 7 p.m. and you’re at home with a sudden craving for Chipotle. You don’t feel like going all the way to Chipotle, they don’t have a drive-thru, and delivery is kind of slow. What’s a hungry person to do?

You make an at-home Chipotle salad complete with a copycat version of their Honey Chipotle Vinaigrette! It’s one of our favorite homemade salad dressings.

This task may seem daunting, but the dressing comes together in minutes. You can make the salad with just about any salad ingredients you happen to have on hand in your refrigerator or pantry. Need ideas? Here are some salad-making tips from a former chef.

How to Make Copycat Chipotle Vinaigrette

This recipe makes approximately 1 cup of salad dressing.

Ingredients

copycat chipotle honey vinaigrette ingredients

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
1 whole chipotle chili in adobo sauce
1/2 tablespoon adobo sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Combine ingredients

adding ingredients for copycat chipotle honey vinaigrette in a food processor

In a food processor, combine the red wine vinegar, honey, chipotle chili pepper, adobo sauce, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Put the lid on your food processor. (That last part is important!)

Step 2: Blend and slowly add olive oil

copycat chipotle honey vinaigrette in a food processor after blending smooth

Puree until smooth while slowly drizzling in the olive oil. Your food processor’s lid should have a pour spout that will allow you to dispense the olive oil into the other ingredients. Then, continue blending until all the ingredients are emulsified together and the vinaigrette is smooth. To serve, drizzle over salad greens and toss to coat.

Psst: We perfected a recipe for Chipotle’s cilantro-lime rice, too.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you’re missing one or more of the ingredients for this Chipotle vinaigrette, don’t worry. There are several ingredient substitutions you can make that will still yield great-tasting results.

Adobo Sauce

You can buy a can of chipotle chilies in adobo sauce at most grocery stores in the Hispanic food aisle. Look near the refried beans and green chilies.

You can also whip up a DIY adobo substitute in minutes. Mix 1/2 tablespoon tomato paste, 1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1/2 teaspoon cumin together in a small dish. For more heat, increase the amount of cayenne pepper.

Editor’s Note: This is a great makeshift adobo sauce hack for this recipe since you only need a small amount for the dressing. It’s far from authentic adobo, though, which typically simmers for hours to fully develop the flavors.

Olive Oil

Chipotle’s nutrition facts list rice bran oil rather than olive oil on their ingredient list. If you happen to have rice bran oil, feel free to use it. Otherwise, you can use a different neutral-flavored oil you have on hand like olive oil, canola oil or vegetable oil.

Garlic Powder

You may use 2-4 cloves of fresh garlic in place of 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Dried Oregano

If you’re lucky enough to have an herb garden with lovely fresh oregano, swap 1/2 tablespoon of fresh oregano for 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano. Both Mexican and Italian oregano work beautifully in this recipe.

How to Make This Vinaigrette without a Food Processor

a spoon drizzling copycat chipotle honey vinaigrette into a glass mason jar

You may also use a blender to make this dressing. Don’t have a blender, either? Use a mason jar or any small container with a tight-fitting lid. You’ll want to finely mince the whole chipotle pepper first. Then, you can simply combine everything into the mason jar, seal it tightly with its lid and shake everything together for several minutes until well-combined.

How to Store Your Vinaigrette

Store this copycat Chipotle vinaigrette in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to shake the dressing well before using after storing, since ingredient separation may occur.

What to Make with Chipotle Vinaigrette

This dressing is spicy and tangy, salty and sweet. It’s perfect on a whole host of salads that demand a little heat. While the obvious choice is to drizzle it over your favorite Tex-Mex or Southwest-style salad, you could also drizzle this over burrito bowls or tacos, or use it as a killer marinade for chicken, seafood or flank steak.

Find More Spot-On Chipotle Copycats

1 / 23

Inspired by: Chipotle's Carnitas Tacos

We shared these flavor-packed tacos with friends from church who came over to help us move. They're so good, I put them on my blog, manilaspoon.com! The slow cooker makes this recipe extra easy, and I love that whenever I make it, I'm reminded of the wonderful people back in Michigan. —Abigail Raines, Hamden, Connecticut

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Burrito Bowl with Chicken

We love Mexican night at our house, and I love to re-create dishes from our favorite restaurants. This burrito-inspired dish is ready for the table in almost no time! —Krista Marshall, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Steak Tacos with Fajita Vegetables

Zesty salsa and tender strips of steak make these traditional fajitas extra special. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Carnitas Burrito

The combination of spices is key to this slow-cooked pork—it's my family's favorite burrito filling. The aroma that fills the air as the pork slowly simmers is like a Mexican restaurant. A perfect recipe for tailgate parties. —Valonda Seward, Coarsegold, California

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Tomatillo Green-Chili Salsa

Last year was the first time I had ever grown tomatillos. They were so abundant that I had enough to eat fresh, give away and freeze for future gatherings. What I didn't expect was how well the salsa would freeze. I do like to add an extra zip by juicing a fresh lime into the salsa after it has thawed. —Kim Banick, Salem, Oregon

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Barbacoa

My husband adores this beef roast simmered in lime juice, chipotle and cumin. He would eat it one a week if I would make it that often! We have it over rice with cilantro and a spritz of lime. —Aundrea McCormick, Denver, Colorado

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Carnitas Salad

This knockout shredded pork makes a healthy, delicious and hearty salad with black beans, corn, cotija cheese and plenty of fresh greens. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Fajita Veggies Burrito with Corn Salsa

No one will miss the meat when you dish up these satisfying burritos bursting with a fresh-tasting filling. They’re fast to fix and won’t put a dent in your wallet. —Sharon W. Bickett, Chester, South Carolina

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Chicken Tacos

A few people in my family have special dietary needs, but luckily, these chicken tacos work for all of us. I toss up a simple green salad and have a meal we can all enjoy together. —Christine Schenher, Exeter, California

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Barbacoa Burrito Bowl with Fajita Vegetables

This was a spur-of-the-moment experiment when we wanted something nice and filling, but also easy. I had steak, peppers and onion on hand, and this is what my mind created. We make it often. For something different, try it in tortillas for fajitas. —Rochelle M. Dickson, Potwin, Kansas

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Guacamole

Get the scoop on making a standout guacamole. A handful of chopped celery adds some fun crunch in this avocado dip—everyone’s favorite fiesta starter. —Catherine Cassidy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Chicken Salad

We use this super duper chicken across several meals, including it in tacos, sandwiches, omelets and enchiladas. My little guys love helping measure seasonings. —Karie Houghton, Lynnwood, Washington

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Genuine Queso

Years ago, my husband invented this gooey cheese dip. I may be biased, but I have to say it's excellent. If you like heat, rev it up with finely chopped jalapenos. —Patricia Leinheiser, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Get Recipe

Inspired by: Chipotle's Fresh Tomato Salsa

This quick-and-easy salsa tastes great as an accompaniment to meat dishes as well as with chips. I teach kindergarten and my husband is a county Extension agent. We've lived down here in the Imperial Valley for 30 years. I say "down here" because Holtville is 15 feet below sea level!

Get Recipe