Are Chipotle’s beans suitable for a vegan diet?

Chipotle offers a variety of vegan options, and you might be curious about whether their beans are vegan. This uncertainty arises because many Mexican restaurants often prepare beans with non-vegetarian ingredients such as lard and chicken broth. Fortunately, Chipotle’s beans are completely vegan.

This wasn’t the case all along. In 2011, Seth Porges, a long-time customer, discovered that Chipotle’s pinto beans contained bacon—a fact not disclosed on their menus. As a person who abstained from pork for religious reasons, Porges was shocked and upset, leading him to voice his concerns on social media. The company swiftly acted to address the issue to mitigate any potential backlash. Initially, they placed signs in stores to inform customers about the pork in the pinto beans. However, two years later, the pork was completely removed. A representative from the company confirmed, “We are phasing in a new bacon-less pinto bean recipe […] we simply didn’t think the bacon added anything and, by removing it, we make the pinto beans vegetarian” (via Consumerist).

Currently, both types of beans at Chipotle—pinto and black—are free of pork. They are crafted using similar ingredients, obtaining their flavor from bay leaf, black pepper, chipotle chili, cumin, garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, onion, oregano, rice bran oil, and salt.

Chipotle’s black beans are crafted from a blend of five varieties, including Condor and Black Magic beans, contributing to their unique flavor profile. The light beige pinto beans are equally tasty, offering a smoky essence that complements any other ingredients you choose to incorporate into your meal. If you’re indecisive, you can even opt for a combination of both bean types!

In addition to beans, Chipotle offers numerous other vegan ingredients to build your meal. You can choose lard-free tortillas (either crispy corn or soft flour), cilantro-lime rice (available in white or brown), guacamole, and fajita veggies (a mix of onions and green bell peppers). All their salsas are vegan as well, including fresh tomato salsa (a basic pico de gallo), tomatillo-green chili, tomatillo-red chili, and roasted chili-corn salsa.

One topping that some may assume is vegan but isn’t is the salad dressing. The chipotle-honey vinaigrette contains wildflower honey, which many vegans consider an animal product. Unfortunately, it’s the only dressing available, so if you’re ordering a salad and want to keep it vegan, you can use salsa and/or guacamole instead. You can also add fresh cilantro to any dish for free as a little insider tip.

Chipotle features another bean-centric option known as sofritas, which serves as their primary plant-based protein. These are made using tofu sourced from U.S. grown, non-GMO, organic soybeans through a partnership with Hodo Soy. The mildly spicy filling consists of shredded tofu braised with tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and spices. In 2022, Chipotle introduced a vegan chorizo made from pea protein, though it was discontinued in 2023.

Most main options at Chipotle can be made vegan, with the exception of the quesadilla, by selecting either beans, sofritas, or fajita veggies. Options include the burrito, burrito bowl, salad, and tacos. If you choose these with veggies or just beans, you can add guacamole at no extra cost. However, if you go for the sofritas (or meat), guacamole will incur an extra charge. There’s also the Chipotle kids’ meal hack, which saves you money — you can choose from a cheese quesadilla or build-your-own tacos, both can easily be made vegan.

For a simple way to order vegan at Chipotle, consider one of the two plant-based lifestyle bowls. Both include white rice, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa, and guacamole. The Veggie Full Bowl incorporates black beans, while the Plant Powered Bowl features lettuce and sofritas.