What kinds of cheese are used at Chipotle?

Since opening its first location in a converted ice cream shop in 1993, Chipotle has evolved into a fast-casual giant, renowned for its Tex-Mex-inspired burritos and bowls. Amid a variety of meats, salsas, and add-ons like guacamole, Chipotle’s cheeses stand out. The restaurant restricts itself to 53 ingredients, which include two key cheeses: Monterey Jack and white cheddar.

For burritos, tacos, and bowls, Chipotle employs shredded Monterey Jack. This semi-hard cheese boasts a creamy texture and mild flavor, complementing bolder ingredients like salsa and seasoned meats. Due to its moisture and fat levels, Monterey Jack melts seamlessly, making it perfect for toppings or as the star of a quesadilla (or the secret menu quesarito). Originally produced in California by Mexican Franciscan friars, it quickly became an American favorite in Tex-Mex cuisine.

With its rich taste and creamy texture, adding extra Monterey Jack cheese to your Chipotle order is an easy choice. While it doesn’t incur additional costs through the app, some customers have reported extra charges when requesting more cheese in-person.

Although Chipotle includes white cheddar in its ingredient list, you won’t find it among the shredded toppings. This cheese is reserved for creating Chipotle’s queso dip, combined with the ever-popular Monterey Jack cheese. Initially criticized for its lumpy texture and undesirable taste, three rounds of reformulation led to the beloved queso customers enjoy today. This version combines the two cheeses with milk and various peppers and spices, resulting in a creamy dip that many are willing to pay extra for.

White cheddar is the same cheese most Americans typically recognize, just without the annatto that gives cheddar its classic orange color. This cheese offers a tangy and intricate flavor, making it a perfect match for Chipotle’s robust ingredients like salsa or guacamole without being overshadowed. Chipotle uses an aged variant of white cheddar, which imparts a sharper flavor balanced by the buttery smoothness of Monterey Jack.

If you have a craving for queso during your next visit, consider requesting it on the side. Chipotle employees typically dislike wrapping wet burritos, with queso often being the source of the moisture issue. By ordering it separately, you can avoid a soggy tortilla that may fall apart.

Now that you’re aware of the types of cheese Chipotle uses, where does it all come from? According to the fast-casual chain, its Monterey Jack cheese is sourced from Wisconsin through Meister Cheese and California from Petaluma Creamery. While Chipotle doesn’t disclose the production location of its white cheddar or its milk sources, it assures that all its cheeses originate from pasture-raised cows that are not treated with rBST (bovine growth hormones).

Each small- to mid-sized dairy farm contributing to its Monterey Jack cheese must meet Chipotle’s “Food with Integrity” standards. These standards prohibit the use of artificial hormones to enhance milk production and restrict the use of antibiotics to sick cows only. The herds are required to have ongoing access to pastures, fresh water, and clean housing.

Chipotle’s commitment to smaller-scale cheese production aligns with its focus on sourcing from family-run farms. The company provides annual seed grants to 50 young farmers (under the age of 40), which includes the dairy farmers contributing to its cheese production.