This baked chipotle chicken is the ultimate Chipotle copycat. Marinated in a zesty, spicy sauce made with adobo sauce, chili powder, cumin, and other bold seasonings and baked until juicy and tender, these delectable chicken chunks are perfect for appetizers or as part of any dinner.
I have the pickiest 14-year-old who never likes much but is a hard-core Chipotle lover. When I made him this chicken, he said, "Mom, this tastes just like the real thing". Now that was a win in my book. We are making this one a bit easier by baking it, but of course, with that signature Chipotle Sauce flavor profile.
Just like these air fryer boneless chicken bites, this is a great recipe because it delivers a metric ton of big, bold flavor, it's healthy, and it pairs well with everything from vegetables to rice or these dairy-free corn muffins.
That's a fantastic combo on its own, but when you add in how easy it is to freeze for meal prep, you really see the magic of this recipe. And you'll taste it, too!
If you love zesty flavor but like a little more heat than my son, be sure to check out these stuffed poblano peppers with chicken and cream cheese!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Basic Ingredients: The flavor might be out of this world, but the ingredients aren't. You can find them all at any grocery store.
- Easy: The flavor profile might be complex, but the recipe isn't. Just mix, marinate, and bake. That's all there is to it!
- HUGE Flavor: Like our honey hot chicken tenders, this recipe explodes with so much flavor in every bite.
- Versatile: Serve these baked chipotle chicken bites as an appetizer or as part of a full meal.
- Great for Meal Prep: Like these spinach feta egg bites, these chicken bites are freezer-friendly, so you can make extra for later.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: Chicken breast chunks bake quickly and evenly, and their mild flavor is the perfect vehicle for the other ingredients in the dish.
- Olive Oil: A blend of olive oil and garlic olive oil helps the other marinade ingredients stick to the chicken and adds more flavor than plain olive oil. Costabile is our brand of choice for its quality and purity.
- Chipotle Adobo Sauce: Chipotle adobo sauce adds a deep, smoky, spicy flavor to the marinade.
- Seasonings: A blend of bold seasonings, including chili powder, cumin, and oregano gives the marinade a bold, zesty, authentic Mexican flavor.
- Lime Juice: The acidity of the lime juice tempers and accentuates the flavors in the marinade.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Chicken: You can make this recipe with cubed beef or pork, as well as seafood like shrimp.
- Extra Spicy: Add sliced jalapenos to the marinade for even more kick.
- Marinade for Meats: Use the marinade in this recipe with any of your favorite meats, shellfish, or fish.
- Use in Other Recipes: Marinate and bake the chicken breasts whole and shred them for use in tacos, wraps, and sandwiches!
- A Full Meal: Pair these bites with a vegetable recipe, such as these air fryer peppers and mushrooms, for an easy and healthy meal.
Instructions
- Dice the chicken into cubes and add them to a large bowl. Then, combine all the dry marinade ingredients in a small bowl.
- Add the olive oil, adobo sauce, lime juice, and seasonings to the chicken and mix until fully coated. At this point, you can marinate the chicken or bake it immediately.
- Place the chicken pieces close together on a baking sheet and bake at 400 until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- While you can cook your chicken immediately after tossing it with the marinade, you'll get the best flavor by marinating it for at least 30 minutes. Longer is better!
- It's important to place the chicken chunks with minimal space between them. This close placement helps keep them from drying out.
- We all know we should wash our hands after handling chicken, but be sure to wash your hands after touching anything that may have come into contact with the chicken, as well.
Pairing Suggestions
These flavorful little bites of chicken make excellent appetizers or part of a main course. Serve them with rice, Mexican rice, Spanish rice, corn, black beans, or in tacos or wraps.
FAQ
Adobo sauce is a tangy, spicy, bold sauce made from reconstituted dried jalapeno peppers, garlic, and a blend of spices.
Yes, adobo sauce is generally hot, although not overly so. Chipotle in adobo sauce is generally considered to be mild to moderately spicy.
Whole cuts of chicken, like breasts and thighs, can be marinated for up to 24 hours. However, diced or cubed chicken should be marinated for no longer than 4 hours.
📖 Recipe
Baked Chipotle Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts large
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon oregano
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Dice the chicken into cubes and place them in a large bowl.
- Mix all the dry seasonings in a small bowl.
- Add the olive oil, adobo sauce, lime juice, and the seasoning blend to the bowl of chicken and toss to coat.
- Bake the chicken immediately or marinate it for 30 minutes.
- Place the chicken pieces close together on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
- To reheat, defrost overnight in the fridge if frozen. Then, microwave individual portions at 30-second intervals until heated through.
- Mixing the dry spices before adding them to the marinade ensures that everything is fully combined for an even flavor.
- There's no need to rinse your chicken to reduce bacteria. It's an old wives' tale. Studies show that washing chicken actually spreads bacteria onto more surfaces due to splashing water.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to make cleanup easier.
Vicky says
I tried this baked chipotle chicken and it’s such a great Chipotle copycat. Now I can enjoy my favorite at home. This is perfect for burrito bowls or tacos.
Ben says
Nice! All I need now is some rice, and I'm set.
Bev says
This chicken was seriously amazing! The whole family enjoyed it! We will making a double batch next time!
Swathi says
Baked chipotle chicken is delicious and juicy goes well with bowl of rice and any flat bread.
amy liu dong says
I already love this recipe. It looks super easy and delicious!
Swathi says
Baked chipotle chicken is so good, enjoyed with bowl of rice and some picadillo so good. thanks for sharing.
Amy says
Super easy and delicious! Great for mid week dinners
Myyellowapron says
This chicken recipe is a keeper and perfect for weekdays dinners.
Claudia says
Just made this baked chipotle chicken and it turned out amazing—so easy and packed with heat! Definitely going into the weeknight dinner rotation.
Tisha says
Chipotle chicken is amazing! The recipe was well written and easy to follow as well.
Colleen says
It really does taste just like the real thing! We loved this chicken and I'm going to make it for next week's meal prep. Thank you!
Krystle says
Marinating makes this is so juicy. Great flavor too with just enough heat to keep everyone in the family happy.
Liz says
SO yummy!!! My family gave the chipotle chicken rave reviews. I'll be adding it to our menu rotation for sure.
Nicole says
This baked chipotle chicken is amazing! Such a tasty recipe.
Krystle says
So juicy and they are spicy but not overly so for my family. A new fave in our rotation.
Nicole Kendrick says
The flavors on this dish are incredible! Thanks for sharing!
Agnieszka says
I was a little skeptical but it really DOES taste like Chipotle chicken! Thanks for the recipe.
Nicole Kendrick says
I am so glad this hit the spot! We love this Chipotle Chicken too!
nick says
this baked chipotle chicken is amazing! such a yummy recipe!
Nicole Kendrick says
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by The Busy Kitchen!
Juyali says
Bold flavor without the fuss, and dinner under 1 hour.
Sign me up! 😉
Great recipe. Thanks!
Nicole Kendrick says
SO glad you enjoyed! Thank you for leaving kind words!
Rose says
I love that it’s a healthier, easier take on the restaurant favorite while still delivering that smoky, zesty kick. Definitely adding this to my weeknight dinner rotation.
Nicole Kendrick says
I love to hear that you enjoyed this dish! Have a great day!
Sonja says
This was such a quick and flavorful chicken dish! I love that these are baked, so I don't have to stand beside a sputtering pan.
Nicole Kendrick says
I love that it comes together so fast!!! Thanks so much!
Swathi says
Baked chipotle chicken is delicious; my chicken-loving son approved it. This is going to in my menu for a long time.
Nicole Kendrick says
Mine too!! Thanks so much for the review!
Bev says
This chicken had amazing flavor and did indeed taste just like Chipotle. we had make your own burrito bowls and everyone loved them!
Nicole Kendrick says
This one feels like eating out with the comfort of being at home!
Lily says
Yumm!!
Nicole Kendrick says
I agree! Thank you, Lily!
Krystle says
Chicken can get so boring and repetitive. This is just what I needed to get me out of my dinner rut.
Nicole Kendrick says
Gotta keep it interesting! Thanks for stopping by for a review!
Olivia says
That Baked Chipotle Chicken is officially going into the weeknight rotation. So much rich, smoky kick for almost zero effort!
Nicole Kendrick says
It is in mine too! Welcome to the party, LOL!