Until about 6 years ago, I never really cared for burritos. The ones I knew of were filled with ground beef and refried beans then topped with tomato sauce. Then, like a beacon of light, I was introduced to the fajita burrito at New York Burrito. Even though it was a little big for lunch, I would still order it when I had business to take care of near the closest NYB location.
My new found love for the burrito was only kindled further when Chipotle came to town. They have burrito assembly down to a science. Here’s the drill: you select your meat, add rice, choose the type of beans you prefer, select the type of salsa you like and then decide whether or not to add extras (cheese, sour cream, guacamole and lettuce). Yes please!
The ultimate burrito indulgence
It’s honesty time…I’ve stood in line for three different ‘free burrito days’ at various Chipotle grand openings. In addition to that, I’ve done my fair share of burrito purchasing. My personal favorite is the burrito with: carnitas, rice, black beans, tomato salsa, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. This burrito probably weighs two pounds, and, oh my god, it is delicious! That is where the good news ends.
This custom made burrito racks up a whopping 1120 calories. Yep, you read that correctly. “OH MY GOD!” is once again what I thought when I found this out. How many burritos have I had? What about the time I actually ate the whole thing? And, what I was probably the most upset about, I knew could no longer allow myself to indulge in this meal.
So, when I found myself hungry for a burrito with no place to go, I knew it was time to find an alternative. I found a recipe for a chicken burrito on SELF.com, and I’ve been devoted to it since the first day I had it. It’s filling, full of flavor and light on calories – only 330 calories per serving! Best of all, it has all of the goodies I love: black beans, salsa and sour cream. What a treat!
This recipe can be completed in 30 minutes and makes generous portions. If you are only cooking for two and need to cut the recipe in half, my tip is to make extra chicken and save some to use on salads, etc. during the week. The extra chicken will go well with the second half of the can of black beans the recipe requires.
The next time you want to indulge in a burrito, consider making it yourself. You don’t have to divorce the burrito completely, just try out a new version!
- Sara
So, what about the chicken fajita bowl at Chipotle with no sour cream, and maybe choosing guac or cheese (not both). Is this still an OK option if I must eat out and about?
Great question! Your request above is a better choice than I usually made, but it still comes in at 635 calories (with guacamole and no cheese). You might want to consider sharing this meal with a friend to trim down the calorie count.
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