When Chipotle cravings hit and you want to treat yourself to something hearty, you go for the Chipotle Steak Recipe. This hearty steak is marinated in smoky spices like chili powder and cumin, giving the beef a rich flavor that tastes authentic. The steak is seared to a crisp on the outside yet remains medium-rare inside. We wanted to recreate the experience in our own homes, so we created a Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe.
Our chipotle copycat recipe marinates the steak in fresh onion, garlic, olive oil, and lime juice to give you the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth experience. The steak is seared to perfection and will please even the pickiest Tex-Mex lover for the ultimate burrito bowls at home.
This Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe is the perfect addition to any Cinco de Mayo party, fiesta, or Taco Tuesday. You can use it to top nachos, salads, rice bowls, or to stuff street tacos. Without further ado, here’s the secret to creating restaurant-quality steak in your kitchen.
Chipotle Mexican Food + Steak = True Love
Incorporating steak into your favorite Tex-Mex dishes will get you a few brownie points. Steak is a great alternative to ground beef, as it feels fancier. Plus, steak tends to soak in the flavor of whatever marinade you use, giving it endless possibilities.
Cuts of beef became a popular Mexican food ingredient in the 16th century after the Spaniards introduced cattle. The most popular cuts of meat used in Mexican cooking are skirt steaks, New York strips, and everyone’s favorite, ribeye. But let’s be honest – even the toughest cut of steak can be tenderized using a traditional marinade that includes citrus.
Originally, cuts of beef were cooked over an open fire, giving them a hint of smokiness. Today, chefs replicate that smoky goodness by including chipotles in adobo sauce, as we did in this recipe. The next time you chow down on a steak taco, take a moment to think of the Spaniards. Without them, we may have never experienced Tex-Mex nirvana!
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Cost to Make Our Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe
Chipotle’s steak isn’t the cheapest on the block, and one steak burrito will cost you just over $11. In contrast, you can make enough Copycat Chipotle Steak for 5-6 burritos for just $21.67. Keep in mind that this total may vary based on your location and ingredient availability.
Here’s how that breaks down.
- New York Strip Steak: $18.00
- Olive oil: $0.60
- Red onion: $0.75
- Garlic: $0.50
- Chili powder: $0.10
- Chipotles in adobo sauce: $0.50
- Cumin: $0.10
- Salt: $0.02
- Limes: $1.00
- Oregano: $0.10
Grand Total: $21.67
You can cut the cost even more by alternating the steak you use. For example, flank steaks are cheaper than New York Strips.
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How to Make Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe
Here’s how to make a batch of Copycat Chipotle Steak that will amp up any taco night!
Step One: Make the Chipotle Marinade
Place the olive oil, chopped onion, garlic, chili powder, and chipotles in adobo sauce, cumin, salt, lime juice, and oregano in a blender or food processor. Blend until puréed. Note that your mixture will still be a little chunky.
Step Two: Marinate the Steak
Place the steak in a large Ziploc bag or bowl and cover with the chipotle marinade in an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight, to let the flavors mesh.
Step Three: Cook and Serve the Steak
Drizzle olive oil in a large pan or large skillet and place over medium-high heat. We prefer using a griddle skillet as it gives your steak gorgeous grill marks. Sear the steak for 1 minute on both sides, then turn the heat down to low and let the meat cook for 2-3 more minutes, until cooked to your liking. Remove from the pan and let rest for 5 minutes to keep the juices where they belong….inside the meat!
Alternatively, you can cook the steak over a charcoal grill. Simply place the steak on the preheated grill and cook for 2-4 minutes on each side, flipping constantly to form a crust. Once the crust forms, leave the steak on the grill until you achieve your desired level of doneness.
Slice the steak into strips or chunks and serve. Enjoy!
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What to Serve With Homemade Chipotle Steak
Serve your Homemade Chipotle Steak over a bowl of lettuce, on top of beans and rice, or as a filling for quesadillas, burritos, or tacos. You can also snack on it plain because it’s just that hard to resist.
Whatever you choose, be sure to include plenty of pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese, tortillas, peppers, salsa, sour cream, fresh cilantro, and queso for an authentic Chipotle-style experience.
Storing Leftover Copycat Chipotle Steak
Leftover Copycat Chipotle Steak sirloin can be stored in the fridge for up to five days or frozen for up to four months. If desired, you can vacuum seal your beef to make it last even longer!
The Viral Chipotle Steak Recipe: Irresistibly Bold and Smoky!
Equipment
- 1 Ziploc Bag Large
Ingredients
- 2 pounds New York Strip Steak 1-2 pounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 count red onion chopped
- 3 count cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons chipotles in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 count limes juiced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 count olive oil use for grilling
Instructions
- Place the olive oil, chopped onion, garlic, chili powder, chipotles in adobo sauce, cumin, salt, lime juice, and oregano in a blender or food processor. Blend until puréed. Note that your mixture will still be a little chunky.2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 count red onion, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 tablespoons chipotles in adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon cumin powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 count limes, 1 teaspoon oregano, 3 count cloves of garlic
- Place the steak in a large Ziploc bag or bowl and cover with the chipotle marinade. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight, to let the flavors mesh.2 pounds New York Strip Steak
- Drizzle olive oil in a large pan and place over medium-high heat. We prefer using a griddle skillet as it gives your steak gorgeous grill marks. Sear the steak for 1 minute on both sides, then turn the heat down to low and let the meat cook for 2-3 more minutes, until cooked to your liking. Remove from the pan and let rest for 5 minutes to keep the juices where they belong..inside the meat!1 count olive oil
- Alternatively, you can cook the steak over a charcoal grill. Simply place the steak on the preheated grill and cook for 2-4 minutes on each side, flipping constantly to form a crust. Once the crust forms, leave the steak on the grill until you achieve your desired level of doneness. Slice the steak into strips or chunks and serve. Enjoy!
