If you love the chipotle vinaigrette at Chipotle, you’ll enjoy this faithful copycat version. It tastes remarkably similar, lets you skip the lines and expense, and brightens any salad. This Chipotle-style salad is built on a crisp bed of greens and topped with sautéed fajita vegetables, corn, black beans, avocado, and shredded Monterey Jack. Serve it as a vibrant side or add your favorite protein to make a satisfying main course.
Bring the flavor to your next salad!
Recreate the fast-casual favorite at home with a bright, sweet-and-smoky chipotle vinaigrette. The dressing is the star: vibrant, slightly smoky, tangy, and sweet. Drizzle it over salads, bowls, tacos, or grilled proteins. This copycat salad base is easy to prepare and keeps well for meal prep or last-minute weeknight dinners.
The salad is a great foundation: crisp greens, optional sautéed fajita veggies, black beans, corn, diced tomato, sliced avocado, and shredded Monterey Jack. Use the dressing sparingly to start, then add more to taste. Make a double batch of the vinaigrette so you have a ready-made flavor boost in the fridge.
How to make it
- Mix up the vinaigrette. Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. It takes about five minutes and keeps up to two weeks in the refrigerator. A double batch is handy for salads, bowls, tacos, and more.
- Prepare the fajita veggies. Sauté sliced bell peppers and red onion in a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season with fajita-style seasoning and cook until softened. You can make these ahead and serve them warm or chilled on top of the salad.
- Assemble the salad. Toss the greens with a portion of the chipotle vinaigrette, then divide among plates or bowls. Top with black beans, diced tomato, corn, sliced avocado, shredded Monterey Jack, and the fajita veggies. Add more dressing if desired.
Protein options to add
This salad pairs well with a wide range of proteins. Try grilled chicken, citrus-garlic shrimp, carne asada, or glazed salmon. Any of these turn the salad into a hearty, complete meal. It also complements pork al pastor, carnitas, or slow-cooked beef barbacoa for more robust, savory options.
Chipotle Fajita Salad with Chipotle Vinaigrette
4 servings
Ingredients
Fajita Veggies
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons fajita seasoning
Chipotle Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
- 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon water
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or rice bran oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
Salad
- 4 cups supergreens (baby kale, baby spinach, and/or chopped romaine)
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup tomato, diced
- 1/2 cup corn, drained
- 1 avocado, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
Instructions
Fajita Veggies
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add sliced bell peppers and onions and cook 5–7 minutes, until softened. Season with fajita seasoning and add 1 tablespoon water. Toss and cook another 2–3 minutes. Set aside.
Prepare the salad
- Combine all chipotle vinaigrette ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Toss the greens with about 1/4 cup of the vinaigrette (adjust to taste).
- Divide the dressed greens between four bowls. Top with black beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, shredded Monterey Jack, and the prepared fajita veggies. Drizzle extra dressing if desired.
Notes
- The vinaigrette yields roughly 1 1/2 cups of dressing. You only need about 1/4 cup for this salad; store the remainder in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- To make the recipe vegan, omit the cheese and substitute agave for honey in the dressing.
- Add protein to turn this into a full meal. Grilled chicken, shrimp, carne asada, or glazed salmon work particularly well.
- This recipe serves 4 as a side. With added protein it becomes a generous main and will serve 2–4 depending on portion size.
Nutrition Facts
If you tried it, consider leaving feedback to help others recreate this chipotle-inspired salad.