I have never been a huge Chipotle fan. Maybe it's the way they ruin their corn salsa with red onions (my least favorite veggie) or the fact that my high school prom date asked me to the dance with a Sharpie and burrito bowl lid (flowers would've been nice). All that shrinkflation talk hasn't helped, either.
Bottom line: no matter the reason, I've always favored Cava or Taco Bell in the fast casual competition. Until now, that is. On Thursday, Chipotle introduced its latest protein offering: Honey Chicken. And to put it lightly, it has completely changed my entire stance on the chain.
Now, let me explain. Because it's my literal job to try new menu offerings, I ordered up two entrées with the new sweet and spicy poultry option and went in with an open mind. When I say I wasn't a "huge Chipotle fan," it doesn't mean I was an adversary of any kind. I just never found myself scrolling Uber Eats and landing on the restaurant as a lunch choice. But just one forkful into the bowl and I was a convert.
The chicken was tender and juicy with just the right balance of honey glaze and pepper heat. The flavors balanced each other so well that I didn’t feel like one was overpowering the other, but the sweet and smokey combo was flavorful enough to shine amongst the toppings. The taste didn’t get lost in the rice, sour cream, or hot salsa that I had piled on top.
And while I loved the Honey Chicken Burrito Bowl, the protein was even better on a quesadilla. The meat is smokey and sweet all at the same time and stole the show when paired with the chain's creamy cheese blend and a classic flour tortilla.
I wasn't the only convert! My mom (who has always been similarly lukewarm on Chipotle) agreed to take just one bite. Suddenly, she had finished the rest of the bowl and downed the second quesadilla. She even informed my dad (who's been begging her to go for years) that they would have to add it to the dinner schedule. "Every bite has a burst of flavor," she says. "For me, it was a little umami."
The Chipotle Honey Chicken rollout, which is now officially nationwide, comes after testing the "fan-favorite menu item" (their words, not mine)(but, it tracks!) in Nashville and Sacramento last year.
“Chipotle Honey Chicken was our top performing limited time offer in test markets and we’re excited for guests to taste this bold, new protein with their go-to order," Chipotle’s chief brand officer Chris Brandt said in a statement. "The delicate balance of heat and a touch of sweet pairs perfectly with our real ingredients prepared fresh every day."
My personal tip? Request the Honey Vinaigrette on the side and pair it with the chicken for even more glorious flavor. Thank me later.
