Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (2024)

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Kimber Matherne

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The secret is out! This Corn Salsa recipe was shared by the Official Chipotle account on TikTok. Here is the recipe they gave us, plus some expert tips from Chipotle employees to get it just like your favorite Roasted Chili Corn Salsa in the restaurant!

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Corn Salsa – Chipotle’s Official Recipe!

TikTok is great for hours of entertainment, but I start to get really excited when my favorite restaurants use it to share their signature recipes!

Over the 2020 quarantine, the official Chipotle TikTok account shared several of their famous recipes including the medium Roasted Chili Corn Salsa.

You can see the TikTok corn salsa video here. As you can see, they gave us the ingredients, but weren’t super specific on the quantities or ingredient details.

I have done some sleuth work and grabbing intel from some employees and taken what they have said, combined with what Chipotle gave us and came up with a recipe that tastes just like the restaurant!

Now I know that nothing will replace going to get take out at Chipotle, but this is great for when you want to make a big batch for watching football, or need something EXTRA delicious to serve with your crockpot tacos or burrito bowls.

** Follow my Easy Family Recipes TikTok for more great recipes!

Recipe Notes

The recipe that Chipotle shared was surprisingly quick and easy. The name – Roasted Chili Corn Salsa, makes it sound complex, but it really is very quick to put together. This makes sense since they are making huge batches each day fresh in each busy restaurant!

In this section I am going to go through how we came up with this recipe. Both the TikTok recipe and the notes we got from the website and employees all come into play.

If you want to analyze all the data yourself, it is here… or if you just want to grab the recipe, grab the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (2)

Ingredients

White corn

The video just says corn, however the website details white corn which is sweeter. I have experimented quite a bit and do prefer the taste of white corn, and think it is closer to the restaurant. However, if you can only get yellow corn, it will work too and still taste absolutely delicious.

I also have it on good authority that Chipotle uses frozen corn. In my opinion, this is great because it makes prep super simple. If you prefer fresh corn you can cook corn on the cob per your preferred method, then cut the corn from the cob and use that instead.

Cilantro

Although the recipe calls for a reletively small amount, fresh cilantro is a key ingredient. It provides the only herb/spice in the mixture.

If you are a cilantro lover like me, you can add more if you wish.

If you don’t like cilantro, you can reduce the amount, or leave it out all together, but it will taste different than the Chipotle corn salsa.

Red onion

There is no doubt that Chipotle uses red onion. However if you don’t have any on hand, you can still get good results with yellow or white onion.

Jalapeño

This was a trickier ingredient. In the TikTok video they clearly state that they are using jalapeno. However the Chipotle website states that they use roasted poblano pepper.

The ingredient clearly looks like raw jalapeno. When eating the Roasted Chili Corn Salsa in the restaurant, that is also what it tastes like to me. Also other Chipotle employees have referenced it as jalapeno. The ingredients for the salsa on the website have both listed.

It is very obvious in the video that they are using jalapeno. They do not show or mention poblano peppers, however there are some darker spots in the corn that could be these peppers.

I tried both, and found that there was very little taste difference, so my preference was jalapeno. It is just more easily accessible and there isn’t much difference. So go with jalapeno, or use both jalapeño and poblano peppers. Both will give you great- and very similar results. For the sake of less work, less dishes, and less time, we left them raw and had great results.

I don’t think there is much difference in taste with or without the roasted poblanos, but I do include a option for that in the notes of the recipe card.

Lime and Lemon juice

The TikTok recipe tells us that lime juice is a key ingredient for the recipe. It is poured out of a container clearly filled with juice. However both the website and employees verify that this is a combination of lime juice and lemon juice.

We went with both and this really brought the flavor really close to what you taste in the store.

Salt

This brings all the flavors together. Salt helps to merry everything, but be careful not to over salt or you will taste it.

Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (3)

Recipe Tips

  1. Finely Chop– To get really close to the texture that the Chipotle corn salsa has, you will want to chop the ingredients as finely as you can. The smaller you get the onion, cilantro, and peppers, the more the flavor will combine in each bite.
  2. Combine the lemon lime juice with the onions, jalapeno, and cilantro first. This will help to take some of the bite from the onions and peppers and pull the flavors out of all of the ingredients to marry them. You can clearly see this is the process used to make the corn salsa at Chipotle.
  3. Let sit- This salsa is best after it has sat for at least 30 minutes to give the flavor a chance to develop.

What to Serve with Corn Salsa

We all know the fresh delicious flavors that this Chipotle’s corn salsa delivers! It pairs well with everything from Chipotle classics like burritos, bowls, salads, and tacos to family favorites like grilled chicken, beef, pork and fish.

Here are some favorites that you can elevate by serving with this salsa!

Side Dish Ideas

  • Crockpot Chipotle Chicken – This has a little kick!
  • Mexican Shredded Beef– So good!
  • BBQ Pulled Pork– You won’t believe how good this corn salsa is with the BBQ flavor!
  • Tex Mex Grilled Chicken– My go to recipe!
  • Fast Steak Fajitas – Long time family favorite (I was born and raised in Texas!)
  • Cilantro Lime Chicken– So fresh and delicious!
  • Green Chile Chicken Tacos – SO SO Good!

You can choose to pile this on as a topping, or use it as a side dish. It really will take the flavor of almost any protein up and really make a meal special!

Even better- pair it with my tableside style guacamole and fresh pico de gallo for an over the top delicious meal.

More Salsa Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!

You can check out all of my EASY recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite Salsa recipes below.

  • Fastest (and Tastiest) Homemade Salsa
  • Mango Avocado Salsa
  • Pineapple Jalapeno Salsa
  • Fresh Pico de Gallo

Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (4)

Chipotle Corn Salsa

By: Kimber Matherne

This recipe was shared on the Official Chipotle TikTok account. We tested and adjusted so that it tasted just like the Roasted Chili Corn Salsa from Chipotle restaurants! Perfect as a dip for chips, or add it to burritos, salads, tacos, quesadillas and more.

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

8 servings

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups frozen white corn, thawed
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh jalapeño, finely diced
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Combine the cilantro, onion, jalapeno, lemon and lime juice and mix well.

  • In a large bowl add the corn and salt, then add the onion mixture. Mix all ingredients together.

  • Chill for 30 minutes.

Last step!Share a picture on Instagram and tag me at @easyfamilyrecipes!

Recipe Notes

Substitutions:

  • Frozen White Corn — If you can only get yellow corn, it will still taste absolutely delicious. I also have it on good authority that Chipotle uses frozen corn and that is what I cook with as well. If you prefer fresh corn you can cook corn on the cob per your preferred method, then cut the corn from the cob and use that instead.
  • Cilantro — If you don’t like cilantro, you can reduce the amount, or leave it out all together, but it will taste different than the Chipotle corn salsa.
  • Red Onion — There is no doubt that Chipotle uses red onion. However, if you don’t have any on hand, you can still get good results with yellow or white onion.

How to Store: To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

How to Scale: This recipe can easily be doubled if you are feeding a crowd or halved for smaller portions.

Variations:

Roasted Chili Corn Salsa with Poblanos

  1. Using a gas stove, turn the flame to high. Place one large (or two small) poblano peppers directly in or over the flame with tongs, rotating until the skin is charred and blistered and a blackened color in most areas. If you do not have a gas stove, you can also use a gas grill for 3 to 5 minutes.

  2. Place the peppers a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let sit until the skin starts to loosen and the peppers are cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.

  3. Use gloves or a kitchen towel, carefully rub the blackened skin so that it loosens and comes off then discard the skin. Lay the pepper flat. Cut out stem, seeds and ribs, then finely chop.

  4. Add the chopped roasted pepper to the corn mixture and continue with recipe as directed.

Roasted Chili Corn Salsa with Fresh Corn

  1. Cook 3-4 ears of corn in a pot of boiling water, or per your preferred method.
  2. Cool in an ice bath or the refrigerator. Once cool, cut the corn from the cob and use 2 cups of kernels to make this recipe.

Big Batch Chipotle Corn Salsa

If you need to feed a crowd, use this to make double the amount (roughly 5-6 cups)

  • 4 cups white corn
  • 1/4 cup diced jalapeño
  • 1/2 cup diced cilantro
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 2 tablespoons lime Juice
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 40kcal (2%), Carbohydrates: 9g (3%), Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 1g (2%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Sodium: 147mg (6%), Potassium: 104mg (3%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 3g (3%), Vitamin A: 34IU (1%), Vitamin C: 4mg (5%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (5)
Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (6)

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Leave a Reply

  1. k

    Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (7)
    so easy

    Reply

  2. Lindsay

    Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (8)
    This recipe is a perfect substitute for Chipotle’s corn salsa. I’m soo happy to have found this.

    Reply

  3. Rhonda

    I have a glass top stove, can I do the peppers in the oven? What temp and rack/pan too?

    Reply

  4. Mackenzi Shepherd

    Just wanted to say (as a former Chipotle employee) this is the most accurate recipe i’ve come across for the salsa! They do in fact use fresh Jalapeños, no poblanos!

    Reply

Chipotle Corn Salsa (Official Chipotle TikTok Recipe!) (2024)

FAQs

What is Chipotle's corn salsa made of? ›

The ingredients are yellow & white corn, diced poblano peppers, citrus juice (they use a mix of lemon & lime that comes in one gallon jugs), salt, cilantro, diced red onion, and diced jalapeño with the seeds. What is a great chipotle-based salsa recipe?

What corn do they use at Chipotle? ›

Corn- The Chipotle website says they use white sweet corn however you can use white or yellow corn. I love using fresh corn in the summertime however you can make this recipe all year round with frozen or canned corn. Red onion- adds color and zesty flavor. You can substitute white or yellow onion.

Why is Chipotle corn so good? ›

The roasted chili corn salsa at Chipotle Mexican Grill is super popular for good reason! It's mild, lightly sweet, and bursting with freshness from cilantro, jalapeno, and lime.

Does Chipotle use frozen corn? ›

Corn: Chipotle employees have reported with Chipotle uses frozen corn. To substitute fresh corn, bring a large pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat.

Why is the Chipotle salsa so spicy? ›

For the salsa in question, Chipotle uses chiles de árbol, which range from from 15,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). For context, jalapeños measure at around 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, while ghost peppers clock in at 800,000 to 1,000,000 — or even hotter.

What kind of sour cream does Chipotle use? ›

I worked there for 5 years, its actually Daisy sour cream. We are supposed to beat the bag of sour cream before putting it in a pan, some people do it to much and it gets too liquidy. Also because if it is too thick you cannot layer it onto the burrito quickly or correctly.

Is the Chipotle corn spicy? ›

It's a little spicy, a little tangy, and bursting with fresh corn and peppers. It's perfect to add to your favorite salads or burrito bowls, or even to eat on its own, with chips, as a healthy and fresh snack! Friends, how many of you love Chipotle?

What kind of rice does Chipotle use? ›

Around here, all you need to know is that we use long-grain white rice. We have always been committed to preparing real food made with real ingredients. You know, the kind you can recognize and pronounce.

Is Chipotle corn Vegan? ›

Whether you go taco or burrito, flour or corn, all of Chipotle's tortilla options are vegan. Have you done the tortilla on-the-side trick? If you like to build your tacos as you go, order a bowl and ask for three taco tortillas on the side.

Is Chipotle healthier than McDonald's? ›

By analyzing calorie counts, sodium level and overall nutrients in a basic entree, you may realize Chipotle may not be the best option when compared against other fast-food heavyweights, such as McDonald's. The main problem when eating at Chipotle comes with sodium intake.

Why is Chipotle better than Taco Bell? ›

Essentially, they try to source the very best ingredients and prepare them by hand. By choosing to serve their Mexican cuisine with whole, fresh ingredients and high-quality meat, Chipotle has a clearly defined differentiator in the Mexican fast food category.

Why is Chipotle successful on TikTok? ›

With nearly half of Chipotle's customer base falling into the Millennial and Gen Z age category, Chipotle has invested heavily into the TikTok platform. Chipotle regularly creates branded hashtag challenges, such as #ChipotleLidFlip and #GuacDance which generated 318M and 1.1B views respectively.

Does Chipotle corn have onions? ›

Chipotle Corn Salsa (Copycat Recipe!) Loaded with super sweet corn, red onion, cilantro, jalapeno and roasted poblano peppers!

Does Chipotle use bacon? ›

The beans are cooked with "a small amount of bacon," unlike the Mexican chain's black beans, which are vegan. But in-store menus do not indicate the porkiness of the pinto, and Chipotle's burrito assemblers are instructed to inform customers of the bacon inclusion only if they order a burrito without other meat.

Does Chipotle use honey? ›

Honey is one of the ingredients in our Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette, which we make from scratch in small batches every morning.

What is corn salsa made of? ›

Corn Salsa Ingredients

Vegetables: You'll need canned corn, an orange bell pepper, a red onion, and a jalapeño. Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds flavor and color. Lime juice: Brighten things up with fresh lime juice. Honey: Honey lends subtle sweetness.

Is the corn salsa at Chipotle vegan? ›

Our tortillas, vegetables, rice, beans, salsas, chips and guacamole, are vegetarian and vegan.

Is Chipotle corn tortilla healthy? ›

Corn tortillas are not only lower in carbs and calories than flour tortillas but also higher in calcium (1). Most items on the Chipotle menu also come with your choice of rice. If you're looking to lose weight, you can skip the rice to keep the calorie content low.

What is Chipotle Pico de Gallo made of? ›

Pico de Gallo is a chunky salad-like appetizer made with chopped tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, cilantro, salt, and lime juice.

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