Chipotle Mexican Grill is known for its delicious burritos, bowls, tacos, and more made with fresh ingredients. Two of Chipotle’s most popular meat options are barbacoa and carnitas. Barbacoa is made from beef while carnitas is made from pork. Both are slow-cooked meats seasoned with signature Chipotle spices. This article will compare difference in barbacoa vs carnitas chipotle – exploring how they are made, their flavors, calories, and more to help you decide which one to order on your next Chipotle trip.
Chipotle barbacoa and carnitas are two of the most popular proteins available at the Mexican grill chain. Both are slow-cooked meats that are full of rich, complex flavors. However, there are some key differences between Chipotle’s barbacoa and carnitas that are worth understanding before you place your order.
What is Barbacoa at Chipotle?
Chipotle barbacoa is made from beef – specifically beef brisket or chuck shoulder clods. The meat is rubbed with Chipotle’s signature blend of spices and then slow-cooked for several hours until it becomes extremely tender.
This cooking method allows the seasonings to penetrate the meat completely. According to Chipotle, their barbacoa meat is cooked for up to 10 hours.
The end result is succulent, juicy, and flavorful beef barbacoa that pulls apart easily. It has a slightly spicy flavor profile thanks to the adobo spice rub. Overall, the barbacoa at Chipotle is a rich, meaty option full of deep, smoky flavors.
What is Carnitas at Chipotle?
Unlike the barbacoa, Chipotle carnitas are made from pork. Specifically, they use pork shoulder or pork butt for the carnitas meat. Similar to the barbacoa, the pork is rubbed with seasonings then slow-cooked until it becomes fall-apart tender. However, carnitas have a slightly different flavor profile.
Chipotle carnitas are cooked with traditional Mexican carnitas seasonings. The spices impart a savory, salty, and slightly sweet flavor. Carnitas are often described as being juicy and succulent with a tender texture. Overall, the carnitas offer a more subtle flavor compared to the spicier barbacoa. The pork flavor really shines through since it is not overpowered by spices.
Barbacoa vs Carnitas Chipotle: How They’re Made
Now that we know the meats used in each dish, let’s look closer at how Chipotle makes their famous barbacoa and carnitas proteins.
Making Chipotle Barbacoa
To make barbacoa, Chipotle starts with high-quality beef brisket or chuck shoulder meat. They rub the meat with a proprietary blend of spices that includes chipotle chile peppers, oregano, cumin, and other seasonings. This creates a marinade or adobo that infuses the meat with flavor.
Next, the meat seasoned with the spice rub is placed in a steamer and slow-cooked at a low temperature for up to 10 hours. This extended cooking time allows the meat to become extremely tender while also concentrating the flavors of the spices. The steam keeps the meat very moist during cooking.
Once fully cooked, the barbacoa beef is removed from the steamer. Chipotle employees then shred or chop the meat by hand before serving it in entrées.
Making Chipotle Carnitas
Chipotle’s carnitas are made using a very similar process, although pork shoulder or butt is used instead of beef. The pork is marinated in a mixture made with garlic, oregano, cumin, pepper, bay leaves, and other warm spices.
Like the barbacoa, the seasoned pork then goes into a steamer and is slow-cooked at a low temperature for several hours. This renders the fatty pork shoulder or butt into tender, succulent meat that is infused with flavor.
Once cooked, the carnitas pork is pulled or chopped by hand before being served in burrito bowls, tacos, and other menu items. The carnitas at Chipotle are made solely from the pork – no extra oils or fats are added during cooking.
Flavor Profiles: Barbacoa vs Carnitas
When it comes to flavor, barbacoa and carnitas offer two distinct tasting experiences due to the differences in the meats and seasonings used.
Chipotle barbacoa has a rich, hearty beef flavor that stands out. The meat is also infused with smoky spice flavors thanks to the adobo blend. You get a subtle heat from the chipotle pepper as well as cumin, garlic, and oregano. Overall, the barbacoa has a bold, complex flavor profile.
The carnitas have a more mellow flavor showcasing the pork. Since pork shoulder or butt is used, the meat has a succulent texture and maintains moistness very well during cooking. The seasonings complement the pork adding hints of garlic, citrus, pepper, and herbs. The overall flavor of the carnitas is savory with a slightly sweet finish.
Which Has More Calories?
If you are watching your calorie intake, you may be wondering whether the barbacoa or carnitas are the lighter option. Here is the nutrition information for each serving:
Chipotle barbacoa – 170 calories in a 4oz serving
Chipotle carnitas – 210 calories in a 4oz serving
Based on these numbers, the barbacoa contains fewer calories per serving compared to the carnitas. There are 40 fewer calories in 4oz of the barbacoa beef versus the carnitas pork.
Keep in mind that the calories can add up quickly depending on the other ingredients in your meal. For example, a burrito with carnitas, rice, beans, salsa, and more can end up being 700+ calories. But if you are counting calories, barbacoa is the lighter meat choice at Chipotle.
what to serve with carnitas?
Carnitas from Chipotle make for amazing tacos and burritos when paired with the right sides and toppings. I recommend adding cilantro-lime rice or beans, like the black or pinto, to complement the pork.
Fresh pico de gallo, tomatillo green salsa, or spicy red salsa can all take it to the next level.
To cool things down, add guacamole and queso fresco. The creamy elements pair perfectly with the carnitas. Some chopped lettuce adds fresh crunch as well.
With all of these classic ingredients, you can build a mouthwatering Chipotle meal featuring their tender, flavorful carnitas as the star player. The pork just needs some tasty accompaniments to round out the flavors.
what to serve with barbacoa?
Chipotle’s tender barbacoa beef makes for amazing tacos and burritos when you pair it with complementary sides.
I recommend hearty cilantro-lime rice or fiber-rich beans like the black or pinto to balance the meat. Barbacoa goes well with bolder salsas, like the spicy red chili or the fresher pico de gallo.
To cool things down, add the rich guacamole and queso fresco for creaminess. Lettuce adds a nice crunch too.
With the right mix of rice, beans, salsa, guacamole, cheese and lettuce, you can build a mouthwatering Chipotle meal featuring their succulent barbacoa beef.
The savory meat just needs some fresh accompaniments to round out all the flavors.
Which Should You Order at Chipotle?
When deciding between barbacoa and carnitas for your next Chipotle order, it really comes down to personal preference. Here are some factors to consider:
If you prefer beef, go with the rich, spicy barbacoa. For a more subtle pork flavor, order the carnitas.
Barbacoa has a bold, complex flavor while the carnitas offer a more straightforward pork taste. Choose based on the intensity of flavor you want.
Since barbacoa is leaner than the pork shoulder, it contains fewer calories per serving. Opt for barbacoa if you are calorie-conscious.
Both meats are slow-cooked for hours and incredibly tender. You can’t go wrong with either if you want a tender, juicy protein.
Like spicy smoky flavors? You may enjoy the kick from the spices used in the barbacoa.
Customize your meal however you want. Barbacoa and carnitas pair well with salsas, lettuce, beans, rice, and other Chipotle ingredients.
As you can see, both barbacoa and carnitas have their perks. Barbacoa offers a bold beef flavor, while carnitas showcase the tender pork. A lot comes down to whether you want a more intense beef or mellower pork taste profile. You really can’t make a bad choice – both meats are delicious!
How to Order Barbacoa or Carnitas at Chipotle
Ordering barbacoa or carnitas at Chipotle is easy. You can choose the meat to go into any entrée including:
Burrito or Burrito Bowl:
Choose a flour tortilla burrito or bowl with your choice of rice, beans, salsa, vegetables, cheese, etc.
Tacos:
Select soft or crunchy tacos with your desired taco toppings.
Salad:
Build a salad with lettuce, salsa, beans, meat, and other fixings.
Chips and Guac:
Get a side of chips and guacamole, with barbacoa or carnitas on the side.
That’s the beauty of the Chipotle menu – you can customize your meal however you like with your choice of meat. When you reach the protein section at the counter, you simply need to say “barbacoa” or “carnitas” to get that meat added to your order.
The prices for barbacoa and carnitas are the same per serving at Chipotle. So the cost of your meal will depend on the other ingredients you select. You really can’t go wrong pairing these tender meats with delicious Chipotle ingredients.
Where to Find a Chipotle Location
If you are craving Chipotle’s famous barbacoa or carnitas, simply head to your local Chipotle restaurant. Chipotle has over 3000 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
You can find your nearest Chipotle using the store locator on the Chipotle website. Simply enter your city and state or ZIP code to see all of the Chipotle restaurants in your area. Some locations are open for dining in, online order pick up, or delivery.
Once you find your nearby Chipotle, stop in and try the mouthwatering barbacoa or carnitas today. You might even try one meat on your first visit and the other on your next trip to compare the flavors side-by-side. With quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods, Chipotle’s proteins offer an authentic Mexican cuisine experience.
FAQs For Barbacoa vs Carnitas Chipotle
Which is spicier: Barbacoa or Carnitas?
The barbacoa at Chipotle tends to be spicier than the carnitas. Chipotle seasons its barbacoa beef with a signature adobo spice blend that contains chipotle chili peppers. This gives it a spicier, bolder flavor profile compared to the more subtle carnitas pork.
Barbacoa or Carnitas: Which is more tender?
Both the barbacoa and carnitas meats at Chipotle are known for being very tender. They use long slow-cooking methods that break down the meat’s fibers. However, the carnitas may have a slight edge when it comes to tenderness due to the high fat content in pork shoulder.
Do Barbacoa and Carnitas have similar calorie counts?
No, the carnitas contain more calories per 4oz serving than the barbacoa at Chipotle. Barbacoa has 170 calories while carnitas have 210 calories. The pork shoulder used for carnitas has higher fat content, resulting in more calories.
Which one is more popular at Chipotle?
While both are popular, the carnitas seem to have a slight edge in popularity among Chipotle customers. The tender pork likely appeals to more general tastes over the spicier, bolder barbacoa.
How do Barbacoa and Carnitas differ in flavor?
The barbacoa has a rich, smoky, and spicy flavor from the adobo seasoning blend. Meanwhile, the carnitas offer a more straightforward and mellow pork flavor showcasing the tender meat.
Which is higher in fat: Barbacoa or Carnitas?
The carnitas contain more fat since they are made from fatty cuts of pork like the shoulder. Barbacoa is leaner since it uses beef brisket or chuck shoulder.
Do they use the same type of meat for Barbacoa and Carnitas?
No, barbacoa is made from beef while carnitas use pork. Specifically, Chipotle uses beef brisket or chuck for barbacoa and pork shoulder or butt for carnitas.
Are there any unique toppings that pair best with Barbacoa or Carnitas?
Hearty sides like beans, rice, and guacamole pair well with both meats. However, bold, spicy salsas bring out the best in the barbacoa while cooling dairy-based salsas complement the carnitas.
is barbacoa or carnitas healthier (Which is More)?
The barbacoa would likely be considered the healthier choice between the two. It is lower in calories and fat since it uses leaner cuts of beef rather than high-fat pork.
Summary
Barbacoa and carnitas are two beloved proteins at Chipotle for good reason – both are tender, juicy, and full of flavor.
Carnitas highlights the supple texture of slow-cooked pork while barbacoa infuses beef with a bold, spicy adobo kick.
Whichever you choose, be sure to pair it with fresh salsas, guacamole, beans, rice, and more to round out your bowl or burrito.
With its authentic cooking techniques, Chipotle gives you a truly tasty taste of Mexico through meats like the barbacoa and carnitas.
