Whole30 Copycat Chipotle Vinaigrette is the perfect way to make the Chipotle honey vinaigrette at home, but with healthier ingredients. This copycat chipotle dressing is made with dried chipotle chiles and is sweetened with dates instead of honey.
30 minutes
Minimal prep
You’ll Learn: How to rehydrate dried chiles and dates to infuse depth and sweetness
Worth It: Bold flavor with clean ingredients
Bonus: Using dates keeps the sugar level down
Upgrade your salads and make Chipotle’s honey vinaigrette at home
Can we all be honest with each other for a second? If you are ordering the salad at Chipotle, you are ordering it for the dressing. This Whole30 copycat Chipotle vinaigrette tastes SO much like the original that it cures all of my Chipotle cravings.
Making this dressing at home is a HUGE win for both my wallet and my Whole30 life. There are now Whole30 approved chipotle bowls, but the dressing doesn’t fit into the approved items.
What ingredients are in the Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette?
The original dressing at Chipotle is made with pretty good ingredients. It is made with black pepper, Chipotle chili, cumin, garlic, honey, oregano, red wine vinegar, rice bran oil, salt and water.
To make this Chipotle dressing Whole30 compliant I swapped the honey for some dates and used olive oil instead of rice bran oil. My version reduces the sugar content from 12g a serving to 3g a serving. It also uses a healthier, more common oil.
How do I make a healthy Chipotle salad at home?
Well, I couldn’t properly enjoy this Whole30 copycat Chipotle vinaigrette without a full Chipotle-style salad. I started with a bed of chopped romaine lettuce. Then I made sautéed fajita veggies.
First, I sliced one red onion and one orange bell pepper and sautéed them in avocado oil over medium-low heat until soft and slightly caramelized about 20 minutes.
Then, I made some quick Mexican chicken by cubing boneless skinless chicken thighs and cooking them in avocado oil and some of my favorite taco seasoning.
Next, I cooked the chicken over medium heat for about 7 minutes, tossing frequently. I allowed both the chicken and veggies to cool slightly and then layered them on a bed of romaine with the pico de gallo and guacamole.
I finished the whole thing off with this Whole30 copycat Chipotle vinaigrette for the perfect healthy, delicious and easy salad!
What kitchen tools will I need to make this Chipotle vinaigrette recipe?
You only need a few basic ingredients and kitchen tools to make this healthy and delicious Whole30 copycat Chipotle vinaigrette. Start with dried chipotle chiles and some pitted dates. Boil some water to rehydrate the chiles and dates.
The only other kitchen equipment you will need is a high-quality high-speed blender like a Vitamix. Other than that I like to have some glass jars or squeeze bottles on hand to store my dressing in in the fridge.
Can I use Chipotle Chiles in Adobo to make this Whole30 Copycat Chipotle Vinaigrette?
Short answer: YES! Still, use 2 chiles with a small bit of the sauce. You do not need to rehydrate these chiles.
Long answer: Are you on the Whole30 or following a strict paleo diet? If so you will need to closely examine the ingredients in the chiles in adobo.
In my experience, almost all of them contain some kind of sugar that is not allowed on the Whole30 so you should stick to the dried chipotle chiles which can be found in most grocery stores or on amazon.
Let’s make a copycat Chipotle salad dressing!
To make this Whole30 copycat Chipotle vinaigrette boil water and pour boiling water over dried chipotle chiles and pitted dates. This will rehydrate the chiles and dates.
Let the chipotle chiles and dates sit in the warm water for about 30 minutes to rehydrate the chiles and dates.
Then, drain the water from the chiles and dates and add them to a high-speed blender. Next, add red wine vinegar, water, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, and salt to the blender.
Blend until chiles and dates are fully incorporated and a smooth sauce remains. Then, with the blender running on medium speed, slowly stream in the extra light olive oil.
Keep the blender running until a smooth dressing remains. Enjoy your Whole30 copycat Chipotle vinaigrette immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
How long will this Whole30 Chipotle salad dressing keep in the fridge?
Store your homemade Chipotle dressing in the fridge in an airtight container. I like to use a mason jar with a plastic lid.
Store your dressing in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Shake vigorously between uses to evenly mix ingredients.
Keep reading to find the full recipe for this dressing. If you make it, please let me know in the comments or on Instagram!
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Email Recipe for Later
Recipe
Whole30 Copycat Chipotle Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 dried chipotle peppers
- 2 pitted dates
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup extra light olive oil
Instructions
- Boil water and pour boiling water over dates and chipotle peppers in a bowl
- Allow dates and peppers to soak in boiling water for 30 minutes to rehydrate and soften
- Drain water and add dates and peppers to a high speed blender
- Add salt, cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder, water, and red wine vinegar to the blender
- Blend on high until peppers and dates are blended in
- Reduce blender speed to medium and slowly stream extra light olive oil into the top of the blender
- Blend until all oil is fully incorporated into the dressing
- Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge
- Shake well before each use
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Leave a Reply