Whole30 Copycat Chipotle Vinaigrette

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.

The oringal Chipotle dressing is made with lots of honey and unfavorable oils. I sweetened this Whole30 copycat Chipotle vinaigrette naturally with dates. I also used olive oil which is less processed than the oil originally used by Chipotle

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But what about the rest of the bowl?

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!

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 instead?

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.

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.

If you aren’t consuming the dressing all at once, be sure to shake well between uses. Keep reading to find the full recipe for this dressing. If you make it, please let me know in the comments or on Instagram!