With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a spot-on copycat Chipotle corn salsa recipe!
This isn’t the first time we’ve tackled making homemade versions of Chipotle menu items, and it certainly will not be the last.
After re-creating their famous marinated and grilled Chipotle chicken, Chipotle guac recipe and conquering their secret Chipotle honey vinaigrette, it seemed only fitting that we also share a recipe for their Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa (known colloquially as Chipotle corn salsa).
With this trio of Chipotle fan favorites, you’re well on your way to making your own Chipotle-style chicken salad, tacos or burrito at home. Yay!
How to Make Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Yield: about 2 cups
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 jalapeno, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
Editor’s Tip: If it is accessible to you, try to locate fresh or frozen sweet white corn for the most authentic Chipotle corn salsa. It’s what they use in their recipe. However, if all you can find is a blend of white and yellow corn, it’s equally delicious.
Directions
Step 1: Salt the corn
In a medium bowl, toss the corn kernels with 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt. Set aside.
Editor’s Tip: If using frozen corn, do your best to drain and remove as much excess water from the corn as possible before salting.
Step 2: Mix
In a separate small bowl, stir together the red onion, jalapeno, cilantro and lime juice.
Step 3: Combine
Add the onion-jalapeno mixture to the salted corn and toss it together. Season with additional salt and lime juice to taste.
Step 4: Chill
Cover the salsa with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Let the salsa chill for at least an hour before serving.
Editor’s Tip: If you’re short on time, you can immediately serve the salsa after mixing the ingredients. However, in testing, we felt the flavors married together nicely if allowed to chill in the fridge for a bit.
Tips for Making Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
How can you adjust the spice level of copycat Chipotle corn salsa?
If you’re looking to add extra heat to the original Chipotle corn salsa recipe, feel free to add additional jalapenos to the salsa. You can also get creative and try adding one of these pepper varieties to the mix.
What else can you add to copycat Chipotle corn salsa?
One of our favorite things about making and sharing copycat recipes from restaurants is it allows everyone to make the recipe their own. This Chipotle corn salsa recipe is no different. It’s versatile, so feel free to be creative. Take some inspiration from one of these other creative corn recipes.
There’s some speculation online that Chipotle includes lemon juice in their recipe and diced roasted poblano peppers. We opted to omit them from our version and felt the resulting salsa tasted almost exactly like the batch we picked up from our local Chipotle. However, if a bit of lemon and roasted poblano sound enticing, by all means, toss them in!
Roasting fresh corn on your grill or the oven before adding it to the salsa is another fantastic way to doctor up this copycat recipe and add an extra layer of tantalizing fire-roasted flavor to every bite.
Can you make copycat Chipotle corn salsa ahead of time?
As noted previously, we recommend chilling the salsa for at least an hour before serving to let the flavors come together.
Beyond the initial chill, Chipotle corn salsa may be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. You can also freeze corn salsa for up to 3 months (especially if you use these freezer storage tips). Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving. We suggest adding a pinch of salt and a squeeze of fresh lime juice before serving to brighten the flavors.
Don’t forget the chips! Here are our Test Kitchen’s favorite brands of tortilla chips.
FAQs
A sweet salsa with medium heat, copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa recipe is made with roasted poblano peppers, jalapeños, red onion, citrus juice, and plenty of corn.
Is chipotle roasted chili corn salsa healthy? ›
High-Sodium Salsas:
The roasted chili-corn salsa contributes 80 calories and 330 mg of sodium, so we recommend choosing either of the tomatillos.
Does chipotle corn have onions? ›
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.
What is Chipotle salsa made of? ›
This chipotle salsa requires only seven basic ingredients, and the end result tastes so fresh. You'll need canned tomatoes, onion and garlic, fresh cilantro, jalapeño and chipotle peppers, and fresh lime. This chipotle salsa is easy to make and comes together in about 10 minutes.
What kind of sour cream does Chipotle use? ›
Have you ever wondered how Chipotle makes their sour cream so good? Well, let me show you how to do. All right. Chipotle uses the brand Daisy, so that's what we're using.
Is eating Chipotle every day healthy? ›
So Is Chipotle Healthy? The answer is yes! Chipotle can be quite healthy if you follow the simple guidelines above. Stick with the brown rice over the white rice, try to stay away from the chips or fried tortillas, and load up on fresh veggies and toppings.
Why is the Chipotle salsa so hot? ›
Chipotle uses the chile d árbol for its Tomatillo Red Chile Salsa, which ranges from 15,000 to 30,000 Scoville units. (When mixed with other ingredients, it loses much of its punch, however.)
Who owns Chipotle? ›
Chipotle Mexican Grill is a publicly traded company, meaning its shareholders own it. The largest shareholders of Chipotle are investment companies, including The Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation.
What cheese does Chipotle use? ›
What cheese does Chipotle use? In most of their dishes, Chipotle Mexican Grill uses a shredded blend of two kinds of cheese: White cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. On their menu, the cheese blend is referred to as "shredded cheese," and it is used in burritos, tacos, and salads.
Is corn salsa good for diabetics? ›
Yes, corn will raise your blood sugar because it contains carbohydrates. However, it has a low glycemic index and is a good source of fiber. Pairing it with foods rich in fiber, protein, and fat can help reduce the rate at which your blood sugars rise and promote blood sugar management.
What is a Lifestyle Bowl? Chipotle Lifestyle Bowls are curated bowls designed to help you meet your goals no matter what they are – Keto, Whole30®, Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, High Protein, Gluten Free, or Grain Free. Our Lifestyle Bowls are only available on the Chipotle App and Chipotle.com.
What can you put in a bowl at Chipotle? ›
Your choice of freshly grilled meat or sofritas served in a delicious bowl with rice, beans, or fajita veggies, and topped with guac, salsa, sour cream or cheese.
What are chipotle corn tortillas made of? ›
And ALL fresh as opposed to what some people say. As another answer said, they're corn tortillas made by Chipotle itself and shipped directly to the restaurants. According to the box, the recipe is corn masa flour and a trace of lime (that's literally the only ingredients on there, no joke).
Is the corn salsa at chipotle vegan? ›
Our tortillas, vegetables, rice, beans, salsas, chips and guacamole, are vegetarian and vegan. If you eat dairy, our shredded Monterey Jack cheese and queso are made with vegetable-based rennet and our sour cream is 100% cultured cream.
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 the green salsa at chipotle called? ›
Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa. Chips & Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa.
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
