Chipotle Chicken Al Pastor Tacos Hack

Name: Chipotle Chicken Al Pastor Tacos with Queso
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 3 crispy corn tortillas; 6 oz chicken al pastor, cooked; 1 serving roasted chili-corn salsa; 1 serving red chili salsa; 1 serving romaine lettuce, shredded; 1 serving shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 1 large bag tortilla chips; 1 large container queso blanco; 1 large side cilantro lime sauce; 1 22 oz watermelon limeade; Green hot sauce, to taste

This is Alexis Frost's go-to Chipotle order featuring three crispy corn tacos stuffed with seasoned chicken al pastor, roasted chili-corn and red chili salsas, melted Monterey Jack, and romaine, served with large sides of tortilla chips, queso blanco, and cilantro lime sauce for maximum dipping and topping.

🍴Chipotle Copycat

🌍Tex-Mex 🏷️Chipotle 🏷️Tacos 🏷️Chicken al pastor Queso

🏷️

🏷️Cilantro lime sauce

-0:00

alexis.frostonTikTok

Total

Servings

1

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$22–$36

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by alexis.frost

-0:00

alexis.frostonTikTok

Ingredients

3 crispy corn tortillas
6 oz chicken al pastor, cooked
1 serving roasted chili-corn salsa
1 serving red chili salsa
1 serving romaine lettuce, shredded
1 serving shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 large bag tortilla chips
1 large container queso blanco
1 large side cilantro lime sauce
1 22 oz watermelon limeade
Green hot sauce, to tasteoptional

11 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Start with three crispy corn tortillas and fill each with cooked chicken al pastor.
2
Top the chicken with roasted chili-corn salsa, red chili salsa, shredded romaine lettuce, and shredded cheese.
3
Serve the tacos with sides of tortilla chips and queso blanco for dipping.
4
Drizzle the cilantro lime sauce over the tacos before eating. Use any extra for dipping chips.
5
For extra spice, add a few dashes of green hot sauce to the tacos.
6
Enjoy the meal with a watermelon limeade.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Char corn tortillas directly over a gas flame or cast-iron skillet for 20–30 seconds per side to achieve Chipotle's signature crispy texture.
Layer salsas strategically: roasted chili-corn on the bottom for moisture, red chili on top for visible color and heat.
Warm queso blanco gently in a double boiler or low microwave to keep it creamy; overheating breaks the texture.
Assemble tacos immediately before eating to prevent tortillas from becoming soft.

Substitutions

Chicken al pastor → carnitas or barbacoa (different spice profile but same crispy-taco structure)
Monterey Jack → Oaxaca or cotija cheese (firmer melt or crumbly texture)
Cilantro lime sauce → crema mixed with lime juice and garlic (simpler, less herbaceous)
Roasted chili-corn salsa → pico de gallo (fresher, less roasted depth)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooked shredded chicken, salsas, and sauce separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days; reheat chicken gently on the stovetop to avoid drying it out.

Common Questions

Can I make this at home instead of ordering from Chipotle?

Yes. Cook or shred store-bought rotisserie chicken seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and lime; warm corn tortillas over a flame for char; and serve with store-bought or homemade salsas, cheese, and cilantro lime crema.