Chipotle Steak Salad: The Leanest Entree on the Menu (2026)
Pair the leanest meat on the menu with the lightest base and you get the steak salad: charred, chopped adobo steak over supergreens, no rice, no tortilla. At 150 calories for the protein it is the lowest-calorie entree format Chipotle sells, right up until the honey vinaigrette lands on it. Here are the numbers, the price, and the build cutting-phase eaters actually order.
The Chipotle steak salad puts chopped adobo-grilled steak on a supergreens base: about 375 calories built plain with 26g protein, typically $12.25 to $13.75 (premium meat tier). The included honey vinaigrette adds 220 calories, so most cutting builds skip it.
- Leanest protein on the menu: steak at 150 calories and 6g fat per portion.
- Built plain: roughly 375 calories, the lowest-calorie entree format available.
- Price: $12.25 – $13.75, premium tier alongside barbacoa.
- Skip the vinaigrette (220 cal) and salsa becomes a free dressing.
- Keto-ready: no rice or beans needed, under 10g net carbs built lean.
The Steak Salad Build
The steak salad is a supergreens base, romaine, baby kale, and baby spinach, topped with steak that is marinated in chipotle adobo, grilled in small batches, and chopped to order. The char survives on greens better than it does buried in rice, which is why regulars argue the salad is the best format for steak. Toppings are unrestricted; the format simply removes the rice. It shares the salad menu with the chicken version.
Steak Salad Price & Tier
| Item | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Steak salad | $12.25 – $13.75 |
| Chicken salad (comparison) | $10.75 – $12.25 |
| Add guacamole | +$2.95 – $3.40 |
Steak sits in the premium tier, about $1.50 to $2.50 above chicken. Barbacoa swaps in at the same price if you want heat instead of char.
Macros: Why This Is the Cutting Order
| Build | Calories | Protein | Net Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens + steak + salsa (leanest) | ~190 | 22g | ~4g |
| + fajita veggies + cheese | ~320 | 28g | ~7g |
| + black beans (standard build) | ~450 | 36g | ~20g |
| + honey vinaigrette | +220 | 0g | +12g |
At 7.1 calories per gram of protein, steak is the most calorie-efficient red meat here. The leanest configuration clears keto thresholds comfortably; the vinaigrette alone would break them.
The Cutting-Phase Configuration
The configuration cutting-phase regulars use: double steak, supergreens, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, no dressing, no beans, roughly 340 calories with 43g protein. Add cheese for satiety at 110 calories, or guac if fats are the priority. Prefer flavor over macros? Barbacoa swaps in free at the same tier. Both proteins and the full topping strategy are mapped on the salad menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in a Chipotle steak salad?
About 375 calories built plain with standard toppings and 26 grams of protein. A minimal build (greens, steak, salsa) runs closer to 190, while the included honey vinaigrette adds 220 calories.
How much is a steak salad at Chipotle?
Typically $12.25 to $13.75, since steak sits in the premium protein tier roughly $1.50 to $2.50 above chicken. Guacamole costs extra.
Is the steak salad keto-friendly?
Yes, built without beans or dressing it lands around 4 to 7 grams of net carbs, comfortably keto. The honey vinaigrette adds about 12g of sugar and would break most keto targets.
Steak salad or chicken salad?
Chicken delivers more protein (32g vs 21g per portion) for less money; steak delivers fewer calories and less fat with a firmer, charred texture. Cutting hard on calories favors steak, maximizing protein per dollar favors chicken.
What dressing comes with a Chipotle salad?
The Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette, roughly 220 calories with about 12g of sugar. You can decline it or ask for it on the side, and many regulars use salsa as a zero-calorie substitute.
Methodology
Nutrition reflects Chipotle official per-ingredient data as of October 2026; hand-scooped portions vary by location, so figures are honest ranges. Prices reflect typical U.S. markets and change without notice. Confirm current details on the official chipotle.com ordering page.