Chipotle Steak Marinade

Like Chipotle's Chicken and Barbacoa, the Steak gets its flavor from dried ancho chiles and adobo sauce.

To create this smoky flavor at home, you can:

Buy Ancho Chile powder online (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through this link) Make your own Ancho Chile powder Soak Dried ancho chiles (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through this link)

Marinade Method 1: Using Ancho Chile Powder

Ancho Chile Pepper powder is widely available online (see link above) or in most grocery stores, or you may make your own.

1/4 cup of the powder is equivalent to 2 oz. of the peppers (stems and seeds removed, ground up).

Marinade Method 2: Soaking Dried Ancho Chiles

Slow-Soaking the dried ancho chiles takes at least 12 hours. Once the chiles are soft, you open them up, remove the stems, and rinse out the seeds (I recommend using kitchen or latex gloves). For additional heat, add in seeds from the chipotle peppers.

the dried ancho chiles takes at least 12 hours. Once the chiles are soft, you open them up, remove the stems, and rinse out the seeds (I recommend using kitchen or latex gloves). For additional heat, add in seeds from the chipotle peppers. Quick-Soaking will save you hours. You toast the dried chiles in a skillet and microwave them in water.

Chipotle does not use red onion in their marinade, but I include it because I think it tastes better. I had to decide if I would post the recipe that tastes closest to Chipotle's recipe, or if I would post the recipe that tastes the best. I kept the onion.

Combine all the marinade ingredients in a food processor or blender.

What is Chipotle Steak made of?

Chipotle only lists "Beef" in their ingredient statement. However, a clever Quora user emailed Chipotle customer service and learned that Chipotle steak could be one or more of the following cuts:

Loin

Ball tip

Round

Flat

Top butt

Clod

Knuckle

At the average grocery store, I am able to find loin, round, and flat steak. So, those are the ones I listed in my recipe. But if you can find knuckle (or anything else), toss it in!

How to Cook Chipotle Steak:

Chipotle grills their steak on a flat-top grill.

Here are your cooking options at home:

Stove-top skillet (indoor, similar to Chipotle's method) Gas grill (outdoor, minimal cleanup)

Braising, sautéing, baking, roasting, and slow cooking are out.

I also don't recommend cooking the steak ahead of time (although you can certainly marinate it ahead).

What is a substitute for adobo sauce?

Whisk together:

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or 1/2 teaspoon each smoked paprika and cayenne powder)

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Pinch EACH of oregano, garlic powder, and salt

What can I do with my leftover Chipotle peppers and/or adobo sauce?

Transfer to a bag and freeze for future use, or use in: