Chipotle Just Dropped a ‘Swicy’ New Menu Item, and Fans Already Can’t Get Enough
This limited-time menu item is already a hit in test markets, and Chipotle fans won’t want to miss it.
Food & Wine / Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill is giving its customers something sweet. At least for a little while.
On Thursday, the California-based fast-casual restaurant announced that it is bringing Chipotle Honey Chicken to its locations in North America and Europe for a limited time. Chipotle Rewards members can access the new menu item early today through the Chipotle app, Chipotle.com, and Chipotle.ca. And starting March 7, guests who are not Rewards members in the United States, Canada, the U.K., France, and Germany can also order Chipotle Honey Chicken for their in-restaurant and digital orders.
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Chipotle explained that the menu item "perfectly balances unique heat from chipotle peppers and a touch of sweetness from pure wildflower honey." It's made with the chain's grilled chicken, which is then seasoned with Mexican spices and tossed in a marinade of seared, smoked chipotle peppers and that touch of honey.
The flavor offering is attributed to its trending status, with Chipotle referencing the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot 2025 Culinary Forecast,” which identified "honey" as a leading ingredient for 2025. "Honey is the bee’s knees for 2025. Honey and seeds and hot honey top both the ingredients and flavors/condiments categories, respectively, in this year’s What’s Hot forecast," the report stated. "Honey is a sugar, but it’s high in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s a natural, versatile product. Its rich, mild flavor pairs perfectly with seeds, nuts, and spices in an unlimited number of culinary combinations — a drizzle of honey and sesame seeds over a square of Italian Robiola or Greek feta could be a menu starter or dessert."
That prediction proved accurate during Chipotle's stage-gate testing of the Chipotle Honey Chicken in Nashville, Tennessee, and Sacramento, California, where customers quickly fell head over heels and ordered it over and over again.
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“Chipotle Honey Chicken was our top performing limited-time offer in test markets, and we’re excited for guests to taste this bold, new protein with their go-to order,” Chris Brandt, the chief brand officer at Chipotle, shared. “The delicate balance of heat and a touch of sweet pairs perfectly with our real ingredients prepared fresh every day.”
To make ordering even easier, Chipotle is featuring the new protein in its "Most Popular Chipotle Honey Chicken Bowl" on the Chipotle app and online, which includes the Chipotle Honey Chicken with white rice, black beans, fajita veggies, tomato salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce. So yes, lunch is sorted.
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