Does Chipotle Offer Plant-Based Meat?

A New York Times article sheds light on how fast-food restaurants have taken advantage of the demand for plant-based foods by adding vegan meats to their menus. VegNews reports that Burger King began offering the Impossible Whopper to customers in 2019 and that White Castle started slinging Impossible sliders in 2018. Additionally, per Insider, the vegetarian-friendly Impossible Breakfast Sandwich hit the menus of Starbucks stores nationwide in 2020 and Panda Express added Beyond Chicken to its menus for a limited time in September of 2022, after a successful early launch.

Mexican food has always been a good choice of cuisine for vegans and vegetarians due to the large number of meals that incorporate beans and fresh vegetables. Chipotle listened to that segment of its customer base when it introduced its Lifestyle Bowls in 2019. According to a 2019 press release, the restaurant chain began offering a tofu-based protein option called sofritas in 2014, and 75 million pounds were sold that year. In the announcement, Chris Brandt, chief marketing officer of Chipotle, stated "Since introducing Sofritas five years ago, Chipotle has provided flavorful options for every lifestyle while simultaneously doing something good for the planet."

The demand for vegan meats is growing, and companies see it's not just a trend. You can't ignore when a food titan like Nestlé amps up production of their plant-based products, calling it "the future of food" (via FoodDive).

Recognizing this demand for tasty plant-based meats, in 2022, Chipotle added another "flavorful option" for the burrito bowls and tacos of vegans and vegetarians — plant-based chorizo. According to an announcement from Chipotle in January 2022, the vegan meat was tested in markets in Denver and Indianapolis in August of 2021 and performed so well that Chipotle decided to release it nationally for a limited time.

However, despite its popularity, plant-based chorizo was pulled from Chipotle's menu less than a year after it debuted. Disappointed customers took to Twitter to express their displeasure, tagging Chipotle in an effort to get the attention of the fast casual restaurant.

Many may wonder why someone who doesn't eat meat would be so interested in food that looks and tastes so much like it. According to Skye Michael Conroy, a plant-based chef and cookbook author, the answer may be that many vegans and vegetarians don't give up meat because they don't enjoy the taste, rather, most give it up for ethical or health reasons. "Meat analogues provide the satisfaction of eating something I can sink my teeth into; of hearty foods that fill me up and stick to my ribs," says Conroy on his website, The Gentle Chef.

From a healthy eating standpoint, even though many processed plant-based meats contain up to 14 grams of fat (via Healthline), they may still be better for you than beef. According to a study by the University of Bath, plant-based meats are also better for the environment as their production emits fewer greenhouse gases than animal products. Perhaps it's time to bring back that plant-based chorizo, Chipotle.