For perspective, we’re not talking a gee, Chipotle sure tastes yummy kind of obsession. This is more of a have-the-app-earn-rewards-crave-a-Chipotle-fix-so-much-I’m-willing-to-sneak-in-lunch-and-hide-the-evidence-so-the-kids-won’t-figure-it-out-when-they-get-home-from-school sort of thing. Chipotle loves me so much they gave me free guac and chips for my birthday. Free guac and chips, people.

There aren’t many fast food places I can eat these days. Between the gluten-y buns on those cheeseburgers, that gluten-y breading on chicken, and the overwhelming temptation to Just Order The Damn Fries Already pretty much everything’s off the table. I can kinda order a salad…maybe. And the baked potato at Wendy’s is an option…if it’s plain. Let’s just say when we’re on a road trip the struggle is real.

So you can imagine my joy when a Chipotle opened up down the street from us. Well, no, you probably can’t imagine my joy – not unless you’re one of those people who does a happy dance in their kitchen over easy access to Mexican food, too. There’s gotta be a bunch of us out here. We should form a club with t-shirts that say My boyfriend ordered Chipotle and all I got was this stupid t-shirt so I guess he’s not a keeper.™ 

BrightSide is clearly a keeper.

Let’s just say I’ve done more than my part to help launch another successful location for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Too much more “help” and they’ll name a booth after me in that place. So what I’m about to tell you in no way insinuates you should not visit Chipotle. As a matter of fact, I think you should. I think you should go today and enjoy that delightful combination of rice and beans, meats and veggies, cheese and salsa and omg the guac. (No, Chipotle isn’t paying me to give this glowing recommendation, though they should absolutely feel free to throw discounts my way if they’re so inclined.)

But every now and then I feel a tiny twinge about the moola. Sure, it helps Chipotle to cash out my app order with Apple Pay but that sh*t adds up, man. So in the interest of crowdsourcing here is the magical thing I made with my very own hands last night.

Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls CFC Style

You guys, this stuff is swoon worthy. BrightSide and I built yummy bowls that practically made me weep with joy. One kid’s not into food touching so those helpings went onto a plate. The other ended up making a chicken and cheese quesadilla which bothered me not one tiny bit as I sat digging into a pile of food that was just as delicious as the official Chipotle bowl I had last week. By the grace of god I’m the only one in my house that eats guac – I’m sincerely sorry if this isn’t the case for you and you have to share, maybe make a double batch to compensate, I don’t know.

CHIPOTLE FOREVER! (Except sometimes the home version.)