Burrito bowls for a family of 4 costs $50? Might as well just order Chipotle next time, right?

[Anonymous]

TIL that people buy Whole Foods “guac.”

[Anonymous]

I mean you could but you're making choices about what youi're buying. Starting with guac, I make it. Not where near WF pre-prepared prices. Also do you need two meats? And what is "good salsa"? Again, I make pico and you can make hotter blender salsas (green, red, etc..).

Here's what I do:

Chicken: $10 for 1 lb organic tenders
Beans: $1 can
Rice: let's say $1 but likely pennies
Avocado: $4 for 2-3 depending on the week which is fine for a family of 4
Cilantro: $2
Onion: $1
Tomato: $2
Lettuce: $4
Jalapeno, bell peppers: $3
Lime: $2
Corn (frozen): $2
Sour cream: $4
Cheese: $4
Hot sauce: $4
Can of chipotle in adobo: $2
Spices and oils etc...: come on, you have these

This is $46 BUT except for the chicken and beans and avocados easily makes 2-3 meals or components (leftover veggies, rice, cheese, etc...). So really more like $20 a meal because I'm making salads, rice dishes, other things with the ingredients.

You will have ample leftovers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TIL that people buy Whole Foods “guac.”

Right, at that point just go to Chipotle!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:making a burrito bowl with a bunch of different toppings is going to be labor intensive. If you just did rice, beans, cheese and salsa that would be faster and better than Chipotle.

The key to saving money on your family's Chipotle dupe is to...nix half the toppings, force everyone to eat the same protein, avocados must to be on sale, and don't bother with fresh lime juice in your guac. lol

Was OP’s goal to duplicate Chipotle burrito bowls?A goal to duplicate a restaurant dish (but easy and not expensive) is a questionable goal. To the extent OP is trying to convince herself that it’s not worth it to cook at home and she should just do takeout - sure that’s true if you have unreasonable expectations and little cooking experience.

at the end of the day “rice and beans” is a dish enjoyed in many varieties around the world. It’s cheap and delicious and you can make it at home. But no, it is not going to be a “Chipotle dupe” and also be quick and cheap.

I'm OP and yes, I was hoping to get close enough and or expect substantial savings. Neither really happened and I spent much more than I would have guessed. I think the challenge is when everyone likes the protein variety Chipotle offers. I'm not trying to convince myself or anyone else cooking for your family in general isn't worth it. I cook for my family 5 or 6 nights a week!

Then go forth and order Chipotle when the craving hits! We are the same - cook 90% at home but sometimes fast casual just hits the spot without too much fuss.

I think people are interpreting your post as saying cooking isn’t economical in general.

+1 OP comes off as someone who never cooks. Order Chipotle occasionally if that's what works for you. FWIW I cook 90% of the time but my personal only-order-out is a big salad with lots of mix-ins. I'm not going to that much work at home so sometimes we get Sweet Leaf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TIL that people buy Whole Foods “guac.”

It’s legit amazing. And super fresh. The workers seem genuinely passionate about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TIL that people buy Whole Foods “guac.”

If you do your weekly grocery shopping at WF, why wouldn’t you buy their fresh made guacamole? It’s maybe a couple bucks more than mid-range grocers charge for a large container. It’s not shipped in, the employees told me they don’t carry it at times because it’s so labor intensive in the back. They make it fresh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the ingredients list for the restaurant food. The stuff you made is a lot healthier.

This.

Why do you make this assumption? Where do you believe that Chipotle is unhealthy (except perhaps with salt)?
https://www.chipotle.com/ingredients

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to figure out where people are buying such expensive chicken. I’ve never paid over $1.99/ pound for chicken leg quarters.

Serving street meat to your kids to save a couple dollars. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the ingredients list for the restaurant food. The stuff you made is a lot healthier.

This.

Why do you make this assumption? Where do you believe that Chipotle is unhealthy (except perhaps with salt)?
https://www.chipotle.com/ingredients

Chipotle should put out a press release that they’re avoiding seed oils to make the stock soar. Olive oil and/or some other healthier natural oil is the way forward. We’d absolutely go more often if they would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the ingredients list for the restaurant food. The stuff you made is a lot healthier.

Salt wise or seed oil wise?

I was thinking about the additives but oil quality is another good point.

What additives? I think you are asserting things that you don't know anything about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids love Chipotle so I figured I could easily whip up burrito bowls last night. Family of 4. Steak and chicken. Whole Foods guac. Good salsas. Corn. Rice. Beans. Herbs and spices. Cheese, which I shredded. Onions and peppers. Leafy lettuce. It was over $50, took me well over an hour to prep and cook everything, tons of cleanup, and tasted fine but nothing special. Everyone finished their plates but no rave reviews.

Chipotle is $9-12 per person. And the kids and my husband would prefer it over what I served. Did I do something wrong or does everyone sort of know this and when the family craves burritos or burrito bowls you all order out?

When we do burrito bowls at home it's rice, chicken, frozen corn, sale salsa, guac I make myself if avocados are on sale or no guac otherwise, sour cream, canned beans, cheese, onions, peppers, and lettuce. 2 lb of chicken will set us back about $8, the beans will be about $1.50, guac will cost about $3 to make, salsa about $3.50, onion about $1, peppers about $2-3, frozen corn about $2, lettuce about $4 and we'll hopefully use the rest of it on salads the rest of the week. Rice, sour cream, and cheese are things we always have on hand, but we typically buy the sour cream at $2.50, cheese at $2.50, and a big thing of rice at $10. That's still only setting me back $40 and I've got rice, lettuce, sour cream, and cheese to use for other things still when I'm done.

But yes, burrito bowls are a pain to make because it's a ton of frying pans or a ton of time layering flavors in the same pan. Plus you have to assemble them at the table.

You don’t use fresh lime juice or cilantro in your guacamole? That makes it more than $3.50. And avocados are only 2 for $3.50 if they’re on sale.

No fresh lime juice (refrigerated bottle) and you're right that I forgot the cilantro.

As mentioned, we skip guac entirely when the avocados aren't on sale.

DP you do not put lime juice in fresh guacamole. It is added to guacamole that is not served right an away to prevent browning but changes the taste. Guacamole without lime juice taste much better.

I would say that this is definitely your personal taste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chipotle is not a great value, Mexican food is disgustingly cheap to make. You people may not know how to cook.

That’s what I assumed but I think it’s only a cheap meal if all the family wants ground beef and/or you make it weekly to use all the leftover ingredients before they expire.

+ or - $10 is not enough savings for me to waste all that time shopping, cooking and cleaning for mediocre burrito bowls once or twice a month.

They’re mediocre because you can’t cook well. If it’s the first time you made it now you should know how to do it better. They’re expensive because you don’t meal plan or know how to shop frugally. You won’t learn to cook or teach your children how to cook or budget or meal plan if you order chipotle every time you want a burrito bowl. Next it’ll be Olive Garden every time you want Italian because you can’t make good spaghetti. Once in awhile fine but as a go to? Not good for many reasons. Next time don’t forget the cilantro and lime juice, both fresh. And salt, you need good salt. Do you have good salt? Try this place:

https://www.jqdsalt.com/

You can do this. Keep trying!

You are a really nice person. I had written OP off by page three of this thread (lazy, bad cook, just wants to order food out) but you are actually getting them to try. We have so many good cooks on this forum with creative ideas that it can be hard to keep encouraging when someone is determined to be obstinate. You are a good person.

FWIW last time we had Chipotle (1x in 10 years in an emergency) we all got diarrhea. Also, guacamole should absolutely have lime juice in it. Doesn't need to be fresh. I pick up fresh limes at the asian food store for cheap but also a big bottle of lime juice for backup.

I wouldn't categorize either of you as really nice people. You are way too sanctimonious about food, in a way that is almost disordered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean you could but you're making choices about what youi're buying. Starting with guac, I make it. Not where near WF pre-prepared prices. Also do you need two meats? And what is "good salsa"? Again, I make pico and you can make hotter blender salsas (green, red, etc..).

Here's what I do:

Chicken: $10 for 1 lb organic tenders
Beans: $1 can
Rice: let's say $1 but likely pennies
Avocado: $4 for 2-3 depending on the week which is fine for a family of 4
Cilantro: $2
Onion: $1
Tomato: $2
Lettuce: $4
Jalapeno, bell peppers: $3
Lime: $2
Corn (frozen): $2
Sour cream: $4
Cheese: $4
Hot sauce: $4
Can of chipotle in adobo: $2
Spices and oils etc...: come on, you have these

This is $46 BUT except for the chicken and beans and avocados easily makes 2-3 meals or components (leftover veggies, rice, cheese, etc...). So really more like $20 a meal because I'm making salads, rice dishes, other things with the ingredients.

You will have ample leftovers.

10 bucks a pound for chicken is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to figure out where people are buying such expensive chicken. I’ve never paid over $1.99/ pound for chicken leg quarters.

Serving street meat to your kids to save a couple dollars. No thanks.

"Street meat?" My god quit the hysterics, Harris Teeter sells chicken breasts for $1.99/lb all the time and it's the exact same stuff in the $7.99/lb Tyson package.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TIL that people buy Whole Foods “guac.”

It’s legit amazing. And super fresh. The workers seem genuinely passionate about it.

+1 I usually make my own (to rave reviews from family and friends) but when I don’t have time I will make a trip to WF for their guac. I've never come close to liking any other store made guac but WF's is delicious.