Chipotle Cilantro Lime Sauce
A creamy blend of cilantro, lime and roasted jalapeños. Explore price references, ingredients, serving sizes and ways to add it to your next order.
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Introduction
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Sauce is a creamy topping made with cilantro, lime, roasted jalapeños, Mexican spices and sour cream. It adds an herb-and-citrus flavor to a customized Chipotle meal.
Chipotle launched the sauce in the United States and Canada on March 19, 2026, as a limited-time addition. Its original announcement does not guarantee continued availability at every restaurant, so check your selected location before ordering.
This guide explains its ingredients, published price references, serving-size differences and how to order it with your preferred entrée. Visit our Chipotle menu guide for more menu information.
What Is Chipotle Cilantro Lime Sauce?
Cilantro Lime Sauce is a prepared sauce that customers can add to an entrée or order alongside their food. Chipotle describes it as made fresh daily, with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
It is different from cilantro-lime rice, salsa and a plain serving of sour cream. Although some ingredients overlap, the finished sauce has its own recipe and should be checked separately when comparing price or nutrition.
Ordering it on the side can help you control how much you add. It also lets you try the flavor before mixing it through an entire bowl or salad.
Ingredients and Flavor
Chipotle’s launch announcement names these main components:
| Ingredient | What it contributes |
|---|---|
| Hand-chopped cilantro | Fresh herb flavor |
| Lime | Citrus and tanginess |
| Roasted jalapeños | Pepper flavor and heat |
| Mexican spices | Additional seasoning |
| Sour cream | Creamy base |
These are the announced ingredients rather than a complete ingredient or allergen declaration.
What Does It Taste Like?
Based on the recipe, expect a creamy sauce with cilantro, citrus and roasted-pepper flavors. The sour cream provides richness, while lime adds a tangy finish.
This is an ingredient-based description rather than a first-hand taste review. The amount used and the other ingredients in your meal will affect the overall flavor.
Is Cilantro Lime Sauce Spicy?
Chipotle describes the sauce as having a subtle kick. However, roasted jalapeños can still be noticeable to someone who prefers mild food.
If you are uncertain about the heat, request it separately and add a small amount first. Your salsa and protein choices can also influence how spicy the complete order tastes.
Ingredient and flavor reference: Chipotle launch release.
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Sauce Price
A verified nationwide official price was not established in the reviewed information. A third-party menu tracker reports different prices for an entrée topping and a separate side.
| Order format | Reported price | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| Sauce added to an entrée | $1.00 | Reported median add-on price |
| Separate side | $1.50 | Reported pickup price at sampled restaurants |
| Separate side for delivery | $1.95 | Reported median delivery price |
The tracker identifies its price checks as September 25, 2026 records. These are independent observations, not guaranteed current prices or official nationwide amounts.
References: Add-on price tracker and separate-side price records.
Why Can the Price Differ?
A topping and a separate side are different order formats. Delivery pricing may also differ from pickup.
Before comparing amounts, check:
- Whether the sauce is a topping or a separate portion.
- The portion offered.
- Your selected restaurant.
- Any active Rewards offer.
- Applicable taxes and delivery charges.
Is Cilantro Lime Sauce Free?
Do not assume it is always included. Chipotle previously offered it free through specific promotions, including a March 19 launch-day offer and a June 15–21, 2026 offer. Those promotional periods have ended. Check your Rewards account for any currently available offer.
Past offer terms: March promotion and June promotion.
Calories and Serving Sizes
An exact current official nutrition panel for the sauce was not retrieved. Independent nutrition references publish the following figures:
| Published serving reference | Reported calories | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| 2-ounce portion | 80 | Independent nutrition listing |
| 4-ounce side | 160 | Independent menu tracker |
These are third-party references rather than independently verified official nutrition figures. Confirm the portion and current nutrition information for your actual order.
References: 2-ounce nutrition listing and 4-ounce side listing.
Why Does the Portion Matter?
A topping, a full side and the amount you actually eat may differ. A container’s stated size should not automatically be treated as the quantity consumed.
When reviewing complete meal calories, include the entrée, sauce, chips, drink and any other additions. A sauce-only figure does not describe the whole meal.
Use Chipotle’s official nutrition calculator or ask the restaurant for current information. Avoid substituting nutrition from plain sour cream or another dressing.
What to Eat With Cilantro Lime Sauce
Chipotle’s product page suggests pairing the sauce with bowls, burritos, quesadillas, salads and tortilla chips.
Burrito Bowls
A bowl lets you add the sauce gradually and mix it with selected ingredients. Consider ordering it separately if you want to compare bites with and without it.
Keep other creamy toppings in mind. Sour cream, queso and guacamole each change the finished combination.
Burritos
The sauce can add a creamy element to a burrito filling. Check whether your selected restaurant offers it within the entrée or as a separate accompaniment.
When comparing prices, use the same protein, rice, beans and additions so the sauce charge is easy to identify.
Quesadillas and Chips
A separate portion provides a dipping option for quesadillas or chips. Confirm whether it counts as a selected side or carries an additional charge.
Chips should be counted separately unless the named order or promotion explicitly includes them.
Salads
Cilantro Lime Sauce offers a creamy alternative to another dressing. Review the complete salad configuration rather than assuming the word “salad” establishes a particular calorie total.
For another menu comparison, read our Chipotle Pollo Asado guide and check the protein choices available at your restaurant.
Pairing reference: Official sauce page.
Is It Vegan or Dairy-Free?
The standard recipe is not vegan or dairy-free because it contains sour cream. Choosing a plant-based entrée does not change the ingredients in the sauce.
If you avoid milk, review another available topping instead. Do not assume the restaurant can remove dairy from a sauce that has already been prepared.
For food allergies, check Chipotle’s current ingredient and allergen information and speak with restaurant staff about preparation. The short promotional recipe does not establish suitability for every dietary requirement.
Availability and Ordering
Cilantro Lime Sauce launched as a limited-time item. Its continuing product page does not establish that every restaurant currently has it in stock.
To check your order:
- Open Chipotle’s official website or app.
- Select your restaurant.
- Choose your entrée.
- Look for Cilantro Lime Sauce among toppings or sides.
- Review the portion and additional charge.
- Confirm the finished order before paying.
If it is missing from the ordering menu, ask the restaurant whether it remains available. Avoid relying on an old promotion as confirmation.
Check Official Chipotle Menu ↗Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chipotle Cilantro Lime Sauce made from?
Its announced components include hand-chopped cilantro, lime, roasted jalapeños, Mexican spices and sour cream.
How much does it cost?
Independent records report a $1.00 median topping charge and $1.50 for a separate pickup side. Check your restaurant for its current price.
How many calories does it have?
Third-party listings report 80 calories for 2 ounces and 160 calories for a 4-ounce side. A current official figure for your selected portion should be confirmed.
Does it contain dairy?
Yes. Sour cream is part of the standard recipe.
Is it the same as cilantro-lime rice?
No. One is a prepared sauce; the other is a rice option.
Can I order it on the side?
Chipotle has advertised the sauce as a topping or side. Confirm the available option and charge at your restaurant.
Is it permanently available?
The launch announcement described it as limited-time. Permanent availability was not established.
Is the launch-day free sauce code still valid?
The published SOFRESH launch offer was valid only on March 19, 2026. It should not be presented as a current discount.
Conclusion
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Sauce combines a creamy sour cream base with cilantro, lime, spices and roasted jalapeños. It gives customers another way to customize a bowl, burrito, salad or dipping order.
Use the published price and calorie references as starting points, while checking the exact portion your restaurant offers. A topping and a separate side may have different charges and nutrition totals.
Before paying, confirm local availability, review the additional cost and check the ingredients if you have dietary requirements. Ordering the sauce separately can also help you decide how much suits your preferred flavor combination.
Explore Chipotle Menu Guide