18 Top Saving Tips to Save Big at Chipotle

Laura Smith

February 18, 2021

2 comments

Chipotle is a famous American fast-food chain that offers a variety of menu options, including freshly prepared salads, tacos, burritos, and burrito bowls. Chipotle is affordable, fast, and is highly regarded because of its responsibly sourced, high-quality ingredients, which can sometimes make the price of Chipotle a little expensive.

Thankfully, there are a ton of ways you can ensure you’re getting the best deal at Chipotle. Knowing how to score these Chipotle deals can be challenging if you don’t know the fast-food chain’s best saving tips. Check out our top saving tips to save more money on your burritos and tacos!

1. Create an Online Chipotle Account for Special Offers

The easiest way to receive special discounts or coupons from Chipotle is to create an online account. When you sign up, Chipotle will ask for you to enter your details, including your e-mail, phone number, and birthdate. Be sure to enter this information correctly because Chipotle will send you exclusive text offers such as Buy One, Get One Burritos, and special freebies for your birthday (the rumor is that you’ll get free guac and chips!).

2. Download Chipotle’s Mobile App

Every time you order Chipotle through your chipotle app or scan your app in-store, you’ll receive points. The more points you accrue, the more free Chipotle rewards you can achieve. Bonus points can be earned by doing special things like shopping at specific times or dates and trying new menu items. If you’re new to downloading the application, you can scan recent receipts you’ve received from Chipotle to redeem your points.

Download the Chipotle Mobile App for Android or iOS.

3. Order Vegetarian to Receive Free Guacamole

While guacamole is typically an additional charge at Chipotle, if you order a meal without meat, you can receive free guacamole. You can order any of their meals meatless, including a veggie taco, burrito, or bowl. You can even request the guacamole to be put on the side, and you will still not be charged. This simple hack can save you a few extra dollars on every order.

4. Get a Free Drink If You’re A Student

If you’re a college or high school student, you can receive a free drink when you order Chipotle. To be eligible, you must be a current high school or college student with a student ID. When you go to place your order, show them your student ID to receive your free drink with your purchase. You have to order in-person to receive the benefit. Online ordering or using a food service will not make you eligible for this perk.

5. Order Your Tacos in Three’s

You can save money by choosing to purchase three tacos instead of two. When you order three tacos, the tacos are considered a meal and will cost you $2.32 per taco. If you only order two tacos, you’re looking at $2.55 a taco. Small differences in prices can add up if you frequently eat at Chipotle.

6. Order a Burrito Bowl for the Most Food

Burrito bowls are the best deal at Chipotle because you can fit so many toppings into your burrito bowl. You can ask for every single topping to be added to your burrito bowl without being charged extra. You can even ask for a tortilla on the side that you can break up into tiny pieces to use as chips or create your own taco. This hack allows you to get the most food for the cheapest price point.

7. Ask for an Additional Scoop to load Up Your Bowl

If you ask for any extra toppings besides meat or guacamole, they’ll allow you to add it to your bowl for free. To get the most out of your additional scoops, wait until they’ve finished with one complete scoop, then ask for extra. If you ask before they do the first scoop, they’ll likely skimp on the scoops’ size. You’ll be able to pack your bowl with toppings with this simple hack.

8. Don’t Buy the Soda

If you’re looking for an easy way to save money on your Chipotle order, skip ordering a soft drink. Instead, you can ask the cashier for a water cup, which is free with your order. Doing this can save you a few dollars on your order, which can seriously add up if you’re a frequent chipotle buyer.

9. Score a Free Burrito on National Burrito Day

If you’re a healthcare worker, you can score a free burrito on National Burrito Day. This year, National Burrito day falls on April 1st, 2021. To redeem this offer, you need to go to order your Chipotle in person. Show your medical ID at the register to claim your free burrito. If you’re not a healthcare worker, Chipotle offers free queso with your order. 

10. Check for Online Coupons

By using a reputable site like Koopy, you can find a bunch of Chipotle coupons and promotions that actually work. There are promotional codes at certain times of the year due to sports teams, holidays, or special city events. By taking your time to search the internet thoroughly, you can find a promo code to rake in those additional savings.

11. Take Surveys to Score Chipotle Gift Cards

If you’re looking for an easy way to score some free chipotle, take some online surveys. There are plenty of online websites, such as MyPoints, that allow users to take surveys in exchange for points. Once you have a certain number of points, you can redeem them for gift cards at your favorite places, like Chipotle.

12. Order Through Grubhub or DoorDash

If you’re looking for a way to save a few extra dollars, try ordering Chipotle through DoorDash or GrubHub. These online ordering systems will often offer their own promotions, such as free delivery or a specific dollar amount off your purchase. This allows you to double-dip your savings! If you’ve never used either of these delivery applications, look for sign-up promotions that usually range from $5 to $20 in savings on your first order.

13. Purchase Discounted Gift Cards

If you frequently eat at Chipotle, you should invest in buying a discounted gift card from Raise or Gift Card Granny. Both platforms allow users to sell their gift cards for a discounted price. The average savings from buying a gift card could be anywhere from 5-20% off. If you don’t find the gift card you’re looking for, you can sign up for alerts on either website to be notified as soon as one becomes available.

14. Seek Employment at Chipotle

If you want a long-term solution to a discount at Chipotle, consider working at a Chipotle location. Employees receive a free meal during their shift and 50% off all food items when they’re not working. On top of food discounts, you have access to educational assistance, paid time off, wellness benefits, and 401k matching. It’s an incredible amount of savings and can really add up if you love Chipotle.

15. Avoid Ordering Extras

When you go to order online at Chipotle, they will offer you sides and additional extras to add to your Chipotle meal. If you’re trying to save money on your order, you need to try to get past this page as fast as you can. Having an idea of what you want to order ahead of time, or scheduling your meal when you’re not hungry, will stop you from purchasing extras on your order.

16. Order Pickup to Skip Extra Fees

Paying for delivery fees and having to tip your driver can become expensive, fast. One of the easiest ways to avoid spending this extra money is to opt for pickup. Besides saving a little money, a great benefit of this option is that you can check your order to make sure it’s correct. If something is wrong, they can fix the mistake immediately. 

17. Order Half Proteins

You can score more protein in your Chipotle by asking for half meat. There is no specific scoop to dole out half meat, so the Chipotle worker will more than likely add more meat than usual to your order. Adding half proteins is an easy way to experience two types of meat at a fraction of the price. You can request to do this with any of the meats on their menu.

18. Choose Three Burrito fillers To Save Money

If you’re a picky eater or only enjoy a few things in your burrito, you can save extra money. By only ordering three items in your Chipotle burrito, you’re going to be charged what’s called a 3-pointer meal. This meal is cheaper than a regular burrito and will save you a few dollars when you check out.

Spend Less at Chipotle With These Money-Saving Hacks

Now that you know about the countless ways you could never pay for full price burritos again at Chipotle, it’s time to start saving. These Chipotle Hacks will ensure that you’re always getting the best deal every single time you order. Did you find success with any of these Chipotle hacks or have a tip to share? Comment down below to let us know.