How Many Calories Are in a Chicken Burrito? A Detailed Look

Burritos are a popular handheld meal enjoyed by many. With its easy portability and endless ingredient combinations, it’s no wonder burritos have become a staple food item One of the most common and beloved fillings for burritos is chicken But if you’re watching your calorie intake, you may be wondering – how many calories are actually in a chicken burrito? Let’s take a closer look.

What Factors Determine the Calorie Count?

The number of calories in a chicken burrito can vary quite a bit based on several factors

Type and Size of Tortilla

The tortilla is the foundation of any burrito, so its size and composition directly impacts total calories. A standard 8-inch flour tortilla contains about 150 calories. Larger 12-inch tortillas can have over 300 calories. Lower calorie options are whole wheat or corn tortillas, ranging from 50-150 calories.

Preparation Method of Chicken

A grilled or baked chicken breast has around 120 calories, while fried or breaded chicken can reach 300+ calories. Preparation method drastically changes calories.

Amount of Chicken

More chicken means more protein and calories. A burrito with double chicken could have 100+ extra calories.

Additional Fillings

Ingredients like rice, beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream all add significant calories ranging from 80 to over 200 calories per serving.

Sauces and Dressings

While tasty, sauces and dressings like ranch, queso, and hot sauce can add 50-150+ calories.

Calorie Counts for Different Chicken Burritos

Taking all those factors into account, here are some typical calorie counts for various chicken burritos:

• Basic Chicken Burrito – With an 8-inch flour tortilla, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cilantro = 450 calories

• Chicken Fajita Burrito – 10-inch flour tortilla, 3 oz grilled chicken, peppers, onions, cheddar cheese, guacamole, salsa = 650 calories

• Supreme Chicken Burrito – 12-inch flour tortilla, 6 oz fried chicken, Mexican rice, refried beans, queso, sour cream = 1,100 calories

• Lighter Chicken Burrito Bowl – No tortilla, 3 oz grilled chicken, brown rice, black beans, salsa, lettuce = 350 calories

Estimating Homemade Chicken Burrito Calories

When making chicken burritos at home, you can estimate calories by:

• Looking up calorie info for each ingredient
• Calculating the total based on serving sizes
• Comparing to similar burritos from restaurants

While not 100% precise, this gives a good ballpark figure and allows you to modify ingredients for lower calorie alternatives.

Healthy Swaps for Lower Calorie Chicken Burritos

If you want to lighten up your chicken burrito, try these easy food swaps:

• Use smaller 8-inch whole wheat or corn tortillas – Saves 50-100 calories

• Choose lean grilled chicken breast instead of fried or crispy chicken – Saves 100+ calories

• Load up on veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers – Adds nutrition without many calories

• Limit high-calorie fillings like rice, beans, cheese, and heavy sauces

• Use salsa, pico de gallo, or hot sauce instead of creamy dressings

Creative Low Calorie Tortilla Alternatives

Looking to cut carbs and calories? Try these ingenious tortilla swaps:

• Lettuce wraps – Use large lettuce leaves for a low carb, low cal wrap

• Spinach or collard green wraps – Slightly sturdier and contain nutrients

• Cauliflower thins – Made from riced cauliflower, only 60 calories

• Zucchini wraps – Thinly slice zucchini lengthwise with a mandoline

• Portobello mushroom caps – Grilled or roasted mushroom caps

Comparing Calories in Burritos from Restaurants

Calorie counts can vary wildly between burrito restaurants. A steak burrito from Chipotle is around 300 calories more than Taco Bell’s steak burrito. This is due to differences in tortilla size, ingredients, cooking methods and serving sizes. When dining out, check the nutrition facts online or request lighter options.

Chicken vs Vegetarian and Vegan Burrito Calories

Surprisingly, vegetarian and vegan burritos are not guaranteed to be lower in calories. While they exclude meat, ingredients like avocado, plant-based protein, beans, rice and heavy sauces can still add up. However, with thoughtful swaps and reasonable portions, vegetarian and vegan burritos can be lighter.

Burrito Bowls – Lower Carb, Lower Calorie

A burrito bowl packs all the flavor of a burrito but skips the tortilla. This makes it naturally lower in carbs and calories. A typical chicken burrito bowl has around 350 calories, while a chicken burrito averages 500-700 calories. Bowls are a smart tactic for lightening up burritos without sacrificing satisfaction.

Sharing Halves the Calories

Want to indulge in a loaded burrito but watch your calories? Simply split it with a friend! Sharing halves the calories while still letting you enjoy those tasty fillings and flavors.

Are Burritos Good for Weight Loss?

While burritos have a reputation for being heavy, with thoughtful construction, they can absolutely be part of a weight loss plan. Focus on lean proteins, lots of veggies, and reasonable portions. And don’t forget to pair it with healthy sides like salad or fruit.

The Takeaway – Enjoy Your Burrito and Your Health

At the end of the day, burritos are a versatile and comforting favorite for good reason. By understanding how different ingredients impact calories, and making simple swaps to lighter options, you can still enjoy delicious burritos while maintaining your health goals. Just remember that balance, variety and moderation are key – no food needs to be off limits!

The average burrito can range from 800 to 1,200 calories, but can go much higher depending on size and ingredients. A medium chicken burrito with typical fillings might have around 664 calories. A “Mission style” burrito, known for being large and packed with ingredients, could range from 1,200 to 1,800 calories, according to a Reddit thread.