Chipotle's new sauce is a winner, but that endorsement comes with one big caveat.
I Tried Chipotle’s New Adobo Ranch—Here’s What I Thought
Published on Jun. 18, 2025
I like to consider myself something of a dip expert. Spinach artichoke, seven-layer taco, Buffalo chicken—I love any and all dips that pair with tortilla chips. So the news that Chipotle just dropped its first new dipping sauce in five years had me firing up the chain’s app almost immediately to see exactly when I could get my hands on it.
As of June 17, the Mexican fast-casual chain is offering a new Chipotle Adobo Ranch sauce. Here’s what I thought of the dip as I sampled it with three of Chipotle’s most popular items: a burrito bowl, a quesadilla and its iconic tortilla chips.
What does Chipotle’s Adobo Ranch taste like?
The chain describes the dip as “a smoky, spicy twist on America’s beloved dipping sauce” and its publicly disclosed list of ingredients includes adobo pepper, sour cream and “a unique blend of herbs and spices.”
For my first taste of the sauce, I tried it all on its own and was surprised by its thickness—much thicker than a typical ranch dressing. All on its own, the sour cream comes front and center. I likened it more to an aioli than to a spicy ranch dressing. I did find the flavor to be intriguingly zesty and easily addictive even if I wasn’t fully convinced.
In a news release, Chipotle’s VP of Culinary Nevielle Panthaky suggested dipping the chain’s quesadilla into the new adobo ranch, so I did exactly that. I must admit I could not stop eating my chicken quesadilla half with the new sauce. Its smoky, tangy flavor paired perfectly with the quesadilla’s texture and kept it from feeling too dry.
What was really the move, though, was dipping a chip into Chipotle’s Adobo Ranch sauce before dipping that same chip into my carnitas burrito bowl. The sauce pumped up the volume of the burrito bowl’s contents without overpowering any of the flavors or textures therein. I was genuinely impressed because it is no small feat to stand up to the bowl’s other ingredients.
When it comes to the question of whether I’ll order the adobo ranch again, however, I have to admit I’m not entirely sure. Unfortunately, the chain’s two other star dipping sauces—guacamole and Queso Blanco—are both exceptional, so I’m just not convinced that the Chipotle Adobo Ranch has surpassed these rivals in their quest for a coveted spot in my go-to Chipotle order.
How long will the Chipotle Adobo Ranch be on the menu?
As is the case with any food chain’s newly launched product, it’s unclear how long Chipotle’s Adobo Ranch will be around for. If you want to get a taste of it, I suggest you do so soon.
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