Copycat Chipotle Sofritas

No ratings yet

This post may contain affiliate links which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Skip to Recipe Pin

My copycat Chipotle sofritas recipe uses crumbled tofu simmered in a smoky chipotle pepper sauce made with adobo sauce, green chiles, tomato paste, tamari, garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika. It’s a flavorful vegan filling for burritos, bowls, tacos, salads, and more!

A spoonful of seasoned, crumbled savory sofritas topped with chopped cilantro, with lime wedges visible in a bowl in the background.
This is the texture I’m always after. Lightly browned tofu coated in a rich, smoky chipotle sauce that’s packed full of flavor.
Want To Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!

A Note From Kristen

Chipotle’s Sofritas has always been one of my favorite plant-based orders, so creating a homemade version was high on my list! This copycat recipe delivers everything I love about the original. Crumbled tofu is simmered in a smoky, spicy sauce made with chipotle peppers in adobo, tomatoes, garlic, and warm spices until every bite is absolutely packed with flavor. It’s naturally vegan and gluten-free, easy to make, and perfect for filling burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, salads, nachos, and more. Once I realized how simple it was to make at home, it quickly became one of my favorite ways to prepare tofu. I hope you love it too. Happy eating!
~Kristen

Close-up of a spicy sofritas dish topped with chopped cilantro, served with lime wedges and a metal spoon.

Key Ingredients

A few quick notes on the ingredients that matter most. Find the full ingredient list and instructions in the recipe card below.

  • Extra-Firm Tofu: Press it for at least 10 minutes before crumbling. Skipping this step is the main reason sofritas turns out soggy instead of slightly crisp.
  • Green chiles: Canned diced green chiles add a subtle earthy flavor and gentle heat that complements the smoky chipotle peppers without overpowering them. If you have fresh roasted green chiles, you can certainly use them instead.
  • Tamari: Tamari adds rich, savory umami to the sauce. I prefer its slightly deeper, smoother flavor, but soy sauce works well, too!
Close-up of spicy tofu sofritas garnished with chopped cilantro, with a lime wedge and a metal spoon beside the dish.

My Favorite Ways to Enjoy Sofritas

  • Build a burrito bowl with cilantro lime rice, black beans, fajita vegetables, salsa, guacamole, and your favorite toppings.
  • Fold it into burritos, tacos, quesadillas, or enchiladas.
  • Add it to salads for a flavorful, protein-packed lunch.
  • Stuff it into baked sweet potatoes for an easy weeknight meal.
  • Spoon it over nachos with melted cheese, pico de gallo, pickled peppers, and guacamole.
  • Use it as a filling for lettuce wraps for a lighter option.
A bowl of seasoned sofritas topped with chopped cilantro and lime wedges, with a spoon lifting a portion.

Kristen’s Top Tips

  • Press the tofu well. Wet tofu will not brown or hold the sauce properly.
  • Taste the blended sauce before it hits the skillet so you can adjust the heat while you still can.
  • Simmer until the sauce clings to the tofu instead of pooling in the pan. That’s the texture you’re after!
  • This keeps in the refrigerator for about 4 days and freezes well for up to 3 months.
A spoonful of spicy sofritas minced dish garnished with chopped cilantro and lime wedges in a bowl on a wooden table.

More Delicious Tofu Recipes You Might Enjoy

A plate of crispy tofu sofritas topped with chopped cilantro and served with lime wedges.

A close-up of a spoonful of seasoned sofritas ground meat garnished with chopped cilantro, with lime wedges visible in the bowl.

Copycat Chipotle Sofritas (Smoky, Spicy Tofu)

Author: Kristen Wood
86kcal
No ratings yet
Print Share Remove Ads
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 35 minutes
Recreate Chipotle's famous sofritas at home with this smoky, spicy tofu recipe. Perfect for burrito bowls, tacos, salads, nachos, and more.
Servings 4 servings
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Mexican-Inspired
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Add as a Preferred Source on Google

Ingredients

  • 1 14-ounce block extra-firm tofu
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion roughly chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • 1 4-ounce can diced green chiles drained
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce use gluten-free if necessary
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup vegetable broth
Want To Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!

Method

  1. Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel and gently press for 10 minutes to remove excess moisture (see notes). Crumble into small, uneven pieces with your hands.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled tofu and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and slightly crisp around the edges.
    Scrambled tofu, reminiscent of sofritas, is being cooked in a pan with a wooden spoon, with some oil visible.
  3. While the tofu cooks, add the onion, garlic, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, green chiles, tomato paste, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, tamari, apple cider vinegar, and vegetable broth to a blender. Blend until smooth.
    A close-up view of thick red sofritas sauce or paste with bubbles inside a blender jar, showing remnants on the sides.
  4. Pour the sauce into the skillet with the tofu and stir well to coat.
    Crumbled tofu in a pan with savory sofritas red sauce is being stirred with a wooden spoon on a wooden surface.
  5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and clings to the tofu.
    Cooked ground meat in red sauce, reminiscent of sofritas, being stirred with a wooden spoon in a skillet.
  6. Serve hot and enjoy!
    A bowl of seasoned sofritas topped with chopped cilantro, served with lime wedges and a spoon on the side.

Notes

Pressing the tofu: Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and place it on a plate or cutting board. Set a heavy skillet, cast-iron pan, or another plate topped with a few cans on top and let it rest for 10 minutes. Drain off any liquid that collects before crumbling the tofu. This removes enough moisture for the tofu to brown nicely while still allowing it to absorb the smoky chipotle sauce.
For extra heat, add a third chipotle pepper.
For a chunkier texture, pulse the sauce a few times instead of blending completely smooth.
Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Join Our Free Community! ➜

Nutrition

Serving1servingCalories86kcalCarbohydrates9gProtein2gFat5gSaturated Fat1gPolyunsaturated Fat1gMonounsaturated Fat3gSodium1722mgPotassium150mgFiber2gSugar4gVitamin A391IUVitamin C4mgCalcium32mgIron1mg

Nutritional information is automatically calculated using a third-party calculator and is an estimate only.

Have You Tried This Recipe?

Rate and comment below to let us know how it was!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating