Food & Beverage

Chipotle rolling out quesadillas

Provided

March 9, 2021

Chipotle Mexican Grill is introducing a Hand-Crafted Quesadilla Thurday but as a digital-only menu item.

"We're so excited to answer the call from fans and introduce one of the most highly anticipated menu items in our brand's history," CMO Chris Brandt said in a company press release. "The Hand-Crafted Quesadilla brings so many new possibilities to our menu, and fans will love exploring fresh flavor combinations through its sides and salsa options."

Marking the chain's first customizable entree in 17 years, the quesadilla has Monterey Jack Cheese as well as responsibly raised chicken, steak, carnitas, barbacoa, sofritas or fajita veggies. The preservative-free flour tortilla is folded and pressed using a custom oven in Chipotle's Digital Kitchen, which melts the cheese and allows restaurants to make quesadillas more quickly and conveniently. Employees serve them in 100% compostable packaging that allows guests to pick three salsas or sides, including fresh tomato salsa, sour cream or hand-mashed guac for a little extra.

In the summer of 2020, Chipotle tested the quesadilla as a digital-only menu item to capitalize on the brand's digital scale while also removing operational friction. This pilot, conducted in Cleveland and Indianapolis, was part of the brand's stage-gate process which allows Chipotle to listen, test and learn from customer feedback, and iterate before deciding on a national launch strategy, according to the company.

$0 delivery fee
From Thursday through March 21, Chipotle will offer a $0 delivery fee when guests order a quesadilla on the Chipotle app or Chipotle.com.

Chipotle has over 2,750 restaurants aRelations@chipotle.com