Easy Copycat Chipotle Sofritas Meat

This recipe for Copycat Chipotle Sofritas comes together quickly to create perfectly seasoned, hearty, plant-based Sofritas Meat.

Chipotle made Sofritas meat famous. Their vegan protein option is made with crumbled crispy tofu that is braised in a slightly spicy, richly seasoned sauce.

And let me tell you, this is tofu done right! It is not bland. It is not mushy. It is not rubbery. Even my meat-eating husband and son love this spicy alternative to taco meat. Seriously, if you think you don't like tofu, Sofritas is the recipe that WILL change your mind.

And while I love Chipotle, you can easily make Copycat Sofritas Meat at home that is lower in sodium and MUCH less expensive. Plus at home, you can go back for seconds!

Ingredients for Sofritas Taco Meat

• Tofu: Be sure to use firm or extra-firm tofu. Silken tofu will NOT work for this recipe. You can find tofu in the refrigerated produce section at your local grocery store.
• Oil: I recommend a neutral oil, such as canola or avocado oil for this recipe, as the tofu will absorb some of the flavors of the oil.
• Poblano Pepper: A charred, skinned poblano pepper adds a great smoky, authentic flavor, but can be omitted to save time if desired.
• Salsa: Salsa contains onions, peppers, and tomatoes and is full of flavor, making it a great short-cut ingredient. It adds A LOT of flavor to the sauce for the Sofritas without a lot of added ingredients. Use your favorite jar, canned, or homemade salsa.
• Canned Chipotle Peppers: These peppers add incredible flavor to this sauce and should not be skipped. Because you won't need to use the full can, place the leftover chipotle peppers with adobe in an ice cube tray. Freeze until solid and then pop into a labeled freezer-safe bag. Store in the Freezer for 3-6 months. 1 cube equals about 1 tablespoon of chipotles with adobe sauce.
• Sweetener: You need a bit of sweetener to balance the spiciness of this recipe. For a vegan-friendly recipe use maple syrup. Otherwise, honey works well in place of maple syrup.
• Spices: To round out the flavor, smoked paprika and cumin are added to the sauce. Feel free to use regular paprika if you don't have smoked paprika on hand.
• Lime: The juice of fresh lime will add just the right acidity to the Sofritas and finish off the flavor perfectly. Don't overlook this addition!

How to Make Sofritas Meat

This copycat recipe for Chipotle Sofritasis also EASY to make. Easy enough for a busy weeknight. You will find the full recipe in detail in the recipe card.

Step One: Press Tofu. It is important to press the tofu for 30-60 minutes before pan-frying. This is a process that removes extra liquid in the tofu and will help your tofu crisp up beautifully.

Step Two: Prepare the Sauce. While the tofu is being pressed, use the time that the tofu is pressed to prepare the Sofritas sauce.

Step Three: Crumble the Tofu. Using your hands, crumble the tofu into bite-sized pieces. This will replicate the texture of Chipotle

Step Four: Prepare Sofritas Meat. Now it is as easy as browning the crumbled tofu and adding the sauce to warm through.

How to Serve Sofritas

Whether you serve Sofritas on a burrito, a burrito bowl, or on a salad, they add so much flavor, protein, and texture to a variety of meals. Below are some of my favorite ways to use serve Copycat Chipotle Sofritas at home.

• Add this tofu taco meat to taco shells, corn tortillas, or homemade flour tortillas, and top with your favorite taco toppings.
• Serve Sofritas over Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice or Instant Pot Brown Rice to create a homemade burrito bowl.
• Instead of using beans in the filling of Vegetarian Enchiladas, swap them out for equal amounts of these Homemade Sofritas.
• Use Sofritas in place of taco meat to create a delicious vegetarian taco salad.

Storing Leftover Sofritas Meat

• Refrigerate: Store leftover cooled Sofritas in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Store cooled Sofritas in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 1 month.
• Reheat: Defrost in the refrigerator if needed. For the best texture, reheat the cold, defrosted Sofritas in a nonstick skillet over high heat until just browned and warmed through.

More Meatless Tex-Mex Recipes

• Vegetarian Enchiladas
• Vegetarian Fajitas
• Cauliflower Tacos
• Lentil Tacos
• Black Bean Tacos

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If you tried this recipe for Copycat Chipotle's Sofritas meat, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.