{"id":902082,"date":"2026-04-28T03:30:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T08:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/28\/chipotle-launches-fresh-cilantro-lime-sauce-for-a-limited-time-amid-americas-sauce-obsession\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T03:30:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T08:30:17","slug":"chipotle-launches-fresh-cilantro-lime-sauce-for-a-limited-time-amid-americas-sauce-obsession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/28\/chipotle-launches-fresh-cilantro-lime-sauce-for-a-limited-time-amid-americas-sauce-obsession\/","title":{"rendered":"Chipotle Launches Fresh Cilantro Lime Sauce for a Limited Time Amid America\u2019s Sauce Obsession"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"tps_slideContainer_224360\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_224362\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-224362\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Chipotle-Fresh-Cilantro-Lime-Sauce-Launch.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Chipotle Launches Fresh Cilantro Lime Sauce for a Limited Time Amid America's Sauce Obsession\" src=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Chipotle-Fresh-Cilantro-Lime-Sauce-Launch.jpg\" alt=\"Chipotle Launches Fresh Cilantro Lime Sauce for a Limited Time Amid America's Sauce Obsession\" width=\"722\" height=\"481\"  ><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-224362\">Made fresh daily with hand-chopped cilantro, lime, savory Mexican spices and hand-roasted jalape\u00f1os, Cilantro Lime Sauce delivers a bright kick of flavor with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>Fresh cilantro, lime and roasted\u00a0jalape\u00f1os come together in a creamy new sauce made fresh daily<\/li>\n<li>Cilantro Lime Sauce is Chipotle\u2019s highest-performing sauce in company test markets to date<\/li>\n<li>The sauce\u2019s recipe was created by Culinary Analyst Danny Boyzo, who started as a Chipotle crew member in 2019<\/li>\n<li>Chipotle Rewards members can receive a free side or topping of Cilantro Lime Sauce with the purchase of an entr\u00e9e using the code \u201cSOFRESH\u201d on launch day, Thursday, March 19<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Chipotle-Fresh-Cilantro-Lime-Sauce-Launch.gif\" alt=\"Chipotle Launches Fresh Cilantro Lime Sauce for a Limited Time Amid America's Sauce Obsession\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">Newport Beach, CA\u00a0 (<a title=\"RestaurantNews.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>RestaurantNews.com<\/u><\/a>)\u00a0 Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced the launch of a new <a title=\"Cilantro Lime Sauce\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chipotle.com\/cilantro-lime-sauce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>Cilantro Lime Sauce<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, a vibrant, made-fresh-daily sauce designed to elevate any Chipotle order.<\/p>\n<p>Featuring hand-chopped cilantro, lime, Mexican spices, sour cream and roasted jalape\u00f1os, the creamy sauce adds bright, herb-forward flavor with balanced citrus and a subtle kick. Like all Chipotle ingredients, it contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The sauce arrives in restaurants across the U.S. and Canada beginning Thursday, March 19, for a limited time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA flavorful sauce made fresh daily in our restaurants can completely change the way guests experience our real food,\u201d said <strong>Stephanie Perdue, Interim Chief Marketing Officer<\/strong>. \u201cCilantro Lime Sauce delivers a whole new level of freshness using real ingredients and complements every entr\u00e9e and protein on our menu.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>America\u2019s Passion for Sauce<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The launch taps into America\u2019s growing obsession with sauce. Sixty percent of consumers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, say they look forward to a signature sauce, condiment or dressing when dining out, reflecting a shift toward personalization and flavor-driven discovery.<sup>2<\/sup> Cilantro lime is a rising flavor profile with sustained menu growth and strong projected momentum in the years ahead.<sup>2<\/sup> As diners increasingly seek customizable, flavor-forward options, sauces continue to drive engagement and discovery.<sup>3<\/sup><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Innovation From Within<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224364\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-224364\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Chipotle-Fresh-Cilantro-Lime-Sauce-Launch-2.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Chipotle Launches Fresh Cilantro Lime Sauce for a Limited Time Amid America's Sauce Obsession\" src=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Chipotle-Fresh-Cilantro-Lime-Sauce-Launch-2.jpg\" alt=\"Chipotle Culinary Analyst Danny Boyzo\" width=\"722\" height=\"481\"  ><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-224364\">Cilantro Lime Sauce\u2019s recipe was created by Culinary Analyst Danny Boyzo, who started as a Chipotle crew member in 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Cilantro Lime Sauce also marks a first for the brand during Senior Vice President of Culinary Nevielle Panthaky\u2019s tenure, which began in 2018: it was developed by a culinary team member who started their career in a Chipotle restaurant.<\/p>\n<p>Culinary Analyst Danny Boyzo started in restaurant operations in 2019, gaining firsthand experience on the line and developing a deep understanding of the pace, precision and execution required in a Chipotle kitchen. She pursued formal culinary training while continuing to grow within the company, ultimately transitioning into a role focused on menu development at Chipotle\u2019s Newport Beach, Calif., Restaurant Support Center.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s something special about developing a menu item when you\u2019ve spent years working behind the line,\u201d said Boyzo. \u201cYou understand how much intention goes into every ingredient and how small details in our kitchens shape the final result. Bringing that perspective into creating a sauce and seeing it served nationwide feels like a true full-circle moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nevielle Panthaky, Senior Vice President of Culinary at Chipotle<\/strong>, added: \u201cTeam members who understand our kitchens firsthand bring invaluable perspective to product innovation and development. Danny\u2019s work is a powerful example of how investing in our people can enhance our menu pipeline.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Panthaky recommends trying Cilantro Lime Sauce with the following:<\/p>\n<p>Steak salad with light brown rice, light black beans, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, guac and Cilantro Lime Sauce on the side (34g protein, 17g fiber)<\/p>\n<p>Chicken al Pastor burrito with white rice, black beans, roasted chili-corn salsa, guac, lettuce and Cilantro Lime Sauce (49g protein, 22g fiber)<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Free Cilantro Lime Sauce for Chipotle Rewards Members<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>To celebrate the sauce\u2019s debut, Chipotle Rewards members can receive a free side or topping of Cilantro Lime Sauce with the purchase of an entr\u00e9e on Thursday, March 19, by using the code \u201cSOFRESH\u201d on the Chipotle app, <a title=\"Chipotle.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chipotle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>Chipotle.com<\/u><\/strong><\/a> or <a title=\"Chipotle.ca\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chipotle.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>Chipotle.ca<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Rave Reviews in Test Markets<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_224365\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-224365\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Chipotle-Fresh-Cilantro-Lime-Sauce-Launch-3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Chipotle Launches Fresh Cilantro Lime Sauce for a Limited Time Amid America's Sauce Obsession\" src=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Chipotle-Fresh-Cilantro-Lime-Sauce-Launch-3.jpg\" alt=\"Chipotle Launches Fresh Cilantro Lime Sauce for a Limited Time Amid America's Sauce Obsession\" width=\"722\" height=\"481\"  ><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-224365\">Chipotle\u2019s new Cilantro Lime Sauce adds a bright, herb-forward kick to any order, elevating bowls, burritos and more with fresh, balanced flavor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Developed through Chipotle\u2019s stage-gate process, Cilantro Lime Sauce emerged as the brand\u2019s top-performing sauce in testing over the past year. In the Los Angeles test, it generated nearly two to three times the order rate of previously tested and launched sauces, building on the strong performance of recent topping innovations.<\/p>\n<p>1 \u2013 Valid only on 3\/19\/26. Chipotle Rewards members receive a free topping or side of Cilantro Lime Sauce with the purchase of one regular-priced entr\u00e9e. Must use code \u201cSOFRESH.\u201d One-time use per order. Valid during regular business hours from participating locations in the United States and Canada, when ordering via the Chipotle mobile app or on the Chipotle website. Redemption is subject to availability. May not be combined with other coupons, promotions, or special offers. Not valid on kids\u2019 meals, catering, Burritos by the Box, Build Your Own Chipotle, or orders via third-party delivery platforms. \u201cRegular menu entr\u00e9e item\u201d means a burrito, burrito bowl, single order of three (3) tacos, quesadilla or a salad. Void where prohibited. Additional restrictions may apply.<br \/>2 \u2013 Datassential, <a title=\"2025 Sauce Trends\" href=\"https:\/\/datassential.com\/resource\/food-trends-sauce-trends-signature-sauces-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>2025 Sauce Trends<\/u><\/strong><\/a>; Datassential, <a title=\"2025 Flavor &#038; Condiment Report\" href=\"https:\/\/datassential.com\/resource\/food-and-beverage-trends-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>2025 Flavor &#038; Condiment Report<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<br \/>3 \u2013 The Washington Post, \u201c<a title=\"American Sauce Obsession Goes On-the-Go\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/food\/2026\/01\/29\/american-sauce-obsession-on-the-go\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>American Sauce Obsession Goes On-the-Go<\/u><\/strong><\/a>,\u201d January 29, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>About Chipotle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients and without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There are over 4,000 restaurants as of December 31, 2025, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Middle East, and it is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. With over 130,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit <a title=\"Chipotle.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chipotle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><u>Chipotle.com<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact:<\/strong><br \/>Erin Wolford<br \/>949-524-4035<br \/><span \n                data-original-string='2mDtijGkTU8QNi6HOveFqA==7f4gHHineTKLccyRRKM5uABybapSWfxdW\/GLXa3WUJdNB4='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>Me<span class=\"apbct-blur\">************<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">******<\/span>le.com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantnews.com\/chipotle-fresh-cilantro-lime-sauce-launch-031826\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Made fresh daily with hand-chopped cilantro, lime, savory Mexican spices and hand-roasted jalape\u00f1os, Cilantro Lime Sauce delivers a bright kick of flavor with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Fresh cilantro, lime and roasted\u00a0jalape\u00f1os come together in a creamy new sauce made fresh daily Cilantro Lime Sauce is Chipotle\u2019s highest-performing sauce in company test markets<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":902083,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22998,76747],"tags":[12428,106588],"class_list":{"0":"post-902082","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chipotle","8":"category-sauce","9":"tag-chipotle","10":"tag-sauce"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=902082"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902082\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/902083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=902082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=902082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=902082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}