TikTokers are placing $100 Chipotle catering orders as a meal-prepping hack. While some call it 'genius,' others aren't sure it's worth the cost.
- A new Chipotle 'hack' has gone viral and TikTokers are spending upwards of $100 on a week's worth of meals.
- The boxes comprise enviably-sized trays of rice, meat, and other toppings — complete with serving spoons.
A Chipotle catering hack is garnering buzz on TikTok. It requires you to spend a lot of money — upwards of $100 — at once to have cheaper meals during the week.
While some say it's a great meal prep hack, others aren't convinced, noting that Chipotle catering doesn't furnish enough food, and that it'd be cheaper to buy all of the ingredients at the grocery store.
Last week, the creator Britain Bennet unboxed her $100 bounty, marveling at the massive tray of rice, before packing up 11 meals in tupperware containers to be stowed in the freezer. "This is genius," she said in her TikTok that's garnered 2 million views.
Over the last two months, lots of TikTokers have been chronicling their experiences trying the hack, as Chipotle offers a variety of catering order options. The smallest option is a 10-person order priced at roughly $12 per person, though orders can be placed for up to 200 people max.
The packages arrive in massive Chipotle-branded cardboard boxes and comprise enviably-sized platters of rice, meat, cheese guacamole, veggies, and other fixings. Chipotle even provides serving spoons, which are perfect for an at-home prep station, one TikToker noted.
Others positioned it as a productivity hack. "So many of you are working; you don't have time to cook," said TikToker @ivantejeda.co. "This meal prepping hack is going to save you time."
Some TikTokers have even employed the hack for special occasions, like their weddings.
But not everyone is convinced it's a worthwhile purchase. Upon closer inspection, many Chipotle fans questioned the portion sizes and whether it was enough food to make multiple full-fledged meals. And, even if it was convenient, others argued, the hack isn't always financially sound.
"Rice, beans, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and salsa are about $30 at the grocery store," a user wrote. "You're basically paying $100 for meat. Granted, it's very well-seasoned meat. I respect that. But bestie that's not a deal."
Others were unsure about how long the food might last in the refrigerator. Insider has reached out to Chipotle for comment.
It's also worth noting that while Chipotle hacks have recently become all the rage, with a cumulative 2.1 billion views on the hashtag, the meal-prepping hack isn't necessarily exclusive to the fast-casual chain.
In January, the TikToker Madi Webb went viral for sharing the concept at her local restaurant, where she said she spent $100 on mashed potatoes, plantains, chicken, and vegetables. That video has clocked 5 million views.