Chipotle Catering for Graduation Celebrations

Chipotle Catering
Thank you to Chipotle for sponsoring today’s discussion. All views expressed are my own.

Recently, I discussed my plans for catering at my son’s graduation party. I weighed various catering possibilities, from BBQ to Italian, but a brief chat with him made it clear that Chipotle was the top choice—after all, it’s the only place he ever mentions when asked about food preferences.

I decided on The Big Spread (featuring three types of meat) and felt at ease knowing that food arrangements were taken care of. With all the party planning, it was a relief to not have food as a concern.

When I arrived to pick up the order, the Chipotle staff greeted me warmly. After a brief wait, they kindly asked if I could move my vehicle closer so they could assist with loading my van.

One bag was packed with chips and crunchy tacos, another contained bowls, utensils, napkins, and the warmer setup. Additionally, there were two bags filled with the hot food items, and the two large boxes in the rear held cold items.

I was pleasantly surprised by how simple it was to bring food for over 40 guests; the way everything was packed made it easy to unload in just a few minutes.

My next worry was the setup process. Thankfully, Chipotle provided an instructional sheet for setting up the warmers. In less than five minutes, I had everything ready. Good food is vital for any celebration, but having the right catering equipment is equally essential—check out a broad selection of professional supplies at FFD 247 Catering for an enhanced graduation party experience.

Our initial plan was to host the party outdoors, which would have provided ample space. However, with an impending storm, we quickly adapted our plans and decided to move everything inside. Thankfully, it all fit perfectly on our kitchen counter.

I arranged the five warmers just like they do in the restaurant, and navigating the setup was natural for a Chipotle fan. Rice, beans, meat, and vegetables were all readily available.

The toppings—including salsas, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and lettuce—were next in line.

One of my son Joshua’s requests was to ensure Chipotle’s famous chips were part of the spread. The lime salt sprinkled on them elevates his bowls, and I can’t blame him; they are so tangy that they can be enjoyed on their own.

I was grateful that The Big Spread included several bags of chips and crunchy tacos, along with two bags of soft tacos.

Due to limited space on the counter, I stored duplicate containers in my oven’s warming drawer. We received two containers each of white rice, brown rice, pinto beans, and black beans.

As the first guests arrived, they enthusiastically dug into the feast. I tried my best to keep the foil coverings on the food to retain heat, but the warmth from the fuel was enough to keep the water in the reserve pan boiling, easing my concerns.

Throughout the evening, guests flowed steadily in, and at times we were nearly shoulder to shoulder.

I regret not counting the guests that enjoyed the meal, but I can say we only had six bowls left from the initial 53 they provided. It was great to see some returning for seconds!

Choosing Chipotle was an easy call for us—not only for the convenience but also because it allowed everyone to tailor their meals to their preferences. Some kids opted out of beans, while others just wanted meat and rice, and some mixed everything into a dip.

Every bowl looked different, reflecting each person’s choices, and everyone had a smile on their face.

Each time the graduate’s bowl was refilled, it was customized anew.

In the end, our service for 40 was very generous—47 bowls were served, yet we still had an entire tray filled with white rice, brown rice, pinto beans, black beans, chicken, salsas, lettuce, and sour cream for upcoming meals. We even had two bags of chips and a bag of crunchy tacos left!

One item we wished for more of was the guacamole, as it was highly sought after and disappeared quickly.

Given what we had leftover, it seems we could have catered for around 20 people if we’d planned better and provided some snacks to tide us over; Chipotle’s catering was that generous.

Opting for Chipotle’s “Graduatering” made for the best decision for our celebration.

Have a gathering coming up where you need to provide food?

Think about Chipotle Catering! You can place an order with just 24 hours notice!

Find all the details you need on the Chipotle website.

What’s your go-to order at Chipotle? Do you have a unique combination you enjoy? Share it with us!