Make the best Chipotle Sauce with this easy 5-minute recipe and a few staple ingredients. It has a zesty, smoky flavor and just the right amount of spice to amp up any dish!
This Chipotle Sauce Recipe is so versatile you can drizzle it on everything from ground turkey tacos to baked chicken, and even roasted veggies and salads.
The key ingredient that gives this sauce so much flavor is canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Chipotle peppers are jalapeños that have been dried and smoked to give them a deeper flavor. They’re packed in a tangy, slightly sweet adobo sauce that’s also made using dried chiles.
If you’ve never used chipotle peppers in adobo before, they’re easy to find on the Latin aisle in most grocery stores and a great staple to have on hand. They have such a rich, complex flavor that you really can’t get anywhere else.
This Chipotle Sauce recipe has been a staple in our fridge for a while now. I know once you give it a try, you’ll be reaching for it as often as we do!
You’ll Need Six Basic Ingredients
- Chipotle peppers in adobo — The star of this recipe and what gives the chipotle sauce its spicy, smoky flavor and vibrant color.
- Mayonnaise — This is the creamy base of our sauce. I’m using my 1-minute homemade mayonnaise for even more flavor.
- Sour cream — Makes the sauce extra creamy and adds a slight tang that pairs so well with the spicy chipotle flavor. You could also use Mexican crema or plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Lime juice — Freshly squeezed lime juice helps to balance the spice and adds a nice brightness to the sauce.
- Garlic — I like to grate or finely dice the garlic to avoid any large pieces.
- Salt — Enhances all of the flavors. Start with a pinch and add more to taste.
How to Make Chipotle Sauce From Scratch
- Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Don’t have a food processor?
No problem! You can easily make this recipe in a blender or bullet blender in just a few seconds. Or, you can finely chop the garlic and chipotle peppers by hand and whisk the sauce until it’s smooth – no special tools necessary.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the flavor with more salt or fresh lime juice, if needed.
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- You can easily adjust the spice level of this recipe. Add an extra spoonful of the adobo sauce for more heat, or use just one chipotle pepper for a milder version.
- Be sure to taste the sauce before serving. A little lime juice and salt go a long way in the overall flavor.
- You can serve chipotle sauce immediately or let it set in the fridge for about 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- A mason jar or squeeze bottle are great containers for storing homemade sauces.
My Favorite Ways to Use Chipotle Sauce
This creamy chipotle sauce recipe is so versatile and delicious on just about anything!
It’s a go-to for us on taco night and will take your ground beef tacos to a whole new level. The bold flavors also pair so well with fish tacos, shrimp tacos and carne asada tacos.
Chipotle sauce makes a great salad dressing, too. I especially love it on taco salad, chopped chicken salad, burrito bowls and these fajitas.
The smoky flavor is also SO good with roasted cauliflower, air fryer broccoli, and baked sweet potato fries. Or, you can drizzle it over a pan of mixed roasted veggies to make them even more delicious.
This is also delicious with French fries, zucchini fries, burgers, tortilla chips and nachos.
Storage Instructions
Store the chipotle sauce in an airtight container, mason jar, or squeeze bottle and it’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week. If the sauce thickens a bit, just add some water or lime juice until it reaches the consistency you’re looking for.
If you have leftover chipotle peppers, I recommend freezing them to use in other recipes (like my slow-cooker barbacoa). Keep them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months and thaw them in the fridge when you’re ready to use them.
Frequently Asked Questions
The chipotle peppers in adobo sauce do carry some heat, so feel free to modify the recipe to your taste.
I don’t recommend freezing chipotle sauce since it contains mayo and sour cream. This could cause the sauce to separate when it thaws.
You can easily make a vegan version of this recipe by replacing the mayo and sour cream with vegan mayo. Cashew cream is also a good substitute for sour cream if you have it on hand.
What’s your favorite way to use chipotle sauce? Let me know in the comments!
If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating and be sure to check out my other homemade sauce recipes here on Primavera Kitchen.
More Sauce & Dip Recipes To Try
Chipotle Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo
- ½ lime juiced
- 1 clove garlic
- salt to taste
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, chipotle peppers (along with a bit of the sauce), lime juice, garlic, and a pinch of salt in a food processor.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with more lime juice or salt, if needed.
Tips
- Try adding finely chopped cilantro for a light, fresh note.
- If the sauce is too thick adjust the consistency with a splash of lime juice or water.
- Wash your hands thoroughly or wear gloves when handling the chipotle peppers.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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