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.

Chipotle Sauce in a glass jar with a hand holding a gold spoon over the jar.
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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.
Pre-measured ingredients in small bowls on a white countertop.

How to Make Chipotle Sauce From Scratch

  • Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
An overhead view of a food processor filled with chipotle sauce ingredients.

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.
Chipotle sauce in a small glass jar with a spoon in it.

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.

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.

A glass jar of chipotle sauce with a spoon in it.

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.

Chipotle Sauce Recipe

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Author: Olivia Ribas
Servings8 people
Prep Time5 minutes
Custom Time0 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
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!

Equipment

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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

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.
    ingredients to make Chipotle sauce 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.
    closeup view of chipotle sauce in a glass little jar.

Notes

  • 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

Serving: 1/8, Calories: 114kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 167mg, Potassium: 57mg, Sugar: 1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Olivia Ribas

Welcome

Hi, I'm Olivia


Happy to have you here! I’ve been creating and sharing tasty, easy-to-make recipes on Primavera Kitchen for over 10 years now! I’m all about simple, delicious recipes made with fresh, seasonal, and wholesome ingredients that your whole family will love.

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