Chipotle sauce is an easy way to add smokiness, heat, and zesty flavor to any dish. It can be drizzled over tacos, fajitas, and bowls or enjoyed as a creamy dip. And bonus—it’s incredibly easy to make with just a few pantry staples.
Why You’ll Love This Chipotle Sauce
When I’ve got Mexican recipes lined up for the week, this chipotle sauce (also known as chipotle crema) is a necessity. It’s similar to my lime crema, but with a bolder, smokier, and spicier kick, thanks to chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Chipotle peppers are red jalapeños that are smoked and dried, then rehydrated in a tangy, rich, and slightly sweet tomato-based sauce. Together, they create a zesty, spicy, and flavor-packed combo, which is why they’re often sold in jars together. Aside from the irresistible flavor, here’s why I think you’ll love this sauce as much as I do:
- It’s quick and easy. Just toss everything into a food processor and blend away.
- It stores well. Keep it in the fridge to use throughout the week. I’ve also got tips for storing any leftover chipotle peppers below.
- Endless ways to use it. I love making creamy chipotle shrimp with it or drizzling it over my birria tacos and salmon tacos. You can even scale it up for parties!
Chipotle Sauce Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: This is the creamy base for the chipotle sauce. I use my homemade mayonnaise (it’s so easy to make!).
- Sour cream: Adds extra creaminess and a subtle tang.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo: I use two peppers and a bit of the adobo sauce, but feel free to add an extra pepper if you like more heat.
- Lime juice, garlic, and salt: The acidity from the lime balances the spice, while the garlic and salt round out the flavor with a zesty, savory finish.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make It
For the best consistency, I find that using a mini food processor works best. Just blend the mayo, sour cream, chipotle peppers (plus a bit of the adobo sauce), lime juice, garlic, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy. I like to taste it at the end and adjust with a little extra lime juice or salt if needed.
Common Questions
Any leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. For leftover chipotle peppers, I recommend freezing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for about 3 months and thaw easily when you’re ready to make more sauce.
Absolutely! For a dairy-free version, swap the sour cream with cashew sour cream. To make it fully vegan, use both cashew sour cream and a vegan mayonnaise.
If you can’t find chipotle peppers, chipotle powder works in a pinch! One dried chipotle pepper is equivalent to about ½ teaspoon of chipotle powder. If that’s not quite enough heat, you can always add a bit more and blend again.
Make my slow cooker barbacoa recipe! It’s a reader favorite recipe.
Ways To Use Chipotle Sauce
- Use it as a dipping sauce for baked zucchini fries, sweet potato fries, yuca fries, or crispy chicken tenders.
- It’s the perfect crema to drizzle on chicken fajitas, steak fajitas, shrimp tacos, carne asada tacos, or even breakfast tacos. It’s also great on a burrito bowl or this taco salad.
- Slather it as a spicy mayo alternative for chicken wraps, breakfast burritos, burgers, or turkey burgers.
- Cook it with meats and seafood such as chipotle chicken, grilled shrimp, steak (carne asada), or grilled salmon.
More Sauce Recipes
If you make this chipotle sauce recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Chipotle sauce is extremely versatile and an easy way to add smokiness and heat to any dish. It can be drizzled over tacos, turned into a creamy dip, and so much more. Watch the video below to see how I make this in my kitchen!
- This recipe yields about 1 ½ cups of chipotle sauce.
- Storage tip: Any leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. For storing the leftover chipotle peppers, I recommend freezing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll stay good for about 3 months and can thaw easily to make more chipotle sauce in the future.
- Make it spicier: Just add an extra half of a chipotle pepper to the food processor
Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 293IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
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Recipe originally published July 2020, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
