Chipotle Sauce Recipe – 5 Minutes [Video]

If you have to choose one universal sauce to be your go-to, then this Chipotle sauce is what you need. I was not kidding when I told you that it’s easy to make. It takes only 5 minutes, and the result is a creamy, tangy, and smoky sauce, which will transform an ordinary meal into something fabulous. Refreshing and packed with heat it is great tacos, burritos, salads, as a dipping sauce, and even as a marinade.

The Best Chipotle Sauce Recipe

Chipotle Sauce Recipe will take you 5 minutes to prepare and you can enjoy it right away with your favorite Mexican favorites. As I have mentioned many times on the blog, the sauce is the essential part of a meal. It can take something from to wow in an instant.

This sauce is a staple in our house, it’s incredibly creamy and flavorful with just the right amount of spiciness. Just like the authentic Chipotle sauce, I have used chipotles in adobo sauce to make mine. Also, fresh cilantro, and lime zest to a refreshing and citrusy flavor.

I have always encouraged you to have some sauces on hand, they are an essential part of either cooking or serving your dishes. They add flavor and usually take little effort to prepare. Once you see how easy to make and cost-effective it is, you will never go back to store-bought.

Having an obsession with Mexican cuisine, since I love the simplicity, the flavors, and the heat, this Chipotle sauce is one of my favorite sauces. If you have a well-stocked pantry, you can make it anytime with just a handful of ingredients.

I like to use it as a dipping sauce for either grilled chicken wings, IP Chicken Wings, or with these Roasted Potatoes. Also, you can make a double batch from the start, as it can be refrigerated for up to 1 one week. This way you have it readily available to use on burritos, sandwiches, to marinate veggies or meat, or simply to drizzle over your favorite salad.

What is Chipotle Sauce made of?

This is one of the easiest dishes you can make with only 5 simple ingredients. You will need:

Peppers:

• Chipotle Peppers in adobo sauce – A chili hepper used primarily in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Mexican-American, Tex-Mex, and Southwestern dishes. It comes in different forms, such as chipotles en adobo, and is widely used now all over the world. You can get the store-bought version, but if you want, make your peppers in adobo sauce to have them on hand whenever you need some. These types of peppers are VERY spicy, so start with one and see if you can handle the heat to add more. Since you will not be using the whole can, I recommend freezing them in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep for about 3 months in the freezer, and thaw when you are ready to use them.

Dairy:

• Mayonnaise – to add that rich creaminess that the sauce is famous for.
• Whole Milk Greek Yogurt – I enjoy the tanginess it adds to this recipe.

Seasonings and spices:

• Cumin and ground coriander – these two spices are a staple in Mexican cuisine and are known to add that distinguished earthy flavor we all love.
• Cilantro – using fresh cilantro adds a nice freshness to the sauce and extra flavor.
• Lime Zest – while I say that this is optional, I recommend using it, makes the sauce more refreshing and adds a nice zesty flavor to it. To make the lime zest, first, rinse the lime, and using a microplane or the smallest holes on an ordinary grater, grate the green skin of the lime only. Grate just enough to get through the green skin, this way you can avoid the bitter white pith underneath. Rotate the lime and repeat.

How to make chipotle sauce from scratch?

One of the easiest recipes you can make, all you need is a blender or food processor and 5 minutes of your time.

• Just add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth, this will take you about 2-3 minutes.
• Transfer the sauce into a jar or airtight container. Serve or refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Recipe variations:

• Spicier: Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce is very spicy, use less or more, as you prefer.
• Vegan: use vegan mayo and plain vegan yogurt to make this recipe.
• Dairy-free: Use plain vegan yogurt or sour cream.
• Sour cream: You can use sour cream instead of yogurt, I like both options, the sour cream adds a bit more tanginess to it.
• Lemon flavor: Substitute the lime with lemon.
• Garlic: If you want to customize it, even more, a few garlic cloves will add a nice punch of savory flavor.
• Ranch flavor: Add a bit of ranch dry seasoning for a zesty and delicious variation.

Ways to use chipotle sauce:

This is one of the most universal sauces you can make, and it truly is a great recipe to have under your belt. The sauce is so versatile, that you can use it to elevate dishes, as a coating, as a dipping sauce, and even as a marinade. This is one of those recipes you will use over and over again.

• As a dipping sauce: Use it for crispy air-fried potatoes, sweet potato fries, Jerk chicken wings, crispy chicken tenders, taco fries, or Mcdonald’s chicken nuggets.
• Drizzle it on top of fish tacos, shrimp tacos, chicken tacos, carne asada, salmon patties, or oven-baked tilapia.
• Use it as a dressing on a chicken burrito bowl, salmon poke bowl, Mexican Taco salad, or inside this Taco burrito.
• Marinade: Use it as a marinade to make baked chicken breast.
• On the side: Pair it with something sweet and savory like this slow cooker pineapple pork.

Frequently asked questions

What are chipotle peppers in adobo sauce?

To make the most authentic and tasty chipotle sauce you need chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, which are a combination of things. Those are red jalapeno peppers that have been dried and smoked. After that, they have been cooked until soft and tender in a mixture of water, vinegar, spices, and tomato puree. The result is a very spicy, smoky, and thick sauce.

What is a substitute for Chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce?

If you can’t get your hand on some canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, you can either make your own, or you can get the chipotle powder. While not as intense and smoky, it’s still a good substitute, start with 1/2 teaspoon and work your way up while tasting and adjusting. 

What does Chipotle sauce taste like?

Chipotle sauce has a complex taste, made of many layers, first, you will feel the heat and spiciness. But you will not miss the pleasant earthiness of the cumin and coriander. A bit of zesty flavor from the lime, and tanginess from the yogurt, all balanced by the creaminess from the mayo and freshness from the cilantro.

How to store:

• Refrigerator:  Transfer the homemade sauce into an airtight container or jar and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.
• Freeze: I do not recommend freezing leftover chipotle sauce, the mayonnaise and yogurt will separate when thawed. This sauce is so easy to make, that it’s just better to make it fresh.

More sauces to try:

Recipe tips:

• When making a mayo-based sauce, I recommend using full-fat mayo. However, you can make a “skinnier” version by using Fat-Free Mayo. But be aware that the sauce will be a bit more watery.
• In addition, using fresh cilantro is key, please don’t try to substitute, the fresher the better. Make sure your cilantro is washed and towel-dried before adding it to the sauce.
• You can adjust the spiciness as you please by adding more or less chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. I usually add 2, but if you like the sauce extra spicy add more.