This creamy chipotle sauce recipe is quick and easy to make and focuses more on the chipotle and less on the other ingredients for real chipotle flavor, so good! Chipotle all the way, super creamy!
Homemade Chipotle Sauce Recipe
This is MY kind of chipotle sauce, my friends. It is nice and creamy yet still holds onto all that wonderful smoky-tangy chipotle flavor we all crave. That’s how we want it, right?
What is Chipotle Sauce?
Chipotle sauce is a popular creamy sauce made with spicy, smoky chipotle peppers mixed with mayonnaise and sour cream or crema. You'll find it served in numerous fast food restaurants, like Taco Bell or Subway.
It's a versatile sauce or condiment made with simple ingredients, the perfect way to add flavor and zing to sandwiches, French fries, grilled foods, and so much more.
There are different ways to make it, but they are all quite similar.
I’ve had other chipotle sauces and found many of them lacking. The recipes call for far too much cream or mayonnaise or other ingredients to achieve their desired flavor, but in the end, all you’re really left with is a mixture of mayo and sour cream or Greek yogurt that is colored with a dash of chipotle sauce or chipotle powder added in
NAH! That’s just not enough chipotle sauce for me. We need creamy chipotle sauce with real flavor.
With my chipotle sauce recipe, we’re focusing on the chipotle, and it’s super easy to make. You KNOW how much I love EASY.
Let's talk about how to make chipotle sauce, the right way.
Homemade Chipotle Sauce Ingredients
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce. Use the canned product you normally find in the grocery store. You can also use the product labeled "adobo sauce". If offers the smoky-spicy flavor, made with smoked and dried jalapeno peppers. The dried chipotles are drenched in delicious adobo sauce.
- Mexican Crema. You can use sour cream or Greek yogurt, but I prefer the flavor of Mexican crema.
- Mayonnaise. Use your favorite brand. Works with vegan mayo as well.
- Fresh Cilantro.
- Spices. Cayenne powder, garlic powder, cumin, and salt.
How to Make Chipotle Sauce - the Recipe Method
First, gather up your ingredients, which include a can of chipotles in adobe (but of course!), along with ½ cup Mexican crema (or sour cream), ¼ cup mayo, chopped cilantro, cayenne powder for flavor and heat, garlic powder, cumin, and a bit of salt and pepper.
If you'd like a citrus pop, squeeze in a bit of fresh lime juice.
Next, add it all to a food processor and puree until smooth.
BOOM! Done!
That’s it. Easy, right? I love the chipotle pepper flavor. So smooth and creamy, and delicious!
PLUS! You’ll be using the WHOLE can of chipotles in adobo sauce for this. No need to dirty up tiny little storage containers in the refrigerator trying to save the rest. Use ALL of it.
Much better.
Recipe Tips
- Sour cream is great, though I prefer the flavor of Mexican crema. You can usually find it near the sour cream in the grocery store. Also, consider making it with a bit of yogurt as well.
- Real mayonnaise will give you much more flavor. You can make it with non-fat versions, but real mayo it superior.
- Want even MORE chipotle flavor? Add in another can of chipotle peppers in adobo. You can't go wrong.
- Use only half of the chipotles in adobo sauce for a milder version.
- Toss in some fresh cilantro for a herbal flavor.
Storage Information
You can store homemade chipotle sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1 week.
What Goes Best with Chipotle Sauce?
I LOVE to have this on hand for grilled chicken or pork. It’s a great finisher. Toss some fried or grilled chicken wings or legs with this chipotle sauce and go straight to flavor heaven. Fried or grilled shrimp, too.
It's also great served as a chipotle dip with chips. Just pour it into a small bowl. It's one of the best dipping sauces ever.
Or use it as you would any other condiment and drizzle it over sandwiches, wraps or salads. I love it on fish tacos or drizzled over a burrito bowl. Consider it for fajitas or fried fish.
DELISH!
Try it out with this Quick and Easy Chipotle Chicken Recipe, Grilled Chicken Wings or Grilled Shrimp.
You pretty much have to make it homemade. I don't often see chipotle sauce in grocery stores. I'd rather make it at home anyway. More chipotle flavor for me!
Give it a go, my friends. Let me know how you like it, and how you best like to serve it. Curious to hear! Enjoy. – Mike H.
Try Some of My Other Popular Sauce Recipes
- Chipotle Mayo
- Jacked Up Fry Sauce
- Homemade Buffalo Sauce
- Sriracha Aioli
- Creamy Sriracha Mayo
- Cajun Remoulade Sauce
- Creamy Fish Taco Sauce
- Bang Bang Sauce
- This Mexican White Sauce Recipe (Salsa Blanca) is a tasty variation from Virginia that you will love.
If you try this recipe, please let us know! Leave a comment, rate it and tag a photo #ChiliPepperMadness on Instagram so we can take a look. I always love to see all of your spicy inspirations.
Chipotle Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 7 ounce can chipotles in adobo sauce or use chipotle sauce
- ½ cup Mexican crema sour cream is good, too
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon cayenne powder (or to taste - use 1/2 teaspoon for less spicy)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor. Process until smooth!
- Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 3/24/23 to include new information, photos and video. It was originally published on 4/4/18.
Marianne Green says
Made this recipe as printed using sour cream. Perfect amount of heat and smokiness. Delicious!. Serving it with tamales for our taco Tuesday.
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent for tacos!! Glad you like it, Marianne! Thanks so much!
Donald Presley says
Made recipe as printed and choose to use only 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne, seeing it was the first time trying this recipe.Definitely spicy and smoky and my kind of heat. Was a little too spicy for the wife, but you can't please every bodies taste buds. To me if it doesn't bring sweat to your brow it isn't hot enough. Great sauce
Mike, will keep this recipe for future use.
Thanks again.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Donald!! I love to hear it! Thanks so much!
Will Dunn says
I made this a few weeks ago at the first of the month and waited until now to give a review so it wouldn't just be my first impression. My opinion hasn't changed. I really like it. I made it exactly to the recipe instructions. It has heat but, for me, it's just right. I have put it on many, many things and I will make it again. Thanks!
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! Thanks, Will! SUPER happy you enjoyed it after the rest. Great comments.
Ron Bell says
A great, smokey chipotle hot sauce!
Mike H. says
Yes, it is - enjoy!
Debi in BC says
Updated with a couple things I forgot.........I've been meaning to post this for awhile....but we've been too busy enjoying this wonderfully addictive sauce! Have tried it on pretty much everything. Realized I hadn't reviewed it yet when I saw the jar was almost empty & it was time to make some more.
It has Wonderful full flavours that aren't overpowering....though I did add a bit extra cayenne /perhaps just a touch too much for us - but still SO tasty! Our favourite way to use it is as a drizzle on top of Mexican Eggs Benny ( additional ingredients over the usual Benny - guacamole, thinly sliced avocado, thin slice Monterey Jack cheese & bacon instead of ham). SO GOOD! I used to use a drizzle of chili pepper oil on them but this is so much better. <3
The only change I made was to use Icelandic unsweetened Yogurt (thicker than normal yogurt and has great flavour & body) as we don't have access to Mexican Crema & prefer it over sour cream.
Update: Used Avocado Mayonnaise & a splash of lime juice.
Mike Hultquist says
Outstanding!! Thanks again, Debi!
Debi in BC says
I've been meaning to post this for awhile....but we've been too busy enjoying this wonderfully addictive sauce! Have tried it on pretty much everything. Realized I hadn't reviewed it yet when I saw the jar was almost empty & it was time to make some more.
It has Wonderful full flavours that aren't overpowering....though I did add a bit extra cayenne /perhaps just a touch too much for us - but still SO tasty! Our favourite way to use it is as a drizzle on top of Mexican Eggs Benny ( additional ingredients over the usual Benny - guacamole, thinly sliced avocado, thin slice Monterey Jack cheese & bacon instead of ham). SO GOOD! I used to use a drizzle of chili pepper oil on them but this is so much better. <3
The only change I made was to use Icelandic unsweetened Yogurt (thicker than normal yogurt and has great flavour & body) as we don't have access to Mexican Crema & prefer it over sour cream.
Mike Hultquist says
This is great! Thanks, Debi!! I appreciate your comments!