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
- 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.
Mary says
I was making carne asada fries. I didn’t have anything chipotle in the house so I substituted for equal parts of smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. I also didn’t have cilantro so I added a tiny pinch of oregano. I don’t have a food processor so I just mixed it with a spoon and it was so good! Perfect heat for me but too spicy for rest of family so I added more mayonnaise to tame the flavor and it was still soooo good! Thank you for this recipe!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Mary! I love it! Sounds super tasty to me.
Calista says
Add ranch and use for a dip for a chicken quesadillas, yummy ! Chipotle ranch sauce ...yes please !
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes! This! Love it.
Henry says
This sauce is GREAT. A big hit when I’ve made it for parties. Sometimes I’ll add raspberry jam for a different twist. I love your website with all the different types of sauces.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice! I love the raspberry twist!
Melanie says
Just curious, do you think this would work well in a tiny crockpot kept on warm to use as a topping option for a taco bar? Or would the heat change the consistency?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Melanie, it could work if the heat was very low. It has crema/sour cream in it, so might change consistency if warmed, though the mayo could keep it smooth. It's meant to be served unheated, but again, possible on very low heat. Let me know how it goes for you.
Zac says
I made it exactly how it said, but mine came out thick and a lot darker than the one shown. Any thoughts as to why?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Zac, it could be the starting product, or amount of heat used. You can thin this out with a bit of water.
Jacquie says
My husband and I love this recipe!!! We toned it down just a touch with a little more sour cream and Mayo but it was still spicy enough. Just wondering how long this could last in the fridge or freezer???
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks Jacquie! Glad you enjoyed it. This should last a few weeks easily (or longer) in the refrigerator, sealed. Not sure how well it would freeze, as the ingredients would probably separate.
Lori says
Found that 1 teaspoon of cayenne was wayy too much, added Agave Nectar to tame it down. Can't go wrong with Sweet & Spicy 🙂
Thank you.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Glad you were able to adjust, Lori. I DO like it quite spicy.
Paul Dallender says
Living in the UK I can only get the Chipotle in Adobo Sauce on line (at least where I live). Now I have the ingredients to make my own Adobo sauce (using your recipe) and I have the dried Chipotle chillies. How much of the sauce and how many dried Chipotles (rehydrated) do you recommend to make your Chipotle sauce? The cans have a content weight of 220g 25% of which according to the ingredients is Chipotle chilli, that's 55g (about 8 to 10 chillies) which seems a lot to me.
I know a lot of it is down to personal taste but I'm new to everything chilli and I don't want to make it and find after putting in eight chillies it is just too hot to enjoy.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Paul, you can easily just use 1-2 of the chipotles with some of the adobo sauce at first. Mix it in, give the chipotle sauce a taste, then adjust from there. You can save whatever you don't use. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Allie says
Do you think this would work as a salad dressing? It looks a lot like this one restaurant salad dressing I’m trying to replicate
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Allie, I do. I think this would be quite enjoyable as a salad dressing. You could thin it out a touch if you wanted. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Jake D says
Spicy and I don't really get along well anymore so I did myself a little favor; I halved each chipotle pepper and scraped out most of the seeds (saving as much adobo sauce as possible.) Skipped the cayenne too but put in some freshly cracked pepper. Still such great flavor. Blended it directly in the sour cream tub with my handheld blender.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Perfect, Jake! I love that you were able to adjust it to your own heat preferences. Glad you enjoyed it.
Kameelah says
Made the sauce not do you think it’s a good idea to sauté it with cut up chicken
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Kameelah, I would just toss it with the sauteed chicken to finish it. I think that would be great. Let me know how that turns out for you.
Todd Hewitt says
Very spicy. Actually too spicy and I LOVE spicy food. Hoping to figure out how to calm it down a bit. Very good sauce, though.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Todd. You can calm it down by incorporating more sour cream or crema. You can also incorporate tomato sauce to dilute it. It will change the flavor, but will still be delicious. I appreciate the comments!
Konstantin says
I made it with chipotle paste, came out super yum
but it says in yr recipe that I need chipotle sauce to make chipotle sauce?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Konstantin. Yeah, this recipe is for a creamy chipotle sauce, which does need the adobo sauce (or sauce from chipotles in adobo, which some people just call chipotle sauce). Glad you enjoyed it.