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.
Cindy says
We love the shrimp recipe, made it for my husband about two weeks ago and now he’s asking me to please make it again. He likes it alot and the heat and then I put a rice on the dide some minute rice with a little bit of flavoring and it’s so good thank you for posting this recipe.
Mike H. says
You are very welcome, Cindy - enjoy!
Kimberly Robinson says
Was craving a saucy slurpy chipotle burrito. Searched the internet and found… This sauce was unexpectedly really spicy , idk how I completely missed the name of this website. Oh well . It’s good sauce for sure, and now I have spicy burritos. Shrug. Definitively gonna find a different recipe next time around though
Mike Hultquist says
OK, Kimberly. Glad you liked it overall. I do make things quite spicy here at Chili Pepper Madness.
Doug Lovern says
Is this recipe amenable to bottling? Any tips?
Mike Hultquist says
Doug, I've never tried to can this, and I don't believe it's the sort of recipe that is amenable to canning/bottling.
Kevin says
Made this exactly like the recipe said and it is freaking amazing. This is now my to go to sauce for just about everything. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe.
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Thanks, Kevin!
Kris says
Thanks Mike for this masterpiece of a sauce! It is the chipotle sauce by which we will just all other. Super easy to make. I followed the recipe exactly and was perfect! I made it for fried fish tacos last night and added it to a premade grocery store regular potato salad with some sliced green onion, black beans and a little cilantro for our dinner side tonight. Sampled that and it was excellent as well. Making your smash burger with the blue cheese and Serrano!
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! Glad you love it, Kris!
Brian T. Martin says
amazing sauce.. I added just a pinch of Mexican oregano along with the cilantro. there's really no need to because it's perfection as is!!
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Brian!
Red says
Not a fan of cilantro but did use parsley. Other then that have been using lots of you recipes.
Mike Hultquist says
Great to hear, Red! Glad you're enjoying the recipes! Thanks for sharing this. =)
Jayne McAndrews says
This sauce is Fabulous! It has wonderful heat but it doesn’t burn your taste buds. The heat is deep and tasty; I can’t describe it. I want to eat it by the spoon!! I made it to take to a burrito party tomorrow. I’m sure it will be a big hit. Thank you!
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! Nice! Thanks, Jayne! Glad you enjoyed it.
Jayne McAndrews says
Mike,
Had to respond again. I’m excited to share with you that I used this sauce and made Chipotle Deviled Eggs! Yum. Just in time for Memorial Day Picnic!!
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! That sounds AWESOME, Jayne! I need to make that now! I love to hear it. Enjoy!
Cindi says
O.M.Gosh!!! You were sooo right! I made this sauce to serve with my grilled shrimp and we loved it so much we used it the next 3 nights with our chicken, our fish tacos (which btw I made your fish taco sauce, equally delicious!)and put it in our egg sandwiches!!!! Its THAT good!!!! Hubby and I are now compelled to go through the entire list of sauces...we have grown chili peppers in the past, and this year I have decided to grow Hatch chilies...hoping to use them in your plethora of sauces!!!!
Mike Hultquist says
Outstanding!! Super happy you enjoyed it, and hope you find many sauces you love!
Chris says
Fantastic! Better than butter on corn, and is a delicious dipping sauce for fries too
6/5 stars, will make again. And again, and again
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome!! Thanks, Chris!
Rhondi says
Wow, so glad I stumbled across this recipe. I love chipotle stuff so I always buy the cans of chipotle in adobo, but I never know how to use it, and when I do, there is so much left. How long does this recipe stay good in the fridge for? Thanks so much for posting.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Rhondi. This will last a week or longer in the refrigerator. It's really a condiment sauce, so should last longer, sealed.
Dan says
Hey Mike, first time caller, long time listener.
I've seen this question a couple of times and the easy answer is: Look at the BB date on the sour cream (or whatever dairy you're using) and go with that, I've made double batches of this minus the cilantro (I prefer it fresh), bought the sour cream with the furthest away expiration date, and it was still good until I used it up over a month from when I made it.
I store it in the fridge in plastic squeeze bottles and write the expiration date of the sour cream I used for the sauce on a piece of tape I put on the bottle.
Anyway, thanks for the recipe, making my 4th double batch today! it's awesome with extra fresh lime!
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent, Dan! Thanks for your input! Very happy you enjoy it! I appreciate it. =)
Jérémie says
Hey Mike!
Great vid here and great recipe too!
Awesome sauce! instead of Cayenne powder I used fresh habanero.
With Brined Grilled Chicken thighs, this wonderful sauce went extremely well!! Love it, thanks, Man!
Mike Hultquist says
Nice, Jérémie! Glad you like it! I love the use of fresh habanero in this. Great pairing with the chicken!
Steven says
made this last night put it over red beans and rice it was fantastic!
Mike Hultquist says
Great way to enjoy it! Glad you liked it, Steven. Thanks!