I say this all the time, but I truly believe that the key to a great veggie meal (or any meal, really) is a great sauce! With a great sauce on hand, you can use whatever veggies/grains/proteins you have to easily make salads, bowls, tacos, or sandwiches any night of the week. This smoky, creamy chipotle sauce is one of my absolute favorites to punch up any meal. It started as a sauce to the cauliflower tacos in my first cookbook and now I love it on everything from burrito bowls to breakfast tacos. It’s also great as a sweet potato fries dipping sauce, as it’s pictured here today. Keep reading for how to make it (and yes, there’s a vegan version!).
What’s the secret to making a great chipotle mayo? Canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. They have an amazing smoky, spicy flavor that makes them one of my go-to ingredients in savory recipes. If you’ve never used chipotles in adobo, don’t worry – they’re not hard to find. Most grocery stores carry them in the Mexican aisle. After you make this recipe, use your leftover chipotles in BBQ jackfruit sliders or creamy vegan nacho cheese!
In this recipe, I balance the heat of the chipotles with sweetness from honey, richness from Greek yogurt & mayonnaise, and brightness from lime to make an addictive sauce that’s a bit lighter than a traditional chipotle aioli. And no need to worry if you’re vegan – maple syrup and vegan mayo work perfectly in place of the honey, yogurt, and traditional mayonnaise.
Ok, you’ve made your chipotle sauce. Now what do you do with it? I love to use it as a sweet potato fries dipping sauce, and it’s great to have on hand for quick no-recipe meals. Drizzle it over a burrito bowl or roasted veggies, or dollop it onto tacos like the cauliflower tacos in our first book! You could also slather it onto a sandwich or use it to top your favorite veggie burger.
Best Chipotle Sauce for Tacos, Fajitas & More!
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 tons more. Watch the video above!
Prep: 10min
Total: 10min
Yield: 10
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 86 kcal, Carbohydrate 2 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 14 mg, Sodium 92 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1/2 lime (juiced)
- 1 clove garlic
- salt to taste
Instruction:
- In a food processor, add the mayo, sour cream, chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic and a pinch of salt.
- Process until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Taste test to see if you need to add any more lime juice or salt.
Chipotle Sauce Recipe
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!
Prep: 2min
Total: 3min
Yield: 32
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 23 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 0.2 g, Fat 2 g, Saturated Fat 0.2 g, Trans Fat 0.003 g, Cholesterol 3 mg, Sodium 27 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, unSaturated Fat 1.3 g, servingSize 1 serving
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
Instruction:
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor. Process until smooth!
- Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.
Creamy Chipotle Sauce
This easy, smoky chipotle sauce is a great condiment to keep on hand! Use it to spice up your favorite tacos & bowls or as a dip for sweet potato fries.
Total: 5min
Ingredients:
- ½ cup whole milk Greek yogurt ((*see vegan note))
- ¼ cup mayonnaise ((Sir Kensington’s is best here))
- 1 chipotle pepper from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce
- 1 garlic clove (peeled)
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instruction:
- In a food processor, place the yogurt, mayo, chipotle pepper, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, honey, and generous pinches of salt and freshly ground black pepper and blend until smooth. Season to taste with more salt and pepper, if desired.
Creamy Chipotle Sauce Recipe (Real Chipotle Flavor!)
FAQ
What is chipotle sauce made of?
How to make chipotle from scratch?
- Set smoker at 200°F. Add wood to tray. Wash and dry ripe jalapenos and place on double rack. As they dry, they shrink and some may drop through the grates, so double the racks. …
- Place peppers in the smoker. Smoke for 24-48 hours, until very dry. Check them every 12 hours, or so.
What is chipotle sauce from a can of adobo?
What is a good substitute for chipotle sauce?
