SaveThis chipotle sauce recipe is a smoky, creamy, gently spicy sauce made by blending chipotle peppers in adobo with sour cream, a little mayonnaise, lime juice and garlic. It needs no cooking and takes about five minutes. Spoon it over tacos and burrito bowls, drizzle it on grilled chicken or use it as a dip for fries. Below you’ll find what each ingredient does, how to make it mild, medium or hot, how to thin it for drizzling, and easy swaps.
What Is Chipotle Sauce?
Chipotles are smoked, dried jalapeños. In the US they’re most often sold canned in adobo, a tangy, tomato-based sauce. Blending a couple of those peppers with a creamy base gives a sauce that’s smoky, tangy and mildly hot, often called chipotle crema. The adobo sauce from the can adds extra smoky flavor and color without much extra work.
Chipotle sauce vs. bang bang and buffalo sauce
| Chipotle sauce | Bang bang sauce | Buffalo sauce | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Sour cream + mayo | Mayo + sweet chili sauce | Hot sauce + butter |
| Flavor | Smoky, tangy, medium heat | Sweet and spicy | Sharp, buttery, hot |
| Texture | Creamy, pourable | Creamy | Thin, glossy |
| Best with | Tacos, bowls, burgers | Shrimp, fried foods | Wings |
For a sweet-spicy creamy sauce, try our bang bang sauce. For a buttery wing sauce, see our homemade buffalo sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Sour cream (1/2 cup): the tangy, cooling base. Plain Greek yogurt works for a lighter sauce.
- Mayonnaise (1/4 cup): richness and a smoother, silkier texture.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo (2 peppers): the smoky heat. Heat varies between cans, so start with two and add more to taste.
- Adobo sauce (1 teaspoon, from the can): extra smoky, tangy flavor and color.
- Fresh lime juice (1 tablespoon): brightness that balances the richness.
- Garlic (1 clove): savory depth.
- Salt (1/4 teaspoon): seasoning. Taste first; the adobo is already seasoned.
- Ground cumin (1/4 teaspoon, optional): a warm, earthy note.
How to Make Chipotle Sauce
- Blend. Put the sour cream, mayonnaise, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, lime juice, garlic, salt and cumin (if using) in a blender or small food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust. Add more chipotle or adobo for heat, more lime for tang, or a pinch more salt.
- Thin if needed. For a drizzle, blend in water or milk 1 teaspoon at a time.
- Serve or chill. Use right away, or cover and refrigerate until needed.
No blender? Finely mince the chipotles and garlic, then whisk everything together in a bowl. The sauce will have small flecks of pepper.
Mild, Medium or Hot
| Heat | Chipotle peppers | Adobo sauce |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | 1 pepper | 1 teaspoon |
| Medium (recipe card) | 2 peppers | 1 teaspoon |
| Hot | 3 to 4 peppers | 2 teaspoons |
Add peppers one at a time and taste between additions. You can’t take heat back out.
How to Use Chipotle Sauce
Spoon it over fish or chicken tacos, burrito bowls and quesadillas; spread it on burgers and sandwiches; or set it out with fries and roasted potatoes for dipping. Because it’s made with sour cream and mayonnaise, keep it chilled: don’t leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), and keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below, as the CDC advises.
Leftover chipotles: a can usually holds more peppers than one batch needs. Move the extras out of the can into a covered container and refrigerate them, or freeze them in small portions for later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chipotle sauce made of?
This creamy version blends chipotle peppers in adobo with sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic and salt.
Is chipotle sauce spicy?
It’s mildly to moderately spicy with two peppers. Use one for mild or three to four for hot.
Can I make it without sour cream?
Yes. Use plain Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter sauce, or use all mayonnaise for a richer chipotle mayo.
Can I make it without mayonnaise?
Yes. Replace the mayo with more sour cream or Greek yogurt. It will be a little thinner and tangier.
How should I store chipotle sauce?
Keep it covered in the refrigerator at 40°F or below, and don’t leave it out for more than 2 hours. Stir before serving.
