The very first time I made this chipotle sauce recipe, I couldn’t help but exclaim: “Holy cow, that’s good!” And I’m not the only one — this easy sauce is hands-down one of our favorite condiments in our house.
Subtly spicy, sweet, and a little bit tangy, this creamy sauce is always a hit. Of course, it’s perfect for tacos, fajitas, burrito bowls, arepas con queso and quesadillas, but once you try it you may find yourself slathering it on all of your savory foods from hamburgers to grilled chicken.
Is Chipotle Sauce from Chipotle?
First, let’s talk about what this sauce is not! It isn’t a copycat version of any type of sauce at the fast-casual chain Chipotle. We love pretty much anything from that spot, but it’s not the inspiration for this particular recipe. But if you’re looking for something like that, you can check out my dupe for Chipotle’s salad dressing.
This chipotle cream sauce is made with a base of Greek yogurt which gives it a touch of tanginess and a rich and creamy consistency. The yogurt is blended with chipotle peppers and adobo sauce to add heat and smoky flavor, honey for a bit of sweetness, and lime juice to give it a fresh bright finish.
It checks off all the boxes when it comes to being a balanced sauce, and it’s an amazing way to level up anything from nachos and enchiladas to salmon or steak. Or use it as a dipping sauce from Cajun Crispy Fried Onions, Air Fryer French Fries or Beer Battered Onion Rings.
Why Is Chipotle Adobo Sauce Special?
Trust me — this sauce is going to knock your socks off! Here’s why.
- Super simple. All you need is a few ingredients and a food processor and you’ll have this easy sauce ready in a snap.
- Balanced flavor. There’s something for everyone in this sauce! It has a bit of heat, a little tanginess, and some sweetness, too.
- Jazz up anything. From meats and veggies to salads and soups, you can use this sauce to take tons of meals to the next level
- Great for many diets. Whether your family members or guests are leading a low-carb, gluten-free, or vegetarian lifestyle, this sauce will fit into their diet. Note: While all of the ingredients are inherently gluten-free, do check the labels to make sure there’s no chance of contamination from other foods where the food is processed.
Ingredients
All you need is a handful of simple ingredients to put together this homemade chipotle sauce.
- Plain Greek Yogurt – Greek yogurt balances the heat of the chipotle peppers and adds a tangy richness to the sauce. Plus, it helps to make the sauce thick and creamy.
- Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce – The peppers and sauce give the sauce its smoky and spicy flavors. Adobo sauce is a rustic and bold sauce made from a blend of dried ancho and guajillo chiles, tomatoes, vinegar, onions, garlic, and spices. A little goes a long way!
- Minced Garlic – If you’re a garlic lover, feel free to increase the amount that you use. Just be sure to mince your fresh garlic finely and uniformly so that it evenly disperses in the sauce. And, of course, use fresh!
- Fresh Lime Juice – Citrus adds a layer of zesty flavor and brightens.
- Honey – Honey gives the sauce sweetness, balancing out the heat and smokiness.
- Coarse Kosher Salt – Salt brings out the flavor of the rest of the ingredients.
How to Make Chipotle Sauce
This sauce comes together in mere minutes and only dirties one dish — it doesn’t get much easier than this!
- Add ingredients to food processor. Pour all of the ingredients into a small food processor or blender.
- Blend until the ingredients are completely combined — some chunks may remain in the sauce.
- Enjoy. Use your adobo chipotle sauce recipe immediately or refrigerate until ready to slather on something delicious.
What To Serve Chipotle Sauce With
If I’m being honest, I could literally just eat this off of a spoon! But some more practical ways to use it are to spread it on tacos, put a dollop or two on a Mexican salad or chicken tortilla soup, or get your day off to a sweet and spicy start by adding it to breakfast burritos.
You don’t have to reserve it for Mexican-inspired meals, though. You can also slather it on sandwiches and burgers or mix it with sour cream and cream cheese to make a dip for french fries or tortilla chips.
It’s also the perfect condiment for dressing up any protein from pork and chicken to beef and seafood. And don’t sleep on tossing roasted veggies in it, too! It also taste awesome with our Mexican Crema recipe- chipotle heats it up, while crema cools it down.
Variations
While I love the balance of this sauce just as it is, you can adjust it in lots of ways to create a completely unique flavor profile.
- Sweetener – Drizzle in a little agave or maple syrup in place of the honey.
- Citrus – Instead of lime, add lemon or orange juice. For more concentrated citrus flavor, use a bit of the zest, too.
- Heat – For more spicy flavor, toss in some diced jalapenos or other chili peppers.
- Fresh Herbs – Chop up some cilantro, parsley, or Thai basil to blend with the other ingredients.
- Mayonnaise – You can add mayo to give it an even richer consistency. If you do, avoid freezing the sauce because it will not retain its consistency when thawed.
- Spice – Sprinkle in a little cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder or other spices.
Storage and Freezing
This sauce stores well so you can make it on the weekend and use it almost all week! Since it only takes a minute to make, you can easily make the sauce right before you serve it.
But, if you want to give time for the flavors to come together, you can make it and store a few days ahead of when you’re intending to use it — just give it a good stir before serving.
How to Store Chipotle Sauce
Store the sauce in an airtight container or a mason jar in the fridge for up to five days.
Can I Freeze Chipotle Sauce?
You can freeze the chipotle sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
Common Questions About Chipotle Sauce
There are various types of chipotle sauce but this creamy chipotle sauce combines Greek yogurt, chipotles in adobo sauce, garlic, citrus, and honey.
This type of sauce can be made to be spicy but this chipotle sauce recipe only has a subtle hint of heat.
Chipotle sauce is simultaneously sweet and smoky with a subtle spiciness. It’s also tangy, thanks to the creamy Greek yogurt.
More Mexican-Inspired Sauces
There’s no meal that a good homemade sauce can’t elevate. Here are some of our favorites.
Birria Consome (Birria Sauce)
Simple Mole Sauce Recipe
Quesadilla Sauce
Creamy Chipotle Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Instructions
- Place the yogurt, chipotle peppers in sauce, garlic, lime juice, honey and salt into a small food processor and blend well until combined. The sauce might still have a few small bits, that is ok.
- Chill until ready to use or use immediately.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Nutrition
How saucy! 🙂 I loved the heat combined with the greek yogurt. Thank you for this, I topped my burger with it and it was perfection!
Simple and creamy chipotle sauce. My family loved it. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! This sauce really was incredible. Super creamy and soooo flavorful! Yummy!
This sounds fabulous! I love that it uses Greek yogurt for the creaminess and I can’t wait to put it on all my Mexican dishes.