Chipotle Sauce (chipotle crema) is the ultimate creamy condiment that brings smoky, spicy flavor to everything from tacos and burgers to fries and bowls. Whether you’re using it for dipping or drizzling, this versatile sauce upgrades any meal.
If you love the taste of chipotle peppers, try my Super Simple Chipotle Salsa, Creamy Chipotle Cheeseburgers, and Smoky Chipotle Hummus.
Creamy Chipotle Sauce
This chipotle sauce is one of those recipes that feels like magic in the kitchen. It's easy to make with simple ingredients and just 5 minutes in a blender.
It’s a versatile, Mexican-inspired sauce that works on tacos, burgers, fries, or even as a veggie dipping sauce. The bold, smoky flavor with a hint of tanginess instantly elevates anything you pair it with.
Honestly, it’s better than Taco Bell’s version! Sure, they sell a bottled chipotle sauce, but there’s just something about making it fresh at home that takes it to another level. Once you try this, you’ll never go back to store-bought.
What is Chipotle Sauce?
Chipotle sauce is a creamy, smoky, and spicy condiment made with chipotle peppers in adobo. It's blended with a base of sour cream and mayonnaise for a rich texture and a zesty kick.
This sauce adds a rich, zesty kick to dishes like tacos, burgers, fries, and more. My recipe keeps it fresh and simple, delivering vibrant flavor that’s perfect for both drizzling and dipping.
Ingredients
- Sour cream: The slight tangy flavor enriches the sauce's flavor and consistency.
- Mayonnaise: The creamy base of this recipe. Use a full-fat mayonnaise for full flavor.
- Chipotle adobo paste: Smoked and dried red jalapenos that have been rehydrated in a puree of tomato, vinegar, and garlic (adobo sauce). Find this at your local grocery store.
- Lime: The acidity of lime juice balances out the heat from the peppers
- Garlic powder: A tasty addition that rounds everything out. But garlic cloves will work in a pinch.
How to Make Chipotle Sauce
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
To make this creamy chipotle sauce, I start by adding the sour cream, mayonnaise, chipotle adobo paste, lime juice, and garlic powder to a food processor or high-speed blender.
Then, I blend everything on high for about two minutes to ensure it's perfectly smooth and all the ingredients are fully incorporated. Once it's ready, I pour the sauce into a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid or a squeeze bottle for easy storage and use.
You can use it right away or pop it in the fridge, where it’ll keep fresh for up to a week.
Pro Tips
- Adjust the spice level. If you prefer a milder sauce, use less adobo paste or skip the whole chipotle pepper. For extra heat, add an additional chipotle pepper or a pinch of cayenne.
- Blend until smooth. Take your time blending to ensure the sauce is creamy and the ingredients are fully incorporated. This prevents any chunks of chipotle from overpowering the sauce.
- Use fresh lime juice. Freshly squeezed lime juice provides a bright, zesty flavor that enhances the smoky and creamy elements of the sauce.
- Store properly. Keep the sauce in an airtight container, like a mason jar or squeeze bottle, in the refrigerator. It stays fresh for up to a week.
- Get creative with pairings. This sauce is great on tacos and burgers, but don’t stop there! Use it as a dip for fries, drizzle it over grain bowls, or even mix it into your favorite wraps.
- Serve chipotle sauce hot or cold. Warm it up slightly for a richer, more velvety texture, or serve it chilled to complement fresh and crisp dishes.
Alternatives and Variations:
- No Sour Cream: Use Greek yogurt or Mexican crema instead.
- Ground Chipotle Pepper: If you can not find chipotle paste, you can use the ground version instead. Add it in ½ a teaspoon increments until you reach you desired level of spiciness.
- Vegan: Use cashew sour cream and vegan mayo instead of the dairy based ingredients.
- Spicy: For extra spice, add one whole chipotle pepper. You can also add cayenne pepper to make it even spicier.
Storage
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container or mason jar and refrigerate for up to one week. The sauce thickens when stored. So when you want to use it, you may need to add a few drops of water and shake or stir.
You can use this sauce right out of the refrigerator, or you can heat it up in the microwave. Just place it in a microwave safe dish, and warm it up for about 20 seconds before using it.
How to Use Chipotle Sauce
- Tacos: It is a delicious taco sauce! Drizzle this mouthwatering sauce over a crunchy taco like Chicken Birria Quesatacos or Beef Birria QuesaTacos con Consomé. I especially love it with Shrimp Tacos.
- Nachos: Grab tortilla chips and use this as a dipping sauce or spoon it over these layered Nacho Fries.
- Enchiladas: This would taste amazing with Shrimp Enchiladas, Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas and my fully loaded Breakfast Enchiladas.
- Burgers: For a delicious spin on a homemade burger, add this sauce to my Creamy Chipotle Cheeseburger recipe.
- Burritos: Cheesy Bacon Loaded Breakfast Burritos could benefit from some chipotle flavor.
- Salad: Skip the dressing and use this instead. Try it with my Cobb Salad with Cilantro Lime Marinated Shrimp.
FAQ
Is chipotle sauce spicy?
Chipotle sauce is between mild and hot so it is a medium heat level. It is not overly spicy because the sour cream keeps it tame. But it still packs great flavor!
Can I freeze it?
No. This dairy-based sauce can not be frozen. If so, the sauce will curdle when defrosted.
Can I make this sauce without a blender?
Yes, you can whisk the ingredients together by hand, but the texture won’t be as smooth. To get closer to the creamy consistency, finely chop the chipotle pepper before mixing.
More Delicious Sauce Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
After you try this Chipotle Sauce recipe, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for more delicious recipes!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup Sour cream
- ¼ cup Mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons Chipotle adobo paste along with one whole chipotle pepper- optional for spice
- ½ Lime juiced
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
Instructions
- Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, chipotle adobo paste, juice of the lime, and garlic powder into a food processor or high speed blender.
- Blend the ingredients on high for 2 minutes to make sure everything is fully incorporated.
- Pour the chipotle sauce into a mason jar with a tight fitting lid, or a condiment squeeze bottle. Use the sauce immediately, or store it in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Troy says
Yum
Ilmu Forensik says
The creamy chipotle sauce is deliciou!
Tamara J. says
Thank you!