Chipotle Sauce

Chipotle sauce is a spicy, smoky, savory condiment made from chipotles in adobo (smoked jalapeño peppers).

Learn how to make homemade vegan, dairy-free chipotle sauce. A great way to spice up tacos, burritos, and much more.

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

Spicy, earthy, tangy, and smokey, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce have a unique flavor that makes this chipotle sauce hard to resist.

They are easy to find, they often come in a can, and many Mexican brands sell this product in the United States. However, if you are outside the US, you can easily find them online or in Mexican grocery stores.

Can you replace chipotles in adobo sauce? We tried, and the best way to do so is with Tabasco hot sauce + smoked paprika, or use chipotle powder instead.

Vegan sour cream

Vegan sour cream adds creaminess to the chipotle sauce while keeping the recipe light and healthy.

You can find it in most supermarkets, but we prefer to make our homemade sour cream with five simple ingredients: cashew nuts, water, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and salt.

Check out our vegan sour cream recipe to learn how to make this healthy, creamy condiment in 5 minutes.

For non-vegans, give the vegan version a shot; it's absolutely delicious! Alternatively, you can use regular sour cream, Mexican crema, or plain greek yogurt are good alternatives.

Lime juice

Use lime juice to add extra tang and freshness. You can replace lime with lemon juice.

Garlic

Add just half a clove to start. This sauce should not be overly garlicky.

Salt

No condiment is complete without a bit of salt. We like sea salt or kosher salt, but you can use any other salt.

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor: chipotles in adobo sauce, vegan sour cream, vegan mayo, lime juice, garlic, and salt.

Blend for a couple of minutes, scraping down the sides of the food processor once or twice until you have a smooth and creamy sauce. Taste and adjust for salt, lime juice, and heat.

Note: we use two chipotle peppers to get to a medium-spice level. Add one chipotle pepper for a milder sauce and three to five chipotle peppers for a spicier sauce.

Transfer to a serving bowl, and use it as a dip or drizzle for your favorite dishes. Vegan chipotle sauce is a great way to add a spicy, smokey flavor to most dishes.

If you like hot smokey sauces, you can use this vegan chipotle sauce with most of your favorite dishes. Our favorite ways to use it are:

• With anything Mexican or Mexican-inspired: tacos, nachos, burrito bowls, wraps, black beans, and more.
• On veggies! Try it drizzled on or as a dip with air-fried, oven-baked, and even steamed vegetables. Our favorites are air-fried potatoes, sweet potato fries, air-fried zucchini and zucchini fries, grilled zucchini, and grilled eggplant.
• Like a spread in a sandwich or wrap, it's even excellent in a veggie burger.
• Drizzle it on salads, grain bowls, or mixed in rice salads or barley salads.
• Use it to garnish crostini bread with veggies.

If you're looking for more vegan sauce ideas, take your pick at these recipes:

• Vegan pesto: perfectly paired with steamed and boiled veggies as well as a pasta salad.
• Romesco sauce: creamy, nutty, peppery; this sauce brightens up your veggies.
• Tahini sauce: add some middle-eastern creamy, dreamy flair to your vegan salad and pasta salad.
• Cilantro Lime dressing: a bright, refreshing, and herby dressing that works well with Mexican-inspired dishes.
• Mustard vinaigrette: a simple and effective way to add flavor to your couscous salad.
• Chimichurri recipe: adds bold flavor to legumes and veggies, a great addition to taco Tuesday!

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