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    Home » Dressings & Sauces

    Chipotle Sauce

    Published: Jun 22, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    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 sauce
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • More Vegan Sauces
    • Storage
    • Recipe

    Check out our best vegan sauce recipes.

    If you've never tried chipotle sauce, you are in for a treat. It has a light smokey flavor and unique warm heat; it's earthy and creamy, with a bold, unmistakable flavor.

    The most important ingredient in a chipotle sauce is chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Chipotles are smoked, dried jalapenos. They are preserved in a dark, tangy, and spicy red chile sauce made from ground dried chilies, dried herbs, and vinegar.

    We use two chipotle peppers to make a mildly spicy sauce. If you like it spicier, add more chipotle peppers; if you want it less spicy, start with one chipotle pepper and take it from there.

    chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
    Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

    You can find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in most US supermarkets, in the Mexican food aisle. You can also find them in Mexican grocery stores or online. If you don't live in the US, then online is your best bet.

    To make chipotle sauce we combine the chipotle peppers in adobo with two other ingredients: vegan sour cream and vegan mayo. You can use regular sour cream and classic mayonnaise if you are not vegan.

    There are plenty of options on the market for vegan sour creams (Tofutti, follow your heart, wayfare, good karma, etc.) and vegan mayo. However, you can also make them at home following our super easy recipes for vegan sour cream and vegan mayo.

    air fried potatoes with chipotle sauce
    Air-fried potato wedges with chipotle sauce.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for chipotle sauce
    Ingredients for chipotle sauce: vegan sour cream, chipotle peppers in adobo, salt, garlic, lime juice, and vegan mayo.

    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.

    Vegan mayo

    We add vegan mayo to give the sauce a velvety texture and richness. Check out our vegan mayo recipe; it's also effortless to make in less than 5 minutes.

    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.

    Other ingredients

    We like our sauce simple, with few ingredients, to let the chipotle peppers shine. However, we've seen recipes that call for spices and sweeteners.

    Therefore, we recommend trying the chipotle sauce as written in our recipe to see if you like it first. Then if you want to add a touch of sweetness, you can do so with maple syrup or vegan honey. Finally, add some cumin powder if you like it a little more aromatic.

    Pouring chipotle sauce from a blender to a serving bowl

    Instructions

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

    ingredients in a food processor

    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.

    blended ingredients

    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.

    Air-fried zucchini with chipotle sauce.
    Air-fried zucchini with chipotle sauce.

    Serving suggestions

    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.
    grilled zucchini on a toast
    Grilled zucchini on crostini with toasted pine nuts and chipotle sauce.

    More Vegan Sauces

    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!

    Storage

    Keep leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. We don't recommend freezing it.

    For more condiment ideas, check out our dressing and sauces category page.

    Recipe

    chipotle sauce in a serving bowl

    Chipotle Sauce

    Author: Nico
    Chipotle sauce is a spicy, smoky, savory condiment made from chipotles in adobo (smoked jalapeño peppers).
    Learn how to make homemade vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free chipotle sauce. A great way to spice up tacos, burritos, and much more.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 7 votes
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Dressing & Sauces
    Cuisine Mexican-Inspired
    Servings 18 servings
    Calories 42 kcal

    Equipment

    • Food processor or blender

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (see notes)
    • ¾ cup vegan sour cream
    • ¼ cup vegan mayo
    • ½ clove garlic
    • 2 teaspoons lime juice
    • ¼ teaspoon 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.
      ingredients in a food processor
    • 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.
      blended ingredients
    • Transfer to a serving bowl, use to drizzle, as a dip, or as a spread. Vegan chipotle sauce is a great way to add a tangy, smokey heat to most dishes.
      chipotle sauce
    • It's great with anything Mexican-inspired, with roasted, grilled, and air-fried veggies, grain bowls, and much more.
      Keep leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. We don't recommend freezing it.
      Air-fried zucchini with chipotle sauce.

    Notes

    We use two chipotle peppers to make a mildly spicy sauce. If you like it spicier add more chipotle peppers, if you like it less spicy start with one chipotle pepper and take it from there.
    You can find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in most US supermarkets, in the Mexican food aisle. You can also find it in Mexican grocery stores, or online. If you don't live in the US, then online is your best bet.
    This is what they look like out of the can:
    chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

    Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Chipotle Sauce
    Amount Per Serving (1 tbsp)
    Calories 42 Calories from Fat 27
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3g5%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 0g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 1mg0%
    Carbohydrates 3g1%
    Dietary Fiber 0.01g0%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 0.3g1%
    Vitamin A 5IU0%
    Vitamin B6 0.001mg0%
    Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
    Vitamin E 0.001mg0%
    Vitamin K 0.004µg0%
    Calcium 0.2mg0%
    Folate 0.1µg0%
    Iron 0.004mg0%
    Manganese 0.002mg0%
    Magnesium 0.1mg0%
    Zinc 0.002mg0%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this recipe, you might also like:

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ahmad

      October 10, 2022 at 10:09 pm

      5 stars
      I was happy to find this recipe thank you 😊

      Reply
      • Nico

        October 11, 2022 at 5:09 am

        I'm delighted you found us, Ahmad! Thanks for leaving a message. Cheers, Nico

        Reply

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