Chipotle sauce is an easy way to add smokiness, heat, and zesty flavor to any dish. It can be drizzled over tacos, fajitas, and bowls or enjoyed as a creamy dip. And bonus—it’s incredibly easy to make with just a few pantry staples.

A jar of homemade chipotle sauce.
Photo: Gayle McLeod

Why You’ll Love This Chipotle Sauce

When I’ve got Mexican recipes lined up for the week, this chipotle sauce (also known as chipotle crema) is a necessity. It’s similar to my lime crema, but with a bolder, smokier, and spicier kick, thanks to chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Chipotle peppers are red jalapeños that are smoked and dried, then rehydrated in a tangy, rich, and slightly sweet tomato-based sauce. Together, they create a zesty, spicy, and flavor-packed combo, which is why they’re often sold in jars together. Aside from the irresistible flavor, here’s why I think you’ll love this sauce as much as I do:

  • It’s quick and easy. Just toss everything into a food processor and blend away.
  • It stores well. Keep it in the fridge to use throughout the week. I’ve also got tips for storing any leftover chipotle peppers below.
  • Endless ways to use it. I love making creamy chipotle shrimp with it or drizzling it over my birria tacos, salmon tacos, or a chipotle chicken bowl. You can even scale it up for parties!

Chipotle Sauce Ingredients

Ingredients for chipotle sauce.
  • Mayonnaise: This is the creamy base for the chipotle sauce. I use my homemade mayonnaise (it’s so easy to make!).
  • Sour cream: Adds extra creaminess and a subtle tang.
  • Chipotle peppers in adobo: I use two peppers and a bit of the adobo sauce, but feel free to add an extra pepper if you like more heat.
  • Lime juice, garlic, and salt: The acidity from the lime balances the spice, while the garlic and salt round out the flavor with a zesty, savory finish.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How To Make It

For the best consistency, I find that using a mini food processor works best. Just blend the mayo, sour cream, chipotle peppers (plus a bit of the adobo sauce), lime juice, garlic, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy. I like to taste it at the end and adjust with a little extra lime juice or salt if needed.

Blending chipotle sauce in a food processor.

Common Questions

How long can I store chipotle sauce in the fridge?

Any leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. For leftover chipotle peppers, I recommend freezing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for about 3 months and thaw easily when you’re ready to make more sauce.

Can I make this dairy-free or vegan?

Absolutely! For a dairy-free version, swap the sour cream with cashew sour cream. To make it fully vegan, use both cashew sour cream and a vegan mayonnaise.

Can I use chipotle powder instead of chipotle peppers?

If you can’t find chipotle peppers, chipotle powder works in a pinch! One dried chipotle pepper is equivalent to about ½ teaspoon of chipotle powder. If that’s not quite enough heat, you can always add a bit more and blend again.

What can I do with the rest of the chipotle peppers in adobo?

Make my slow cooker barbacoa recipe! It’s a reader favorite recipe. 

Ways To Use Chipotle Sauce

Pouring chipotle sauce into a jar.

More Sauce Recipes

If you make this chipotle sauce recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.

Best chipotle sauce recipe.

Best Chipotle Sauce for Tacos, Fajitas & More!

Author: Lisa Bryan
4.91 from 72 votes
Read 178 Comments
Serves 10 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
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Description

Chipotle sauce is extremely versatile and an easy way to add smokiness and heat to any dish. It can be drizzled over tacos, turned into a creamy dip, and so much more. Watch the video below to see how I make this in my kitchen!

Video

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Add all ingredients. In a food processor, add the mayo, sour cream, chipotle peppers (plus a little additional sauce), lime juice, garlic and a pinch of salt.
    How to make chipotle sauce.
  • Blend. Process until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
    Blended chipotle sauce.
  • Taste test to see if you need to add any more lime juice or salt.
    Easy homemade chipotle sauce.

Lisa’s Tips

  • This recipe yields about 1 ½ cups of chipotle sauce.
  • Storage tip: Any leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. For storing the leftover chipotle peppers, I recommend freezing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll stay good for about 3 months and can thaw easily to make more chipotle sauce in the future.
  • Make it spicier: Just add an extra half of a chipotle pepper to the food processor

Nutrition

Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 293IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally published July 2020, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

4.91 from 72 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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178 Comments

  1. This sauce is fire. Been on a fajitas kick, and this sauce and fresh pico definitely kick them up a notch. Very versatile sauce, also great for grilled chicken and even chicken wings.5 stars

    1. This will stay good for one week in the fridge. Also, I normally will always write out how to store each recipe in the post :)

  2. Very easy to make, I did just add the whole can of chipolte peppers, made it a little spicer, but really yummy!5 stars

  3. Another great recipe. The whole family loved this with chicken in a soft taco. Delicious! I cannot wait for your cookbook to come out.5 stars

  4. So so good and flavorful! I couldn’t stop licking the bowl of the food processor lol. It tastes amazing in the Creamy Chipotle Shrimp recipe and I made it a second time to pair with quesadillas. 5 stars

  5. So glad I found this recipe. My husband ordered a Mac n cheese dish at a restaurant and it has a Chipotle cream sauce. I told him I’d attempt to make it at home, so I’m going to use this recipe for that portion. Can’t wait to taste it and the mac n cheese!

  6. This was so easy to make! I put it on steak tacos and it took them to another level. Can’t wait to try it in pasta!5 stars

  7. This is SOOO GOOD! Amazing job again Lisa! I’m a big lime fan so I add the zest too and use the whole lime to thin it out just a tad. I use a Vitamix, and it works just fine! Life changing sauce! Thank you!5 stars

    1. Happy to hear you’re loving this chipotle sauce! It really is such a great sauce to add to so many recipes, plus it makes for a great dip :)

    1. This would be difficult in a Vitamix as it’s a small quantity. Vitamix blenders require a minimum amount of ingredients in order to blend properly. You could double the recipe though and then make it in a Vitamix!

  8. I’m OBSESSED with this sauce!

    We are Canadian but love Latin cuisine. My husband has now dubbed my tacos better than any restaurant or take-out!

    I make this sauce several times a month. Thank you! It’s perfection. I’m looking to use it on more food. On nachos? On salad? Yum! 5 stars

    1. Happy to hear you both enjoyed this chipotle sauce! It really can be topped on anything from salads, to other meats, all sorts of tacos, or even as a dipping sauce :)

  9. So many ads pop up at the bottom that aren’t able to be closed it’s not allowing me to see the rest of the recipe. Videos by downshiftology and a GSK ad below that. Dang :(

    1. Oh no! I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a bad experience with the ads. There should be an “X” button to close them out. If not, please do email me so I can get to the bottom of this!

    1. Absolutely! This chipotle sauce is great with a variety of meals – for drizzling and dipping!

    1. Yes, it can! It may separate a little when you thaw it, but just whisk it back together.

  10. Any chance you can recommend a chipotle peppers in adobo sauce that’s available online? I have not been able to find anything locally.

  11. I was looking for a good chipotle sauce recipe last summer and then Lisa came out with this wonderful one. So good! I’m making it for tonight’s dinner!5 stars

      1. You can if you have a smaller blender, as this quantity won’t blend correctly in a bigger blender.

  12. I’ve now made this at least 5 times. I made it both ways, with chipotle chilis and with chipotle chili powder when I didn’t have the chilis. I love both pretty equally! I use veganaise (rather than mayo) and closer to 3/4 C sour cream and it’s addictive. It’s such a good recipe that you can play with measurements per taste. I make tacos just to eat the sauce. It’s also great on portabella burgers. Highly recommended! Thanks for the recipe:)5 stars

    1. Good to know about the two kinds of chilis you used! Happy to hear you’ve enjoyed this one so much. I too love to use this often!

      1. Hi Ryan, It says towards the top 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder= 1 dried chili. I think I added 1 tsp. Tasted as good as with the chilis in adobo sauce. Making it yet again tonight. I just can’t get enough! Hope you enjoyed as much as I do.5 stars

  13. Thank you very much for this sauce. I made it tonight for my tacos and the sauce was perfect! Everything I have made from you always comes out amazing !5 stars

  14. Amazing I smoked a tri-tip took it out at 130 let it set for 45 min cut it up and threw the meat and sauce together on low mixed and oh lord best tacos ever try it really u should wife wants me to make it for everyone that comes into town 5 stars

    1. Wow, that sounds amazing drizzled on top of tri-tip tacos! Happy to hear you both enjoyed this chipotle sauce :)

  15. This sauce was amazing for the fried fish tacos I made. I also used it on some salad as well. I’m thinking of adding it to some pasta. Do you think it’s best to hear that sauce in the skillet or microwave?5 stars

  16. Yum! Just made it using ingredients I had on hand: Key Lime Juice and a partial can of chipotle salsa. I added it to your Chipotle Shrimp recipe and it was a big hit. I love that this sauce can be used in so many ways. Thank you!5 stars

  17. This sauce is delcious!!! It is spicy depending on how much adobo sauce you add, but it’s so flavorful it’s worth the heat!5 stars

  18. Can the sauce be heated? I want to make some chicken and want the chicken to be in a sauce but since your recipe has mayo and sour cream idk if it can be heated or if I should just use it on top of the shredded chicken instead of mixing them together and heating them on the stove?

  19. Boy did I enjoy this recipe. It was fantastic on tacos, and I also used it for dressings on some salads. So flavorful.5 stars

  20. I’ve been wanting to try this recipe since i received the email. I’ve looked in my local grocery stores and on Amazon and have not been able to find a Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce that has clean ingredients. Do you have a recommendation on where to find and what product you use. I will likely not be able to source locally as you do, so an online option would be great. Thanks – Angie

    1. Hi Angie- In the post I mentioned you can use chipotle powder instead if you can’t find canned peppers in adobo :)

  21. Easy does it. This sauce is literally done in a few minutes. And sooo delicious! I used it with the chipotle shrimp, but since this one will be on repeat I will use it for many more recipes ;-).5 stars

  22. I am going to throw this together and use it on top of my tacos tonight! I can’t wait to try it. Nothing beats a little extra zest.5 stars

  23. Would cashew butter work for the sour cream if trying to make it dairy free? Or would raw cashews soaked work better? Thank you

  24. I am bookmarking this chipotle sauce, you explained each and everything so clearly. I have been thinking to make this. Will connect back if I find something to ask.5 stars

    1. I’m going to try the recipe this week. Looks delicious! Do you know if I can use cream cheese instead of sour cream?

  25. I had no idea chipotle was so easy to make, and now that I do, I am glad you gave us all those suggestions on where else to use it. I see a new family favourite forming here.5 stars