Creamy Chipotle Sauce Recipe

This chipotle sauce is creamy, smoky, and has just the right amount of spice. It’s my go-to sauce for burritos, tacos, sweet potato fries, quesadillas, and Southwestern or Mexican inspired dishes.

Chipotle sauce or chipotle crema is one of my favorite condiments because it takes only 5 minutes to make and uses basic pantry staples.

You can adjust the heat level based on your taste preferences and the recipe can be made vegan with a couple of substitutions.

I truly believe that the right sauce can help elevate your meal. This creamy chipotle sauce is packed with flavor and you won’t believe how easy it is to make.

Chipotle sauce ingredients

Chipotle peppers: I used canned chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce for this recipe. You can find it in the international aisle (Mexican or Latin area) of your grocery store.

Chipotle peppers are dried and smoked red-ripe jalapeño chiles. They have a smoky, slightly sweet, and spicy flavor profile.

Sour cream: I use full fat sour cream in this recipe. You can use Mexican crema or plain Greek yogurt instead if you prefer.

To make it vegan, use cashew sour cream instead.

Mayonnaise: I use olive oil mayonnaise in this recipe. You can use your favorite type of mayo or vegan mayo to make this chipotle sauce. DO NOT substitute with Miracle Whip.

Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a bright and tangy flavor to this sauce. It also helps to balance out the rich and spicy flavors.  

Spices: I use fine sea salt and a pinch of ground cumin to bring out the flavors in this sauce.

Garlic: Just 1 small garlic clove is all you need in this recipe. It adds a nice savory flavor to the sauce. If you’re not a fan of garlic, you can leave it out.

Sweetener: This is an optional ingredient. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, you can add 1 teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.

Substitution suggestions and variations

Make it vegan by using cashew sour cream and vegan mayonnaise.

Don’t have sour cream? Use Mexican crema or plain Greek yogurt instead.

Don’t want to use mayo? Substitute with plain Greek yogurt instead.

Don’t have chipotle peppers? You can substitute 1 chipotle pepper with ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Or you can use ½ teaspoon of chipotle powder combined with a little tomato paste or ketchup.

It won’t have the same flavor profile as using chipotle peppers, but it’ll work if you’re in a pinch.

Want it spicier? Use 3 or 4 chipotle peppers.

Want it less spicy? For a mild sauce, use just 1 chipotle pepper.

How to make homemade chipotle sauce

I use a mini food processor for this recipe, which makes it super easy to whip up this sauce.

Gather up all your ingredients (the chipotle peppers, sour cream, mayo, lime juice, garlic, salt, and ground cumin) and place them in a food processor.

Process until the sauce is creamy and smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Use the sauce immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days.

How to save chipotle peppers in Adobo after opening the can?

An opened can of chipotle peppers will last around 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge when stored in an airtight container.

I like to freeze any leftover chipotle peppers. There are two ways you can do this:

Freeze on wax or parchment paper: Line a baking sheet with either wax or parchment paper.

Blend the remaining opened can of chipotle peppers and use a measuring spoon to drop equal-sized dollops of the puree on the lined baking sheet.

I recommend freezing it in either 1 teaspoon or 1 tablespoon sizes. You may need a little or a lot for a future recipe.

Alternatively, you can place 1 whole chipotle pepper with a little Abodo sauce on the lined baking sheet.

Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze the peppers until solid. Then you can transfer the puree or peppers to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.

Freeze in an ice cube tray: Divide the remaining chipotle peppers into ice cube trays and freeze until solid.

Once solid, store the frozen chipotle peppers in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. They will keep in the freezer up to 3-6 months.

*Keep in mind that they will stain a white ice cube tray. I prefer to use a silicone ice cube tray for freezing chipotle peppers.

What foods go well with chipotle sauce?

There are so many ways you can use chipotle sauce. Below are some of my favorite ideas:

Use it as a dipping sauce for sweet potato fries, baked potato wedges, air fryer cauliflower, roasted vegetables, or quesadillas.

Use it as a spread or topping for burgers, burritos, nachos, tacos, fajitas, sandwiches, grilled meats, tostadas, drizzle it over grain bowls, or other Mexican-inspired dishes.

Use it as a marinade for grilling or roasting meats, tofu, and veggies.

Please let me know how you like this cream chipotle sauce in the comments below! Your feedback and review encourages me to keep creating new and yummy recipes. I hope you love this chipotle sauce as much as I do.

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