This fast and easy smoky chipotle sauce is the perfect addition to spice up any dish. This flavorful sauce takes only a few minutes to prepare and is perfect for those following a keto, low-carb, Atkins, or Banting diet.
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The recipe
If you’re looking for the perfect versatile sauce to compliment any dish, look no further! This chipotle sauce has a rich, smoky flavor with a hint of lime and cilantro and a light touch of spice that adds the perfect punch of flavor.
While chipotle sauce can often be purchased in the store, I really prefer this homemade version over the store-bought. I think you’ll find that the freshness of the ingredients makes a huge difference in the flavor of this sauce. Not to mention, it’s so easy to make, why not make it at home?
Also, making your own chipotle sauce gives you complete control over the flavor and spice level. Think of this recipe as the basic guidelines for chipotle sauce and don’t be afraid to experiment with the spices to find your personal preference.
The inspiration
Almost every day at college, the dining hall would have a station for burrito bowls. It was my favorite station— I probably went there almost every day during my first semester.
Eventually, I started to get a bit tired of them, but I still adored the flavorful and slightly spicy sauce that they would drizzle over the burrito bowl. Before then, I’m not sure if I had ever had Chipotle sauce, but I was quickly hooked.
When I came back home from college, I wanted to learn how to make it myself. It turned out to be way easier to make than I expected and now the sauce is a staple in our house.
How does creamy chipotle sauce taste?
Chipotle sauce gains its distinct flavor from a smoked hot chili pepper known as the chipotle pepper. The sauce has just a hint of sweetness from the chipotle pepper. In this recipe, I include both cilantro and lime juice which adds a slightly zesty flavor to top off this sauce.
How to make chipotle sauce
It might sound intimidating at first, but chipotle sauce is surprisingly easy to make. For the base of the sauce, I use mayonnaise, which serves a great foundation for the spicier flavors of the pepper.
Preparation for the recipe only includes chopping the cilantro and chipotle pepper and then measuring out spices. In fact, once all the ingredients are prepared, combining them only takes seconds!
Is chipotle sauce spicy?
The convenient thing about this recipe is that the sauce can be as spicy or mild as you would like it to be depending on your spice tolerance level. As is, the sauce is a little bit spicy, but it’s matched with those nice smoky flavors from the chipotle pepper.
If you’re concerned about the sauce being too spicy, not to worry! I would recommend omitting the cayenne pepper and then gradually adding in the chipotle pepper and adobo sauce, sampling the sauce between each addition.
Chipotle sauce uses
Chipotle sauce is extremely versatile. I’m always surprised by how well it pairs with a variety of foods. Chipotle sauce goes well with hamburgers, sandwiches, wraps, vegetables, or cauliflower fritters.
Honestly, the sky is the limit with how this sauce can be used. This chipotle sauce pairs particularly well with foods with Mexican seasonings or flavors.
I would recommend not using it with foods that already have seasonings that might combat with the taste of the chipotle. For example, if a dish has Italian seasoning on it, it probably won’t pair well with chipotle sauce.
Want a salad dressing? Add a little bit of water or extra lime juice to thin out the sauce to make chipotle salad dressing.
Some options from our site that may pair particularly well with chipotle sauce are our low-carb tortillas, fajita chicken skewers, or our low-carb shrimp cakes.
Final Thoughts
This flavorful sauce is the perfect addition to fridge for whenever you need that extra punch of flavor. I hope you enjoy it!
-Harper
Creamy Chipotle Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 chipotle pepper marinated in adobo sauce chopped finely
- 2 tsp cilantro chopped finely
- 1 tsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp adobo sauce
- 1/8 tsp chili powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
In a medium bowl, stir all ingredients together until thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust pepper and salt to taste.
What a delicious sauce with a kick! I am excited to make this to have readily on hand! Yum!
Homemade sauce trump store-bought ones every time! I absolutely love chipotles in adobo, so this recipe is right up my alley. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love my sauces and this one is superb, love all the different flavors it has and pairs well with some many dishes!
This is the perfect topping for fish tacos with cauliflower tortillas. Yummy and keto! Thanks for the recipe.
OMG! You always need a good sauce for any dish! This Chipotle sauce looks so creamy!