Easy Chipotle Sauce Recipe

An easy chipotle sauce recipe that can be used on just about everything. Use it as a dip for appetizers or bread, over chicken, even drizzle some on pizza!

Did you know that chipotle peppers are simply smoked and dried jalapenos? I suppose it’s no wonder then why I love them so (considering I use jalapenos in just about every single dish I make). I’m a sauce girl, too – I even love to dip my fries in different sauces (even just plain old yellow mustard if the mood strikes), drizzle them over baked potatoes and vegetables and even use them in place of mayo or mustard on a sandwich. All of which this easy chipotle sauce recipe is perfect for!  

I made a really yummy Mexican chicken flatbread pizza and drizzled this sauce over the top as soon as I pulled it hot from the oven. It brought all the flavors together and made it really pretty, too! Here’s a sneak peek photo for you:

The key to understanding how to make a chipotle sauce is knowing that chipotle peppers are essentially ripe, dried, and smoked before preparing.

You don’t have to go through all the trouble of drying and smoking the jalapeno peppers–we’d have to change the name from “easy chipotle sauce” to “slightly more complicated chipotle sauce”.

You can buy dried chipotle peppers at most grocery stores or canned chipotle which may work as a substitute if you can’t find them dried.

If you cannot find either canned or dried whole chipotles, you can use chipotle powder in this recipe instead. Some sources report using 1/2 a teaspoon of chipotle powder can replace one whole dried chipotle pepper.

Why Chipotles? Many people enjoy the smoky flavor of these peppers, which you don’t get with fresh jalapenos. And while it’s true that you could swap chipotles for any other pepper, unless you get pre-dried, pre-smoked varieties you may have to experiment with adding a bit of Liquid Smoke to the mix (to taste) to get closer to the flavors in the recipe below.

How to Make Chipotle Sauce

This chipotle sauce recipe is just two simple steps to creamy goodness!

1. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
2. Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy.

See below for the printable recipe cards with exact ingredient measurements.

Vegetarian/Vegan Easy Chipotle Sauce Options

If you want to experiment with making this sauce a vegan option, consider swapping the mayo and yogurt for vegan equivalents. If you choose to make your own vegan mayo using soy milk and oil, be sure to use a recipe that calls for some umami such as Dijon mustard or red wine vinegar.

If you choose vegan yogurt, try to make or choose a variety that has about as much sugar as the non-vegan plain yogurt to give the recipe more consistency.

How To Use Chipotle Sauce         

Tacos are the most obvious use for this recipe, but fusion food combinations can be a lot of fun. Consider what french fries or sweet potato fries might taste like with some of this sauce drizzled on top. You can use it on practically any potato-based side or entree, and it works well as a bit of heat on a submarine sandwich or a grilled hot dog.

Another option is to use this sauce with grilled chicken or grilled shrimp tacos, and some even choose to perk up soups and salads with it. Whatever you choose, be sure to have some limes on hand to add a nice citrus twist to the smoky heat.

How Spicy Are Chipotle Peppers?

Compared to cayenne pepper, chipotles are fairly mild. Cayenne is somewhere between 30k and 50k on the “Scoville scale”, which measures the intensity of hot peppers. Chipotle peppers only go between 2,000 and 8,500 on the Scoville scale. This is a pepper that is good for those who want to taste the flavor of the food and not just experience the heat of the pepper.

This easy chipotle sauce recipe really makes a difference in presentation, doesn’t it? I promise you, if you love chipotle and spicy dishes, you will be using this easy chipotle sauce recipe on everything! I used plain yogurt instead of sour cream or all mayo to lighten it up but you could certainly use either of those if you don’t have plain yogurt on hand. I keep mine in a squirt bottle in the fridge so I can give a quick drizzle to whatever dish I need some for – it’s easier than having to grab a spoon or knife to spread it. It’ll keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge but I doubt it will last that long!

Continue to Content

Easy Chipotle Sauce

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

This creamy chipotle sauce recipe comes together in just five minutes and can be used as a dip, over chicken or shrimp tacos, drizzled on salads and much more!

Print

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1-2 tablespoons pureed chipotle pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
2. Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy.
3. Apply sauce to dish.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 92Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 143mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

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Kristy Bernardo

Kristy Bernardo is the recipe creator behind The Wicked Noodle. She's a five-time cookbook author, has taught cooking classes to both kids and adults, and has been creating recipes for nationwide brands since 2009. She learned most of her cooking skills from her mom and grandmother, then honed those skills at boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America.

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