Chipotle Aioli

A smoky, spicy take on a tangy, creamy condiment. Spread Chipotle Aioli on your next sandwich, or dip French fries in it for a surprising burst of flavor.

Who would’ve thought one sauce could go on anything? If any sauce can pull that off, it’s this chipotle aioli sauce. It kicks up the spice level by adding chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to an otherwise calm, cooling condiment.

This aioli is easy to make and can be used as a dip for chips or fries, a spread for sandwiches or burgers, or a topping for spicy rice or tacos. I personally love it on sweet potato fries. It’s a smoky, zesty way to add some pizzazz to so many dishes, plus it can be made at the start of the week for meal-prep success!

Regular garlic aioli is believed to have roots that go back to the Roman Empire, becoming popular in both Provence, France and Catalonia, Spain. This chipotle aioli offers a Tex-Mex twist that satisfies your craving for both creaminess and spice. So, you could say it bridges a gap between cultures and flavors.

Is Chipotle Aioli Healthy?

Aioli is mostly made of mayonnaise, so it’s calorically-dense, high in fat, and doesn’t contain a whole lot of nutritional value. There are, however, a few ways to make it healthier. For starters, when choosing your mayonnaise, pick one with as few ingredients as possible; the fewer additives (like sugar or preservatives), the better! Alternatively, you could make your own with this Mayonnaise Recipe. For a vegan swap, consider this Avocado Mayonnaise recipe as a base for your chipotle aioli.

Another healthy idea is pairing the aioli with raw veggies like carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower instead of French fries or other fried things.

Aioli Vs. Mayonnaise

If aioli is mostly mayonnaise, what’s the difference? Well, that depends on where you are in the world. Most aioli in the U.S. is quite similar to regular mayonnaise—essentially mayonnaise flavored with garlic and sometimes other spices. However, near the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, France, or Italy, aioli typically refers to a simpler emulsion of garlic and olive oil. This traditional version is thinner than the U.S. style and only occasionally includes egg yolks or lemon juice, which would make it thicker. In some regions of France, mustard is also added to the mix.

Store-bought mayonnaise, on the other hand, is a stabilized emulsion of egg yolks, oil, and lemon juice or vinegar but lacks garlic. Feeling adventurous? Try your hand at making a classic Aioli recipe yourself.

Serving Suggestions

If your creative (and digestive) juices aren’t flowing by now, then let’s see if we can inspire you further. One of the best ways to serve this chipotle aioli is on a burger, so try these Cajun Burgers With Sweet Potato Buns for a new (gluten-free) style of serving up a hamburger. You could also try chipotle aioli on this Mexican Sweet Potato Noodle Wrap, a uniquely luscious lunch that also offers a lot of protein and fiber.

But, if you’d like to keep it classic, serve this dip with a big bowl of Cottage Fries or Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries. Salty, sweet, and spicy all in one!

Recipe