Perfect Chipotle Sauce Recipe

Turn any ordinary meal into a feast for the senses with this bold, flavorful, easy-to-make sauce!

My favorite thing about Mexican food is the abundance of big, bold flavors. It’s more about complexity and nuance than heat—though I like a little spiciness now and then. I’ll take a flavorful burrito over a bland steak any day of the week. So I was delighted to find this perfect chipotle sauce recipe. It delivers the smoky, earthy taste of chipotle peppers that have marinated in a tangy, savory-sweet adobo sauce, tempered by cool sour cream and the fresh acidity of lime juice. Talk about complex! Honestly, from the second it hit my tongue, I was smitten.

The spice level in this recipe is moderate and easily tweaked. I made it as written the first time, and the heat was about comparable to spicy salsa at a Mexican restaurant—enough to notice, but not so much to cause alarm. When my niece came over for taco night, she asked for a little extra sour cream to tamp it down a bit. You can start with just one pepper if you’re worried it’ll be too hot, and the sauce will still be delicious.

Besides the yummy flavor profile, I love how fast and easy this recipe is. The hardest part is waiting for it to chill! I keep some in my fridge all the time now because it’s great on everything from sandwiches to salads to enchiladas.

Tips for making perfect chipotle sauce

Start with one chipotle pepper instead of two if you prefer a milder sauce. You can always add more to increase the heat.

Too spicy? Stir in more sour cream or mayonnaise to mellow out the heat if you accidentally add too much chipotle.

Taste after blending and adjust the seasoning as needed—add more salt, lime juice, or adobo sauce to balance the flavors to your liking.

Adjust the consistency: For a thicker dip, use less lime juice or add more mayonnaise. For a thinner sauce, blend in a splash of water or extra lime juice.

Boost the flavor: Add an extra clove of garlic for more pungency or a pinch of smoked paprika for extra smokiness.

Swap ingredients: Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream to make a lighter, tangier version, or use vegan mayo and nondairy yogurt to make it dairy-free.

Serving suggestions

This chipotle sauce brings bold flavor to any number of dishes. Try it instead of the regular sauce on Smash Burger Tacos, Fish Tacos, or Mushroom Tacos. Drizzle it over a Mâche Salad or this Black Bean Salad. Or serve it as a dip alongside popular finger foods, like Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air-Fryer Crab Cakes, these amazing Alcapurrias, and this colorful Mexican Sushi Roll recipe.

Recipe