Looking for the burrito recipe in these photos? See it here! Sauces are the best way to add flavor to any dish! Try this chipotle crema, guacamole, avocado crema, roasted red pepper sauce, barbecue sauce, tzatziki and chimichurri.
pin the recipe to save for later
how to make chipotle sauce video
HOW DO I STORE CHIPOTLE PEPPERS?
Most recipes only call for 1-2 chipotle peppers or 1-2 tablespoons of minced chipotle peppers so you are left with an open can of smoky, spicy goodness. I love spice, but that is a lot of chipotle peppers to use up before their fridge life expires! To make the most of your worthy investment, I suggest freezing chipotle peppers. They only take a few minutes to prep and are easy to pull out any time you need them.
You can freeze whole chipotle peppers or in 1 tablespoon increments:
To freeze them whole: Spread the peppers out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and flash freeze for 1-2 hours until solid. Once solid, cut the parchment wrap apart, individually wrap each pepper, then store in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. To freeze chipotle peppers by the tablespoon: Spread parchment paper out on a baking sheet or line an ice tray with plastic wrap. Next, mince the chipotle peppers without the sauce, (or you can use a food processor), and plop them onto the parchment in 1 tablespoon increments a few inches apart or place them in each ice cube compartment. Flash freeze for 1-2 hours until solid, then cut the parchment/plastic wrap apart, individually wrap each tablespoon, and store in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. To freeze adobo sauce: Freeze the sauce with the chipotle peppers or freeze it separately in 1 teaspoon increments because it is super potent!
Where can I find chipotle peppers in adobo?
Chipotle peppers are made from jalapenos that are allowed to ripen on the vine from green to red, picked, smoke-dried, rehydrated then either ground or preserved in adobo sauce. They are prized for their intense zesty, smoky, slightly sweet heat.
Chipotle Powder
When ground into a powder, chipotle peppers are referred to as “chipotle powder” or “ground chipotle pepper,” an ingredient I use often in marinades, rubs and sauces.
Chipotle peppers in adobo
Chipotle peppers in adobo, however, refers to chipotle peppers marinated in a rich and ridiculously flavorful, velvety, earthy, tangy-sweet, spicy adobo sauce (adobo translates from Spanish to “sauce, marinade, or seasoning”) sold together in 7 or 12 oz. cans. The adobo sauce is a spicy, sweet and tangy purée of tomato, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ground ancho and guajillo chiles, and various spices such as paprika, oregano, cumin and cinnamon which all enhance the taste of the chipotle peppers. Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are commonly used in sauces (like this one!), glazes, marinades, braises (like Beef Birria), soups, sandwiches and beans. They are a versatile pantry staple worthy of keeping stocked!
How to make Chipotle Sauce
Are you ready to see just how easy it is to make this Chipotle Southwest Sauce? It’s made in three easy steps:
Step 1: Combine ingredients. In a food processor, add the chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, garlic, cilantro and seasonings. Step 2: Process until smooth. Pulse until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. Step 3: Adjust to taste. This is YOUR chipotle sauce, make it how you like it! See suggestions below.
SERVE AS A DIP:
Dunk anything in Chipotle Crema and it instantly becomes downright swoon worthy. Try dipping the following:
Fresh vegetables: celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, snap peas Roasted vegetables: roasted potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower, roasted broccoli, roasted butternut squash, roasted asparagus, roasted Brussels sprouts etc. Carbs: tortilla chips, pretzels, pita bread, crackers, breadsticks, etc. Appetizers: taquitos, flautas, fries, sweet potato fries, zucchini fries, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, etc. Main dish: grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, pork, etc.
SERVE as a sauce:
Chipotle Sauce can (and should!) be added to pretty much any Mexican dish! Here are a few of our favorites:
Breakfast foods: Elevate chorizo eggs, chilaquiles, breakfast tacos, breakfast taquitos, breakfast enchiladas, huevos rancheros, migas etc., or spice up traditional breakfast foods like scrambled eggs, omelettes, frittatas, quiche, etc. Burritos: I’m addicted to adding this Chipotle Sauce to the filling of any burrito instead of sour cream and dunking the burritos in the sauce. Try it with wet burritos, California burritos, smothered Chicken burritos or ground beef, bean and cheese Burritos – and drool. Tacos: Swap your plain sour cream or avocado crema for Chipotle Crema to marry all of the ingredients together with a bang! Try it with carne asada street tacos, easy shredded chicken tacos, ground beef tacos, ground turkey tacos, shrimp tacos, Baja fish tacos, blackened fish tacos and tacos al pastor. Fajitas: Like tacos, fajitas love a drizzle of this creamy, spicy Chipotle Southwest Sauce to bring all the ingredients together. Add it to chicken fajitas, steak fajitas, pork fajitas, shrimp fajitas and salmon fajitas. Nachos: Add Chipotle Sauce to these loaded ground beef nachos or pile your favorite chips with cheese, optional beef barbacoa, carnitas or Mexican chicken and of course top with plenty of guacamole, salsa and Chipotle Sauce. Burrito Bowls: I live for burrito and taco bowls! Fajita Burrito Bowls, Shrimp Burrito Bowls, Chicken Burrito Bowls, Barbacoa Taco Bowls with the textural rice, juicy protein, crunchy lettuce and Creamy Chipotle Sauce just get me. Favorites! Of course, there are so many other Mexican dishes such as quesadillas tostadas, carne asada fries and more!
SERVE AS A SPREAD:
Skip the mayo and use Chipotle Crema instead! It pairs well with everything from burgers and bacon to turkey and toast. Here are a few dishes to try it on:
Sandwiches: grilled cheese, chicken, turkey, ham, BLT, etc. Burgers: BBQ bacon, cheeseburger, Hawaiian, Asian, Korean, etc. Wraps: turkey, Caprese, buffalo chicken, doners, etc. Paninis: Caprese, turkey pesto, BLT, grilled veggie, spicy steak, BBQ chicken, etc.
SERVE AS A DRESSING
Side Salads: Thin the sauce with a bit of milk, starting with 1 teaspoon and adding more if needed until it is the consistency you want. Add to any Southwest inspired salads with corn, black beans or avocado or try it on Southwest Salad or Mexican Salad. Main Dish Salads: Thin as described above and drizzle it over Chicken Fajita Salad, Steak Salad, Mango Chicken Salad, Shrimp Avocado Salad, Taco Salad, Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad or Chipotle Chicken Salad Pasta salads: Don’t thin out the dressing and add to Mexican Pasta Salad, Southwest Orzo Salad or make your own!
How to store Homemade Chipotle Sauce
Transfer Chipotle Crema to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The sauce will naturally thicken as it sits in the fridge, so you may want to thin it with a splash of milk or water when ready to use.
CAN YOU FREEZE IT?
Yes, you may freeze Chipotle Southwest Sauce but be ready for it to separate a bit when thawed. You can whisk it back together again, or pulse it a few times in the food processor along with a tablespoon or so of mayonnaise. It will separate more if use low-fat or nonfat ingredients. Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!
