Creamy, spicy, and bright, this Baja Style Chipotle Sauce is pure condiment perfection. Once you whip up a batch of this easy, 5-minute sauce, I can basically guarantee you’ll be drizzling it on everything from fish tacos to french fries. 

creamy baja style chipotle sauce in a white bowl on a white and red patterned dish towel      

You know how people call good things the “cherry on top of a sundae” or “the frosting on the cake?” Well, in my house, the things to be grateful for are “the chipotle sauce on top of a taco.” This addictive sauce is a great condiment to have in your fridge. 

Why I Love This Recipe

With just four ingredients and almost no effort, you can make your own (mostly) homemade creamy chipotle sauce. All you need is a food processor or blender and a minute or two of prep to get it on the table!

This yummy Baja sauce recipe is also quite forgiving. Feel free to use crema Mexicana, sour cream, or Greek yogurt. I usually reach for a lemon (both zest and juice are important here!), but you can also opt for limes. And, since you’re making the sauce for yourself, feel free to increase the heat to your preference. I personally like it spicy and use two chipotle peppers.

halved lemon with lemon zest, bowl of sour cream, pinch of salt and bowl of chipotle in adobo on a wooden cutting board

Once you make this Baja-style chipotle sauce, it’ll be your new go-to ingredient to turn anything from ho-hum to WOW!

Not only is it the perfect sauce for drizzling on fish tacos, it’s also an excellent dipping sauce for french fries and an awesome swap for mayo on your favorite sandwiches. It also pairs beautifully drizzled on Fried Avocado Tacos. We basically put this yummy, creamy, and spicy sauce on everything and I bet you will, too.

open can of chipotles in adobo sauce that has been poured into a white bowl

What Are Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce?

Chipotle peppers start their life journey as jalapeño peppers. The jalapeños are then smoked and dried to create chipotles. Cool, right?

For this recipe, I call for canned chipotles in adobo sauce. You should be able to find them in the canned section of your grocery store (possibly in the “ethnic” section).

Adobo sauce is a tangy and spicy sauce. When it is packed with chipotles, it also takes on some of the smoky flavors of the smoked peppers. In short, this one little can is absolutely packed to the gills with flavor.

ingredients for creamy chipotle sauce in a pitcher blender

How to Make Creamy Chipotle Baja Sauce

Aside from opening a can of chipotles in adobo, the only prep you need to do is zesting and juicing a lemon. Be sure to remove just the bright yellow part of the citrus skin, as the white part is pretty bitter.

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Once you have the zest ready to go, give the lemon a firm roll on your counter for about 10 to 15 seconds to help release the juice from the flesh.

Toss the crema, zest, juice, chipotle, and salt into the blending device of your choice. Whiz it up until combined, and voíla! Your creamy chipotle Baja sauce is ready to use.

Serving and Storage

Now that you’ve done yourself the favor of making this yummy Baja-style chipotle sauce, you’re ready to dig in! While it can be used in myriad applications, here are a few dishes to get you started:

This creamy sauce is a great substitute for mayo on your favorite torta or sandwiches! However you opt to use this creamy sauce, I have a feeling you’re going to be just as obsessed! Once made, the chipotle sauce will keep in the refrigerator for one week.

TIP: I highly recommend investing in a squeeze top bottle for easy serving and storage. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this creamy chipotle sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! It should last in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days after making.

Is there any way to make a dairy free Baja sauce?

Sure! I’d recommend swapping in either mayonnaise or some dairy free plain greek yogurt.

What should I do with leftover chipotles in adobo sauce?

If you’re wondering what to do with those leftover chipotles and adobo sauce after making my Baja-style creamy chipotle sauce, here are some recipes for you:

For even more ideas, check out this fun post from Bon Appètit.

Love making sauce?

If you made this simple recipe for homemade Baja-Style Chipotle Sauce, please be sure to rate and review it below!

baja style chipotle sauce in a white bowl with a bowl of chipotles in adobo and a halved lemon

creamy chipotle sauce in a white bowl on a white and red patterned tea towel

Baja Style Chipotle Sauce

5 (4 ratings)
Creamy, spicy, and bright, this Baja Style Chipotle Sauce is pure condiment perfection. Once you whip up a batch of this easy, 5-minute sauce, I can basically guarantee you'll be drizzling it on everything from fish tacos to french fries. 
Print Pin Rate
Yield: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

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Instructions 

  • In a food processor or blender, combine crema, chipotle in adobo and sauce, lemon zest and lemon juice, and salt until smooth; transfer to a small bowl.
  • If your sauce is too thick, you can add a little water to desired consistency.

Notes

Now that you've done yourself the favor of making this yummy Baja-style chipotle sauce, you're ready to dig in! While it can be used in myriad applications, here are a few dishes to get you started:

Drizzled on:

Slathered on:

As a dipping sauce for:

This creamy sauce is a great substitute for mayo on your favorite torta or sandwiches! However you opt to use this creamy sauce, I have a feeling you're going to be just as obsessed! Once made, the chipotle sauce will keep in the refrigerator for one week.
TIP: I highly recommend investing in a squeeze top bottle for easy serving and storage. 

 

Calories: 59kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 192mg, Potassium: 49mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 273IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 33mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Yvette Marquez
Cuisine: Mexican

Photography by Raemi Vermiglio