This creamy chipotle sauce recipe is smoky, spicy, tangy and a little wicked. From sweet potato fries to tacos, this homemade southwest sauce is better than Subway and will elevate the flavor of any food you add it to. 6 ingredients. 5 minutes. Naturally non-dairy, plant-based and gluten-free. So good you'll want to eat it straight from the jar.
Introducing a creamy chipotle sauce recipe you're going to love! This smoky southwest sauce is dairy-free and gluten-free with no added sugars or artificial ingredients. It's easy to make using just 6 ingredients, and, it's perfect slathered on this Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger or these Best Grilled Carrot Dogs.
FYI: This is a redo of an old recipe featuring updated content, including a labeled ingredient list, new photos, step-by-step instructions and a really cool video.
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🌶 Ingredients For Chipotle Sauce Recipe (With Substitutions)
- Raw Cashews -for best results, use raw cashews soaked overnight for this recipe. For a quicker soaking solution, see below.
- Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce - you'll use both the peppers and the sauce in this recipe. You may use more or less depending upon the level of heat you desire. Just be aware these are super hot! Although chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are typically easy to find, if unavailable, you can use ½ teaspoon chipotle powder for every 1 chipotle pepper.
- Lime Juice - juice from fresh limes are best, however, if unavailable, bottled lime juice works great too.
- Garlic - fresh garlic is highly recommended in this recipe; however, if fresh is unavailable, substitute with 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Sea Salt - enhances the flavor of this chipotle sauce recipe. Season to taste.
TIP: exact ingredient measurements can be found in the recipe card below!
🔪 How to Make Chipotle Sauce
Follow this easy step-by-step process to make this spicy sauce recipe:
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a food processor.
Step 2. Pulse on high speed until sauce is rich and creamy, approximately 3-5 minutes.
Step 3: Pour into an airtight container. Store in refrigerator. See more about storing this sauce.
🥜 Two Ways To Soak Cashews
When making sauce with cashews, they need to be softened first, otherwise you won't get a creamy sauce. There are 2 ways to soak cashews:
- Overnight - place cashews in a medium pot and add water an inch or so above the cashews. By morning they will be nice and soft.
- Quickest - I can't tell you how many times I want to make a sauce that calls for cashews and I forget to soak them overnight. The quickest way to prepare cashews for a sauce recipe is to add cashews to a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Cover and allow to soak for 15 minutes and whalla, you've got cashews ready for the food processor.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- The key to making this homemade sauce is the chipotle chili's in adobo sauce. You really can't make homemade chipotle sauce without them. You can find them in the Mexican food section of most grocery stores. They are incredibly spicy so be careful when adding them to the recipe. I only added one chipotle chili with one tablespoon of adobo sauce. If you want your homemade chipotle sauce a little spicier, simply add another chili or another tablespoon of adobo sauce.
- Be sure to wash your hands after handling chipotle chili's in adobe sauce. The sauce is very hot and if you get any on your fingers and rub your eyes, you will probably cuss...a lot!
- To make this chipotle sauce recipe thinner, add plant-milk or water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to your food processor and pulse for another minute. To make homemade chipotle sauce thicker and creamier, add a little vegan mayonnaise.
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Chipotle sauce is made from chipotle peppers, which evolve from dried, smoked jalapeño peppers, then packed in a flavorful sauce. They have a rich, smoky, earthy flavor and are used frequently in Mexican cuisine.
Typically, chipotle sauce is made with chipotle peppers mixed with mayonnaise and sour cream or Mexican crema. My plant-based version is dairy-free and made with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, raw cashews, lime juice, garlic powder and sea salt.
🌡️ Storage and Freezing
Storing the Sauce - to store this chipotle sauce recipe, pour into an airtight container or jar and store in the refrigerator for up o 3 weeks. Lime juice acts as a preservative in this recipe so it will last longer as long as it's tightly sealed and refrigerated.
Freezing Leftover Chipotle Peppers - because only 1 or two chipotle peppers are used in this southwest sauce recipe, you'll likely have leftovers. You can easily freeze leftover peppers for up to 3 months by placing individual peppers small ziplock storage bags. When ready to use, simply allow them to thaw at room temperature for a couple hours.
🌮 Serving Suggestions
Use this tangy southwest sauce as a dipping sauce for sweet potato fries or these air fryer smashed potatoes. You can also drizzle it over my Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice, or add to any of the following recipes for an instant flavor boost:
- Portobello Mushroom Burger
- Grilled Carrot Dogs
- Jackfruit Tinga Tacos
- Vegan Enchilada Casserole
- Cauliflower Bites
🥫 More Sauce Recipes
Have you tried this? Why not leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter!
📖 Recipe
Creamy Chipotle Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup raw cashews soaked overnight or in boiling hot water for 15 minutes
- ¼ cup water
- 1 large clove garlic
- 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce plus
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Add cashews, water, lime juice, garlic, chipotle and adobo sauce and sea salt to food processor. Pulse on high until mixture is smooth and creamy, about 3-4 minutes. Serve on your favorite dish. Seal remaining sauce in airtight container and place in refrigerator for up to one month.
Video
Notes
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- Nutrition information is an estimate.
- The key to making this homemade sauce is the chipotle chili's in adobo sauce. You really can't make homemade chipotle sauce without them. You can find them in the Mexican food section of most grocery stores. They are incredibly spicy so be careful when adding them to the recipe. I only added one chipotle chili with one tablespoon of adobo sauce. If you want your homemade chipotle sauce a little spicier, simply add another chili or another tablespoon of adobo sauce.
- Be sure to wash your hands after handling chipotle chili's in adobe sauce. The sauce is very hot and if you get any on your fingers and rub your eyes, you will probably cuss...a lot!
- To make this chipotle sauce recipe thinner, add plant-milk or water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to your food processor and pulse for another minute. To make homemade chipotle sauce thicker and creamier, add a little vegan mayonnaise.
- Storing the Sauce - to store this chipotle sauce recipe, pour into an airtight container or jar and store in the refrigerator for up o 3 weeks. Lime juice acts as a preservative in this recipe so it will last longer as long as it's tightly sealed and refrigerated.
- Freezing Leftover Chipotle Peppers - because only 1 or two chipotle peppers are used in this southwest sauce recipe, you'll likely have leftovers. You can easily freeze leftover peppers for up to 3 months by placing individual peppers small ziplock storage bags. When ready to use, simply allow them to thaw at room temperature for a couple hours.
Antonia Walker
Hi! Have not tried this delicious looking sauce, but definitely will. Have a family member who is allergic to all tree nuts so cashews are out of the question. Any substitute for the cashews? I will still make it for the rest of the family, but would like her to enjoy it with us. Thank you 😊
Deborah
Hi Antonia. Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, for this recipe, there is no substitute for cashews. One possible solution might be using dairy-free mayonnaise instead, and mixing in the rest of the ingredients with the mayo in a food processor. With the water, I would add just a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency. No need to use a whole quarter cup. I hope this helps and thank you again for dropping by.
Giangi Townsend
Looks so creamy and packed with flavor. On my menu for this weekend's gathering with friends.
Deborah
Awesome news. Thank you Giangi.
swathi
This creamy chipolte sauce looks really yum . perfect treat.
Deborah
Thank you Swathi.
Rob
This sauce is so delicious and it was perfect to accommodate both my vegan guests and those allergic to gluten.
Deborah
Great to hear that, thank you Rob!
Marcellina
Your chipotle sauce looks so creamy and rich and I would definitely not think it was vegan. This will be great when I have both vegan and non vegan diners to cook for. Thanks for sharing.
Deborah
You're welcome. Thank you Marcellina!
Lindsay Howerton-Hastings
This was absolutely incredible, couldn't believe it was vegan. Can't wait to make again!
Deborah
So happy to hear that, thank you Lindsay!
Stephanie
So simple, delicious and healthy. I won't have to purchase chipotle sauce anymore!
Deborah
So true, so true! Thank you Stephanie, glad you found it easy and delicious!
Marci
It looks delicious! Can't wait to try. Thanx for sharing... ❤️
Vegan Vigilante
Thank you Marci. Glad you stopped by to check it out.