How To Make Chipotle Mayo
Chipotle mayo is a delicious Mexican-inspired condiment with a touch of smoky flavor that can be used to liven up almost any dish. Whether you’re looking to add flavor to sandwiches, tacos, salads, burgers, or even just plain vegetables, this homemade version will do the trick!
Making chipotle mayo is surprisingly easy and requires only a few ingredients that most people already have in their pantry. All you need to make this creamy sauce is mayonnaise, adobo sauce, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, and some salt.
Why You’ll Like This Recipe
- You can use either homemade mayonnaise or store-bought mayo in this recipe. (Using store-bought eliminates the need for you to pull out your food processor or immersion blender.)
- It’s made with simple ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store. (Look for adobo sauce in the International aisle.)
- It’s an easy way to enhance Mexican food.
Ways To Use Chipotle Mayo
Chipotle mayo is an incredibly versatile condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some tasty ways to use it:
- As a delicious dipping sauce for vegetables, chips, or French fries
- To top tacos, burrito bowls, sandwiches, and burgers
- As a spread on toast or crackers
- To add extra flavor to chicken salad, macaroni salad, and potato salad
- As a marinade for grilled vegetables, fish, or chicken.
Let’s look at how to make this chipotle mayonnaise recipe.
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix until combined.
- Store in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 1 week.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- For the adobo sauce, simply scoop the sauce out of the can with a spoon. You can also blend some of the adobo peppers with the sauce until smooth or close to it, and use that as well.
- If you prefer Miracle Whip, feel free to use it. The taste will be a little different, but it will still be delicious.
- You can use lemon juice as a substitute for lime juice if desired.
- Do not freeze chipotle mayo.
- You can make a vegan version simply by using vegan mayo. Just don’t skip out on the key ingredient – adobo sauce.
- If you have never had chipotle mayo, be sure to taste test it before using it.
Turn up the flavor with more easy sauces and dips from SouthernKissed. Try Chick-fil-A Sauce for a sweet-and-tangy favorite, whip up Jalapeño Ranch Dressing for a cool, zesty kick, or mix a jar of Classic 5-Ingredient BBQ Rub to season everything from chicken to veggies. These homemade condiments make everyday meals unforgettable.
Chipotle Mayo
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix until combined.
- Store in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 1 week.
Notes
- For the adobo sauce, simply scoop the sauce out of the can with a spoon. You can also blend some of the adobo peppers with the sauce until smooth or close to it, and use that as well.
- If you prefer Miracle Whip, feel free to use it. The taste will be a little different, but it will still be delicious.
- You can use lemon juice in place of lime juice if desired.
- Do not freeze chipotle mayo.
- You can make a vegan version simply by using vegan mayo. Just don’t skip out on the key ingredient – adobo sauce.
Nutrition
FAQs
Adobo sauce is a flavorful, smoky-tasting sauce made from chipotle peppers, vinegar, garlic, and other spices. It adds a hint of smokiness to dishes that can be quite pleasant. Adobo sauce also helps to balance out the heat from the chipotle pepper.
Chipotle is smoked jalapeño peppers that have been dried and then rehydrated. It adds a unique flavor to dishes with its smoky, slightly spicy taste. Chipotle peppers are often used in Mexican cuisine but have become popular in many other cultures as well. They can be found canned in adobo sauce or dried and ground into a powder.
Yes and no. It’s not “hot” like fresh jalapenos or habaneros are spicy hot. It is quite flavorful, however, with a hint of smokiness. The chipotle pepper has a bit of heat to it, but it is usually balanced out by the other ingredients in the sauce. I think of it more as a “smoky mayo.”
Final Bite
Love the smoky kick of this Chipotle Mayo? Share how you served it—on burgers, tacos, or as a fry dip—in the comments, and pass this recipe along to friends who like a little heat with their bite.
