If you're craving chipotle sauce, you can make this copycat Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce recipe right at home! Use it for tacos, burritos, or as a salad dressing or dip. You will be amazed by how simple it is to recreate the creamy and smokey flavor of the original in your own kitchen with just a few ingredients.
Looking for a sauce to liven up your dishes? You're going to LOVE this quick and easy Chipotle Sauce.
The Taco Bell-inspired sauce is a tasty way to make your burritos, tacos, fries, potatoes or chicken extra special.
Just mix up a few simple ingredients and you've got one heck of a tasty sauce!
I love to use it as a dipping sauce for Louisiana Rub Wingstop Wings, or Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks. Heck, I even slather it over Air Fryer Baby Potatoes - it's just THAT GOOD!
But for the ultimate copycat taste, use it as a dipping sauce for my copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Roll Ups!
It's even great as a game-day dip for potato chips!
Jump to:
Taco Bell is a fast-food restaurant that specializes in Mexican-style cuisine, most notably tacos and burritos.
I'm sure you've heard of it - they're everywhere!
But not near my house - hence me making this from-scratch homemade DIY chipotle sauce. I tweaked and tested to get this copycat recipe just right. I hope you'll love it too.
The Sauce
The restaurants are known for their specialty sauces like creamy chipotle sauce, which you can now make at home with this easy recipe!
Taco Bell chipotle sauce is creamy, smoky, and slightly spicy. You can use it on many different foods to add flavor including tacos, burritos, salads, or as a dip. The creamy texture and smoky flavor also make it great for topping nachos.
The best part about this sauce is that you don't have to leave home to enjoy it. Mix a few simple ingredients and spices together to make your own from scratch that is healthy and customizable!
Why Make This Recipe
No need to head to a Taco Bell location to get the flavor of this creamy sauce.
You can use it in many different dishes to create a smoky and spicy flavor.
The ingredients are clean and free of preservatives and chemicals.
You can whip up your own Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce in just 5 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- Sour Cream - Adds creaminess and a subtle tangy flavor.
- Mayonnaise - Keeps the sauce creamy and binds all of the ingredients together.
- Chipotle Sauce (from a can of adobo) -Adds smoky flavor, heat, and a creamy texture to this recipe.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - A souring acidic agent that also helps to balance out the flavors. You can substitute white vinegar.
- Garlic & Onion Powder - Adds depth of flavor by infusing the sauce with a subtle garlic and onion flavor.
- Smoked Paprika - Adds a smoky flavor and depth of color.
- Salt - Enhances and balances the natural smoky and spicy flavors in the sauce.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Mix ingredients: Add all of the sauce ingredients to a large bowl. Using a whisk or rubber spatula, mix to fully combine until a pale red color is formed and no white streaks remain.
Taste and adjust: Using a spoon, test a small amount of the sauce to see if you need to add any more salt or spices depending on your personal preference.
Store and refrigerate: Pour the sauce into an airtight container or sealed jar with a lid. Let it sit for at least one hour before serving for the best flavor.
Cook's Tips
You'll want to use the chipotle sauce in a can of adobo for this recipe. The sauce in the can will be more creamy and less spicy than if you were to use fresh chipotles.
For the best flavor, make sure your dried spices are fresh and not expired as it can affect the taste of the sauce.
The sauce needs to sit in the fridge for at least one hour before serving. This will give the ingredients a chance to emulsify together for the best flavor.
If your sauce is too thick, add a bit of water or milk a little at a time. If it's too thin, add a bit more mayo or sour cream.
Serving Suggestions
Slather your creamy Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce on some homemade Taco Bell Tacos.
Drizzle it over quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, burritos...
Use it as a dipping sauce for chicken wings, chicken legs or veggies or potato chips!
Add it to meals as a drizzle sauce to add a tasty flavor.
Stir it into some mashed potatoes, or pour onto Microwave Baked Potatoes filled with beef chili.
Variations
You can use a different type of vinegar, such as white or red wine vinegar to add a different flavor profile. Lemon or lime juice will work as well.
Add in a tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro for flavor and color.
If you want it to be even spicier, add in some diced jalapeno peppers or a teaspoon of ground chili powder.
You can use just sour cream or just mayonnaise to make this sauce. The texture and flavor will vary depending on the ratio.
For a low-fat chipotle sauce, use non-fat Greek yogurt.
Make it vegan by using vegan yogurt or vegan mayonnaise.
Storage & Freezing
Store this creamy chipotle sauce in an airtight container or sealed jar for up to 10 days. Give it a good stir if it hasn't been used in a few days to redistribute the proper flavors and textures.
Freezing is not recommended.
FAQs
The adobo pepper in the can have a lot of paprika and tomato paste added to give it color. The sauce will also develop a red color from the smoked paprika.
You can use dried chipotle powder. Start with one teaspoon and taste and adjust to your personal preference.
You can purchase premade chipotle sauce, however, it could contain chemicals and preservatives. This recipe is clean and uses healthy fresh ingredients to create the same taste right at home.
More copycat recipes
We hope that you love this tasty copycat Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce! Be sure that you also check out these other copycat recipes!
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📖 Recipe
Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons chipotle sauce from a can of adobo
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Taste and adjust flavors if necessary to your liking.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour for the flavors to merge and the sauce to firm up a little.
- Store in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Tayler Ross says
I love Taco Bell's chipotle sauce, but don't have one near me. This recipe is an exact copycat and I will be making it all the time!
Maria San Juan says
Thanks for making my life easier! Haha! I should make this!!!!!!!!
Dana Sando says
This is so so tasty! I'm thrilled to have a jar of this good stuff on hand for dipping. It's literally good with anything that can be dipped—dangerously addicting 😉
Dan says
I love anything with chipotle and this sauce was amazing. Had it on tacos last night!
Natalie says
I was buying chipotle in stores but now I know how easy this sauce is to make at home with nothing weird in it! I had some adobo leftover so this was perfect ot use it up. I added extra to use up the can and it was yum! We put it on chicken tacos and then poured some on our nachos too.
Vi says
This recipe is a lifesaver! Always looking for homemade, made from scratch recipes that are preservative free. Thanks!
Beth says
This stuff is amazing! I save Taco Bell chipotle sauce just so I can put it on other food, so when I saw this, I knew I had to make it. It's insanely good. It might be better than the original, actually.
Marina says
Used it on my salad for lunch yesterday and my family loved it. I even allowed kids to dip nachos, later on, thanks!
Sue says
We're going to top our burgers and dip our fries in this all summer long, thanks!
Gaby says
For the chipotle sauce, do you blend up a can of chipotles in adobo (so it includes chipotles and adobo sauce) or do you just use the adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo? This looks so yummy!! Can’t wait to try 🙂
Kate says
Hi, just the sauce from the can will be fine!