Chipotle Mayo
Updated Oct 20, 2025
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This Chipotle mayo is the kind of sauce that instantly turns a regular sandwich into something you’d pay some good money for at a café. It’s creamy, smoky, and a little bit spicy, providing the flavor boost you didn’t know your fries, burgers, and fish tacos needed. Whip it up in minutes using pantry staples, and you might never go back to plain mayo again.
Some condiments politely sit on the side of the plate, and then there’s Chipotle Mayonnaise, which struts right in and steals the show. It’s creamy and smoky with just enough heat to make you say, “Oh – hey there!” Once you make a batch (which will take you all of 5 minutes), you’ll start putting it on everything. Think about burgers, tacos, roasted veggies, a grilled ribeye steak. All this with three prepared condiments as the main ingredients – chipotles in adobo sauce, sour cream, and mayo. Who’s a genius? You are.
You are also going to want to try Sriracha Mayo. Similar idea, but another vibe.
This is amazing on a BLT, a Fried Fish Sandwich, a beef burger, a grinder or sub sandwich! Also, think about using this on a crostini, like this one with sautéed broccoli rabe.
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What's In This Post?
Chipotle Mayo: This creamy, slightly spicy condiment has so many uses — as a dip, spread on sandwiches, blooped on a baked potato, stirred into pasta salads, and more!
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – You can use regular mayo, light mayo, reduced-fat mayo, or vegan mayonnaise.
- Sour cream – Again, you can use any version of this you prefer.
- Garlic – Finely minced fresh garlic for the best flavor, and so the garlic blends seamlessly into the sauce. The sauce includes just a little bit, but it adds great flavor.
- Lime or lemon juice – Fresh is always best.
- Chipotle puree – All you need is a jar of chipotles in adobo sauce (see how to make this puree below). Chipotle puree is made from chipotles, which are jalapeños that have been dried and smoked. They add heat and a slightly addictive smokiness. The canned chipotles you’ll find in the market have been cooked and packaged with adobo, a sauce made with vinegar, chilies, and herbs.
How to Make Chipotle Puree
To make the chipotle puree, pour the contents of a 7-ounce can of chipotles in adobo into a food processor and puree until smooth.
This puree will keep covered in the fridge for weeks and adds smoky heat to all kinds of soups, stews, sauces, and other dishes.
How to Make Chipotle Mayo
- Mix the ingredients: Whisk together the mayo, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, and chipotle puree in a small bowl.
- Season and stir: Season with salt and pepper. Stir until completely smooth. Serve or store in the fridge.
Substitutions
- If you want to swap out either the mayo or the sour cream in exchange for plain Greek yogurt, you can.
- You can also use all mayonnaise if you prefer, skipping the sour cream.
- If you want a vegan version, try making this with a vegan mayonnaise.
How many ways can we use this spread/dip/condiment??
Chipotle mayonnaise is one of the most versatile spreads and dips to have on hand. It will turn almost any sandwich or wrap into something memorable. Think roast beef, turkey, tuna fish, leftover chicken, or pork loin…you name it.
The small bit of lime juice adds brightness and thins out the thick sauce a bit, and the garlic and the chipotle puree add spiciness. This chipotle spread or dip is actually made with half mayo and half sour cream, which is the perfect combo of creamy and tangy and smooth.
FAQs
Chipotle mayo is basically a blend of your favorite mayonnaise (I am a long-time Hellman’s fan, but I have also fallen for Duke’s mayo in recent years) plus smoky chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (one of my favorite shortcut ingredients ever). I also use half sour cream, half mayo for extra richness and versatility. A bit of lime juice, a touch of garlic, and salt, and yay, we all get a slightly addictive sauce that makes everything better.
That depends on how generous you are feeling with your chipotles. One pepper with sauce gives you a nice, warm, tingly level of heat. Another pepper (or more) and you may need to take a beat. Start with a smaller amount; you can always add more. And if things get too spicy? Add more mayo (and maybe lime juice).
Adobo sauce is generally made up of vinegar, sugar, chili powder, garlic, and tomato. It’s smoky, flavorful, and sweet, all in one go.
Absolutely. Finely mince the chipotles and stir them (with some sauce) into the mayo by hand. The texture won’t be quite as smooth, but the flavor will be knock-your-socks-off great.
It keeps for up to a week in the fridge in a tightly sealed container. In fact, the flavors get ever better and more “melded” after a couple of days. Some people feel like the heat level intensifies, so keep an eye on that.
Yes! In fact, it’s even better when you do. Mix it up a day or two before you need it, stash it in the fridge, and let the magic happen.
Honestly, the better question is what can’t you use it for? Sandwiches, burgers, tacos, grilled corn, fries, roasted veggies, chicken tenders, even scrambled eggs. Dip a pizza crust in chipotle mayo – amazing, right?
Storage
Chipotle mayo can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
How to Use Chipotle Mayo
This spicy mayo is like a container of joy in the fridge. Layer it into sandwiches, or spread a bit on the outside of grilled cheese before pan-frying it. Dollop it on burgers of any kind (beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, salmon).
Try a bloop on Provencal Fish Stew or a baked potato. Use it to make chicken salad or tuna fish in place of some of the regular mayonnaise. Blend some into deviled eggs, potato salad, or macaroni salad. Spread some on grilled corn. Its uses are really endless!
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Chipotle Mayo
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Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime or lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons chipotle puree (see Note)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Whisk together the mayo, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, and chipotle puree in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Notes
- To make the chipotle puree, pour the contents of a 7-ounce can of chipotles in adobo into a food processor and puree until smooth.
- This puree will keep covered in the fridge for weeks and adds smoky heat to all kinds of soups, stews, sauces, and other dishes.
