Learn how to make this easy Chipotle Mayo recipe! You are going to want to put this homemade sauce on EVERYTHING you guys. It is the best secret sauce for so many Mexican inspired meals! Chipotle mayo is creamy and smooth, with a little bit of heat from the chipotles and a touch of smokey flavor from the peppers themselves and additional smoked paprika. Cilantro and lime round out the flavors perfectly. Then put. it. on. everything. Originally published February 6, 2021.

dipping french fries into chipotle mayo sauce.
Table of Contents
  1. This Chipotle Mayonnaise goes on everything
  2. What is Chipotle Sauce?
  3. Chipotle Mayo Ingredients
  4. How to make Chipotle Mayo Sauce
  5. Chipotle Mayo Recipe variations
  6. Is Chipotle Mayo spicy?
  7. Other ways to use Chipotle Peppers
  8. How to serve Homemade Chipotle Sauce
  9. Storing Chipotle Mayo Sauce 
  10. More sauce and dressing ideas!
  11. Chipotle Mayo Recipe Recipe

Valentine, who is 4, was at the dinner table the other day and took the time to meticulously clean her fork. Then she said, “There mom, my fork is clean. So I can brush my hair with it now, right?”

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a spoon lifting homemade chipotle mayo from a jar.

Ummm I’m just so grateful you asked instead of moving forward with that plan?? It’s clear I’m raising my children to be super hygienic over here. Ariel in the house.

This Chipotle Mayonnaise goes on everything

How was everyone’s week? You ready for the Super Bowl? I’ve got the perfect thing for you. My sister Laura texted me a few weeks ago with her new favorite recipe for Chipotle mayo. Of course I had to try it, because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I always need more mayonnaise in my life. Any medium will do.

close up of chipotle mayo sauce in a mason jar, with french fries and lime slices.

She said she’s been putting it on everything lately. “My favorite so far is on a burger with mashed avocado and lime, topped with crispy fried onions. So good. I also had it on a hot dog yesterday and it was amazing. I want to try fries next.”

Well I wasn’t messing around, so I went straight out and bought myself 3 large fries from Carl’s Jr., which happens to be the closest fast food to my house. (I did the same thing when I shot this Garlic Aioli; click over to read a story about the time the employees had to walk all the way out to the drive through line to help me. 🤦‍♀️)

chipotle mayo recipe in a jar surrounded by fries and lime slices.

Look at this gloriousness. Don’t you wish you were alone in a room with all these fries and a little jar of chipotle mayo?? I know I do.

What is Chipotle Sauce?

Chipotle sauce is a delicious combination of blended chipotle peppers and, in this case, mayo. We’re also adding fresh lime juice, cilantro, cumin, paprika, and salt and pepper. It’s creamy, smooth, smoky, and good enough to eat with a spoon.

Chipotle Mayo Ingredients

Here are all the ingredients you need! It couldn’t be easier. Scroll down to the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and complete instructions.

  • Mayo
  • Chipotle peppers
  • Adobo sauce from the chipotle can
  • Cilantro
  • Lime
  • Salt and pepper
  • Smoked paprika
  • Cumin, for that earthy flavor that makes you love Mexican food so much!
ingredients you need for chipotle mayo: lime, cilantro, salt, pepper, paprika, mayo, chipotle chilies, and cumin.

How to make Chipotle Mayo Sauce

Blend it all up and that is IT. Literally takes 5 minutes.

cilantro, chipotles, and mayonnaise in a blender, then blended up.
pouring chipotle mayo sauce into a mason jar surrounded by fries.

Chipotle Mayo Recipe variations

This recipe is totally adaptable to your tastes. Don’t like too much heat? Add fewer chipotles. Need it to be thinner for drizzling consistency? Add in a little milk. Don’t want it to be too smokey? Omit the smoked paprika. Although I really don’t understand why anyone would make that choice. BRING ON THE SMOKEY.

cilantro on a cutting board with a knife.

Here’s how much cilantro I used. If you are not into cilantro, leave it out, but I love it! I might add even more than this next time!

Is Chipotle Mayo spicy?

Canned chipotle peppers are SUPER spicy. A little bit goes a long way. In the can you will find whole chipotle peppers (which are jalapeno peppers that have been smoked), chopped onions (usually), all swimming in this magical stuff called adobo sauce. Adobo sauce is amazing all on it’s own, (just try this Cafe Rio Pork, it’s a key ingredient) and adds it’s own unique flavor to the mayo. Don’t skip it!

chipotle peppers laid out on a wooden cutting board.

As you can see, chipotle chilies vary in size, just like jalapenos vary in size! This is why there is such a variance in the recipe. I call for 3-6 chipotle peppers. If you add 3 small peppers, it might be just right, if you add 6 humungo peppers, it might be too spicy to eat! Use your best judgment. Start small, you can always add more.

Another way to get the flavor but control the heat a little more is to open up the peppers and scrape out all the seeds before adding to your chipotle mayo. The seeds hold a ton of heat. Can you see how many I scraped out in the photo on the left?

how to seed a chipotle pepper, adobo sauce from the can.
on the right is a tablespoon of adobo sauce. If you have a few onions in your adobo sauce, it ain’t no thang.

Other ways to use Chipotle Peppers

What to do with those leftover chipotles? You will hardly ever use a whole can for any recipe, they are quite spicy. Freeze them in ziplock bags! I always, always have a stash of chipotle peppers in my freezer. They keep forever, and it’s really easy to snap off a hunk and add it to soup, chili, this Raspberry Chipotle Ham, this bacon wrapped pineapple…anything you want to add a little smokey heat to. The possibilities are endless. I add the whole leftover can to a ziplock, including the chilies, any onions, and the adobo sauce. It’s all to valuable to be wasted.

How to serve Homemade Chipotle Sauce

Wondering what goes with chipotle mayo? The question really should be what DOESN’T go with chipotle mayo??

BLT sandwich with chipotle mayo sauce.

How about you start out with this BLT. Omg you guys, it was so good. I’m obsessed with BLTs lately and actually have a recipe for the classic version on the docket for you soon.

Yeah. BLTs are the best. Also French fries. How about both??

homemade chipotle mayo sauce in a jar with fresh fries dipped in.

Here are some other ideas!

spoon lifting chipotle mayo recipe from a bowl sprinkled with chipotle powder.

Storing Chipotle Mayo Sauce 

Chipotle mayo will last for about two weeks in the fridge. Make the amount you can use up in that time (and then be prepared to make more when you underestimate your love of chipotle mayo). 

Oh, and don’t freeze it. Mayo is an emulsion, meaning that its ingredients will separate if their temperature conditions change so dramatically. Just call a friend and tell them if they’ll bring the fries, you’ll supply the sauce.

More sauce and dressing ideas!

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Chipotle Mayo Recipe

4.87 from 15 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Learn how to make easy Chipotle Mayo recipe! You are going to want to put this homemade sauce on EVERYTHING you guys. It is the best secret sauce for so many Mexican inspired meals! Chipotle mayo is creamy and smooth, with a little bit of heat from the chipotles and a touch of smokey flavor from the peppers themselves and additional smoked paprika. Cilantro and lime round out the flavors perfectly. Then put. it. on. everything. 

Ingredients

  • 1 & 1/2 cups high quality mayonnaise
  • 3-6 chipotle peppers from a can
  • 2-3 tablespoons adobo sauce from the can
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, packed
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, use 1/4 tsp for table salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth!
  • Start with 3 small chipotle peppers and move up from there. If you are nervous about it being too spicy, start with 1-2 tablespoons adobo sauce, or omit entirely. (But I really love the flavor the adobo adds!)
  • Add more lime juice if you want more zing.
  • Thin it out with a little bit of water or milk if you want a drizzling consistency. Start by adding a tablespoon at a time and be careful of adding too much, you don’t want to mute the flavors.
  • Store leftovers in handy squeeze bottles so you’re always ready for any chipotle mayo situation!!

Notes

If you need your chipotle mayo to be a thinner consistency (the better to top tacos with) then you can thin out the sauce with a little milk, or even water. Don’t go too crazy or you will impact the flavor. Start small.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 25g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 1582mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 139IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Calories: 411
Keyword: best, Chipotle, dip, mayo
Did you make this? I’d love to see it!Mention @thefoodcharlatan or tag #thefoodcharlatan!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Delicious
    It’s a pity that ppl who leave questions don’t actually read the recipe & tips first. Seems to me ppl waste ur time & their own

  2. Hi Karen, made this today to have with BBQ’d chicken skewers and salad. Very nice!
    Question please – how long do you think the sauce will last in the fridge and could it be frozen?
    Thanks,
    Woznme.

    1. Hi Woznme! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! This would be so good with chicken skewers! And no, sadly this sauce cannot be frozen. It will break in the freezer and when you try to thaw it. (It will not be smooth anymore). But it keeps in the fridge for quite some time (a few weeks at the least!)

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