Jump to Recipe·5 from 2 reviews

Share this recipe!

Chipotle lime sauce has got to be ranked in my top five most-used quick and easy sauces to elevate any meal. It is so simple to whip together, mildly spicy, creamy and so good on tacos, burrito bowls and more. Let’s talk about how to make it!

bowl of creamy chipotle lime sauce with a whisk in it

I’ve spent my whole life saying I hate mayo. And here’s the truth- I do hate mayo. Plain mayo. But give mayo a glow-up and call it aioli? Add some delicious extra flavors in there and call it chipotle lime sauce? HERE FOR IT.

What you will need to make this creamy chipotle sauce:

ingredients needed for the recipe- sour cream, mayo, lime, chipotle in adobo sauce

It really couldn’t be simple, all you need is four simple ingredients.

Mayo: I like to use a good-quality avocado oil mayo or olive oil mayo but any mayonnaise will work.

Sour cream: the combination of mayo plus sour cream makes this sauce extra good. You can use low-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce: these are found in the international foods aisle of any major grocery store. You can also find them at a Latin American foods store.

Lime: a pop of bright citrus like lime juice, lemon juice or lime zest provides the perfect tangy flavor to counteract the spicy flavor of adobo sauce.

How to make two ways:

Blended version: in a food processor or small bowl attachment for a blender add the mayo, sour cream, lime juice and chipotle pepper + adobo sauce. Blend until smooth and creamy, thirty seconds or so. Test and adjust with more adobo sauce if you like it spicier or lime juice for more zing. You may have to adjust with a little water to reach your desired consistency.

mayo, sour cream, lime juice and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in a small bowl

Non-blended version: Finely chop the chipotle pepper. In a small bowl whisk together the pepper, adobo sauce, mayo, sour cream and lime juice. Taste and adjust per your taste!

Equipment you will need to make it:

Small bowl

Whisk

Food processor (optional)

Squeeze bottle (this is helpful for an artistic drizzle on tacos or rice bowls!)

What to use this chipotle lime crema on:

  • Fish tacos
  • Spicy potato soft tacos
  • Beef tacos
  • Okay, literally any type of tacos
  • Rice bowls
  • Taco salad
  • Nachos
  • Burritos
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Sandwiches
  • French fries
  • Chicken wings, chicken breast or chicken tenders

Okay but seriously- this chipotle cream sauce can be a dipping sauce, marinade, salad dressing, fry sauce and beyond!

blackened mahi mahi tacos with pineapple salsa and chipotle lime sauce

FAQs

What do you do with the leftover chipotle peppers in the can?

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce or very spicy so most recipes only call for 1-2. I place the rest of the can in a glass pyrex container and keep it in the freezer. Then, each time I need a pepper I defrost them a little and grab one out. They stay good for up to a year in the freezer.

How could I make this vegan?

Instead of trying to make a vegan version of this recipe I’d recommend trying out my delicious spicy cashew dressing which is naturally plant-based!

How do I store the leftovers?

Store leftover creamy dressing in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to five days.

Is there anything I could use instead of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce?

You could use chipotle chili powder or a basic hot sauce, but it won’t have quite the same smoky flavor.

small bowl of chipotle lime sauce, tortilla chips and fish tacos topped with the sauce

If you love this homemade sauce you’ll love some of my other favorite sauces:

Spicy jalapeño lime vinaigrette

Roasted garlic parmesan aioli

Kimchi mayo

Fig balsamic dressing

Salsa verde

It’s dinner time y’all- let’s whip up some fish tacos, douse them in chipotle lime sauce and DIG IN!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
bowl of chipotle lime sauce to accompany fish tacos

Amazingly Easy Chipotle Lime Sauce (4 ingredients)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Erica
  • Prep Time: 3 minutes
  • Cook Time: N/A
  • Total Time: 3 minutes
  • Yield: 1/2 cup sauce 1x
  • Category: Condiment
  • Method: Blend
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

It’s simple but packs so much flavor- this chipotle lime sauce is going to be your taco night staple! This recipe is so easy to scale up so feel free to double or triple if you want a bigger batch!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup mayo
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped + 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • 1/2 lime, juiced (about 1–2 tablespoons juice)

Instructions

Whisk or blend all ingredients together. Adjust consistency with a splash of water, if needed. You can taste and adjust the spice level by adding more adobo sauce if desired. Optional, but you can also add a squeeze of honey or maple syrup to sweeten it up a bit.

Notes

Refer to the above blog post for ideas on how to use this yummy sauce, substitution ideas and answers to frequently asked questions.

Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary slightly.

Would you like to save this?

We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 84
  • Sugar: 0.1 g
  • Sodium: 126.1 mg
  • Fat: 7.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 1.3 g
  • Protein: 1.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 9.8 mg

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. Thank you so much for your support and helping me continue to do what I do!!

Share this recipe!