Chipotle Sauce with Garlic and Sour Cream Recipe
This creamy, smoky Chipotle Sauce with Garlic and Sour Cream is a versatile condiment perfect for adding a spicy kick and rich flavor to tacos, grilled meats, sandwiches, and salads. Blended with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, garlic, lime juice, and smoked spices, this sauce balances heat and creaminess effortlessly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (for optional garlic roasting)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: About 1 ¼ cups 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
Spices and Flavorings
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce (from chipotle pepper can)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or roasted
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
Optional
- 1 tbsp olive oil (to adjust consistency)
Instructions
- Prep the garlic and chipotles: If you prefer a milder, more mellow garlic flavor, roast the garlic cloves in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes until they are golden and soft. Roughly chop the chipotle peppers to make blending easier.
- Blend the base: In a blender or food processor, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, minced or roasted garlic, fresh lime juice, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and salt. Blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth, about 30 to 60 seconds depending on your appliance.
- Taste and adjust: Sample the sauce and decide if you want more heat or tang. Add more chipotle pepper or adobo sauce for more spice, or add extra sour cream if you want to tone down the heat. Adjust salt and lime juice to your preference.
- Check consistency: If the sauce is thicker than you’d like, add a splash of olive oil or a teaspoon of water and briefly blend again to loosen it up.
- Store and chill: Transfer the sauce to a glass jar or airtight container. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully before serving.
Notes
- Roasting garlic mellows its sharpness and adds depth, but raw garlic works well for a stronger punch.
- Adjust the number of chipotle peppers and amount of adobo sauce to control the heat level.
- This sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Use olive oil sparingly only if you want to thin the sauce; water works as a neutral alternative.
- Great as a dip, spread, or dressing to elevate many Mexican and grilled dishes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: chipotle sauce, garlic sauce, sour cream chipotle, smoky sauce, Mexican sauce, creamy chipotle, spicy sauce
