Smoky, spicy, and ultra-creamy, this vegan chipotle sauce works perfectly paired with a variety of recipes like sweet potato fries, vegan burgers, tacos, nachos, and so much more! It’s ready in 5 minutes, with only 5 simple ingredients!
The traditional chipotle sauce is smoky, spicy, and creamy! It’s usually made with mayonnaise, sour cream, or yogurt. This recipe takes the traditional ingredients of a standard chipotle sauce and makes it vegan! Using super simple ingredients, and taking only 5 minutes of time, this sauce will become a staple in your fridge to pair with a variety of savory recipes you make throughout the week!
You’ll find yourself using it again and again as a dipping sauce for sweet potato fries, slather on veggie burgers, drizzle on lentil tacos, or corn on the cob! How about serving it with these copycat Chipotle fajita veggies! So many ways to use it!
Why This Recipe Works
- Vegan and Dairy-Free
- Gluten-Free
- Smoky and Spicy
- Versatile
- 5 Minutes to Make
- 5 Simple Ingredients
- Oil-Free
- Low in Calories
- Low in Sodium
- Added Protein
Ingredients, Notes, and Substitutions
Cashew Yogurt: The creamy base of this sauce starts with plain cashew yogurt. Be sure to use plain unsweetened dairy-free yogurt. You could also use plain coconut or soy yogurt if you have a nut allergy, or prefer the taste and texture.
Adobo Sauce: A Mexican sauce made from chili powder, tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and herbs. It has a spicy-sweet flavor. You can find it in the international aisle of your grocery store.
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: Chipotle peppers are dried and smoked jalapeño peppers. You can buy them jarred in adobo sauce, also in the international aisle of your local grocery store.
Lime Juice: Use fresh lime juice for added acidity to balance out the spices and creaminess.
Garlic and Salt: Adds more flavor and seasoning.
Instructions to Make Vegan Chipotle Sauce
Making this sauce is super easy and only requires a few simple steps.
Step 1: Drain the chipotle peppers from the adobo sauce. Place the cashew yogurt, adobo sauce, chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic, and salt in a food processor or high-speed blender.
Step 2: Process until the ingredients are combined.
Step 3: Taste to see if it needs any additional salt or lime juice. Transfer to a jar for storage.
Expert Tips
- Use a food processor or blender. If you use a blender, it may be difficult for all of the ingredients to blend if your blender is large. You may need to scrap the sides with a spatula to get an even blend.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are spicy. To reduce the amount of spice, use only one pepper instead of two.
- Like more smokiness? Add ½ a teaspoon of smoked paprika.
- Like it spicier? Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Recipe FAQS
Whether you call it an aioli or a sauce, the origins of aioli’s date back as far as the Roman Empire. They are traditionally made with garlic, egg yolk, oil, and lemon juice, and are similar to mayonnaise. Aioli has a very thick texture and a rich flavor. It is often used in Mediterranean, Italian, French, and Spanish cuisine.
Yes, it does have some spice. However, it’s not overbearing. The creaminess from the cashew yogurt, and the acidity of the lime juice balance the smokiness and spiciness from the adobo sauce, and chipotle peppers.
How to Store and Keep
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. A small glass mason jar with a lid works great! It will keep for 7-10 days. Write the date you made the sauce on the lid. I use a piece of masking tape for this. That way you can keep track of how long it is good for.
Serving Suggestions
This simple recipe is super versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. I keep a jar in my fridge to use whenever the mood for a little something smoky and spicy hits me!
Here are a few ways I use it regularly:
- Burrito Bowls
- Buddha Bowls
- Vegan Tacos
- Dip for Raw Veggies
- Drizzled Over Roasted Veggies
- Dip for Air Fryer French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries
- Drizzled Over Corn on the Cob
- Vegan Burgers and Carrot Dogs
- Spread on Sandwiches
- Use as a Dressing on Salads
More Vegan Sauce Recipes!
Recipe
Vegan Chipotle Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place the cashew yogurt, adobo sauce, chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic, and salt in a food processor.
- Process until the ingredients are combined.
- Taste to see if it needs any additional salt or lime juice.
Notes
- Use a food processor or blender. If you use a blender, it may be difficult for all of the ingredients to blend if your blender is large. You may need to scrape the sides with a spatula to get an even blend.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are spicy. To reduce the amount of spice, use only one pepper instead of two.
- Keep in the refrigerator for 7-10 days in an airtight container.
- Ways to use this sauce: tacos, dip for fries, dip for veggies, buddha bowls, burrito bowls, sandwiches, burgers.
Holley
I can’t wait to put this on everything!!!! Yum!!!
Beth
Always delicious on our vegetables tacos. My husband and I really enjoy it.
Mirlene
We love this chipotle sauce to put on our taco salads. It’s so delicious
Claudia Lamascolo
This was delicious and the whole family loved the flavors in this sauce!