This Chipotle Lime Sauce is a vibrant, Mexican-inspired condiment that comes together in just 5 minutes. Creamy and smoky with a bright lime finish, it’s the perfect topping for burgers, sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, nachos or a flavorful dip for fries, onion rings, and veggies.
This creamy chipotle lime mayo quickly became a household favorite. It’s simple to make, stores well, and adds instant flavor to everything from grilled sandwiches to roasted vegetables. Keep a jar in the fridge to brighten up meals all week.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Quick. Ready in about 5 minutes.
- Full of Flavor. Smoky chipotle, bright lime and fresh cilantro create bold, balanced taste.
- Versatile. Great on burgers, tacos, sandwiches, or as a dip.
- Adjustable Heat. Use more or fewer chipotle peppers to control the spice level.
The Ingredients:
Mayonnaise – a creamy base for quick preparation; a neutral, high-quality mayo works best.
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo – provide smoky heat and depth. Start with one pepper and add more to taste.
Fresh Lime Juice – brightens the sauce and balances the heat.
Fresh Cilantro – adds herbaceous freshness; omit if you dislike cilantro.
Garlic, Paprika, Cumin & Salt – round out the flavor with warm, savory notes. Regular paprika is mild and sweet, while smoked paprika can amplify smokiness if desired.
*See the recipe card below for exact quantities.
Variations & Substitutions:
- Omit cilantro if you don’t like its flavor.
- For a vegan version, substitute vegan mayonnaise.
- Want milder flavor? Use just half a chipotle pepper or omit peppers and try a lime aioli instead.
- Prefer it very spicy? Add 2–3 chipotle peppers.
How to Make Chipotle Lime Sauce:
Step 1: Combine mayonnaise, chipotle pepper(s) with some adobo sauce, chopped garlic, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, paprika and salt in an immersion blender cup, food processor, or blender.
Step 2: Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust: add another pepper for more heat, or stir in extra mayonnaise to mellow the spice. Serve immediately or chill.
Expert Tips:
- Rinse and thoroughly dry cilantro before blending to avoid grit.
- Always start with one chipotle pepper and add more after tasting—it’s easy to increase heat but harder to remove it.
Recipe FAQs:
It combines chipotle peppers in adobo with mayonnaise, lime juice, cilantro and spices for a smoky, tangy, creamy sauce.
A balance of smoky heat from chipotle, tang from lime, fresh herb notes from cilantro and a creamy base from mayo.
Use it on sandwiches, burgers, tacos, fries, roasted vegetables, nachos, or as a dip for snacks.
Yes—aioli is often used to describe mayonnaise-based sauces, especially when flavored with garlic or other ingredients.
Storage:
Store the sauce in a sealed glass jar or airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to one week.
Recipes to Pair with this Sauce:
-
Baked Panko Cauliflower Bites -
Crispy Chicken Fritta
-
Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini
-
Blackstone Smash Burgers
If you try this Chipotle Lime Sauce, please leave a star rating and a comment to share how you used it — I love hearing feedback!
Recipe
Chipotle Lime Sauce
5 from 1 review
- Author: Tara Smithson
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
Description
This Chipotle Lime Sauce is creamy, smoky and tangy. It takes minutes to prepare and elevates burgers, sandwiches and snacks.
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo (start with 1, add more to taste)
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add mayonnaise, chipotle pepper(s) with a bit of adobo sauce, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, paprika and salt to an immersion blender cup, food processor, or blender.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Taste and adjust heat or seasoning: add another pepper for more spice or stir in ½ cup extra mayonnaise to mellow the heat.
Notes
Use an immersion blender, food processor or regular blender—whatever you have on hand.
Adjust chipotle peppers to achieve your preferred heat level.
Store in the refrigerator up to one week in a sealed container.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: sauce
- Method: blended
- Cuisine: Mexican