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Home / Sauce / Chipotle Lime Sauce

Chipotle Lime Sauce

This Chipotle Lime Sauce recipe is zesty and full of herbs – perfect for fish tacos or chicken. It just takes a few steps to learn how to make chipotle lime sauce.

a bowl of chipotle lime sauce on a plate with ingredients around it

Chipotle Lime Sauce

We’re big fans of any kind of sauce in our house, so this Chipotle Lime Sauce was a huge hit! It’s full of citrus, herbs, and spice making it a combination you definitely can’t get enough of.

We love to add it to our homemade burrito bowls or even just sneak a bite or two with some chips.

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cilantro, an orange, a lime, garlic cloves, jalapeno, and chipotles in adobo

What is chipotle lime sauce made of?

This chipotle lime sauce recipe is full of citrus and herbs that make it zesty and full of flavor! You’ll need the following to make it:

  • Olive oil
  • Jalepeño
  • Cilantro
  • Green onion
  • Garlic cloves
  • Chipotles in adobo
  • Lime juice
  • Honey
  • Orange juice
  • Salt

I like to use fresh lime and orange juice so you could also add the zest if you’d like! Using bottled juice would work as a substitute if that’s all you have on hand.

If you’re looking to add more spices, try using chipotle powder or chili powder to really add even more depth to the sauce.

a blender full of raw and diced ingredients

Where can I find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the grocery store?

You can usually find canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce near the Mexican foods in your grocery store. It’s usually by the canned goods like green chilies or canned jalapenos.

Is this spicy?

Yes it can be! Chipotles in adobo sauce are around 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville heat units making it about the same spice level of jalapeños.

Cut back on the number of chipotles you want to use if you’re looking for a milder spice level, or scrape out any seeds you can from the chipotles.

a top down shot of the chipotle lime sauce after it's been blended

Do I need to use a blender?

You don’t necessarily need to use a blender. If you have a food processor, that’d work great as well.

If you don’t have either, don’t fret! I’d recommend dicing everything as small as you can then combining in a bowl. You may want to whisky quickly to help the olive oil and juices emulsify rather than split.

What can I use chipotle lime sauce on?

This sauce is so versatile! Think of it as a chimichurri inspired sauce, filled with herbs and chipotles to give it a smokey flavor. It would be great to serve with:

It’s also great just as a dipping sauce! I’ve definitely taken my fair share of chips and just dipped them straight into the sauce.

You can also make it a full meal with some Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice, Mango Black Bean Salsa, and some Easy Baked Chicken Breast.

a bowl of chipotle lime sauce with an juiced orange and lime, chipotles, and cilantro next to it

Can I make this sauce creamy?

Definitely! You can mix in some plain greek yogurt or sour cream to make it more like a chipotle lime crema. This will also tone down the heat a bit to make it less spicy.

How do I make chipotle lime sauce from scratch?

Making homemade chipotle lime sauce from scratch is easy! You’ll just want to prepare all the ingredients and place them in the blender then blitz them together so it’s all combined.

I like to store it in a Mason jar so it has a tight lid, but really any jar with a lid will work.

Have extra chipotle peppers that you’re looking to use? Try one of these:

a bowl of chipotle lime sauce on a plate with ingredients around it

Chipotle Lime Sauce

Yield: 1 cup
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This Chipotle Lime Sauce recipe is zesty and full of herbs - perfect for fish tacos or chicken. It just takes a few steps to learn how to make chipotle lime sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 jalepeño, seeded
  • 1 cup diced cilantro
  • 1/2 cup diced green onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2 chipotles
  • 2 Tbsp. lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp. honey
  • Juice of one orange
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a blender, cover, then blend until combined.

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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 97Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 166mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 0g

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Sam Ellis

Hey there! I'm Sam and if there are two things I love most in this world, it's food and travel... and my dog, Tucker. I'm using my little corner of the internet to explore everything I love and I'd love for you to join me!

Maya

Thursday 21st of September 2023

Hello, amazing recipe!! Could you please tell me how long this will keep fresh for in the fridge?

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