Chipotle Aioli (Chipotle Mayo)

Easy Chipotle Aioli, also known as Chipotle Mayo, is a versatile condiment.

two french fries in bowl of chipotle mayo


 

Use this chipotle mayo recipe on deli sandwiches, burgers, grilled cheese, fries, onion rings, fish tacos and more! Add a little spice to your life with aioli sauce.

overhead shot of chipotle mayo in food processor

Aioli Sauce (Fancy Mayo)

Aioli sauces are the perfect way to do this. If you make the quick version using premade mayonnaise, they take only minutes and amplify the whole dish.

If you don’t want super intense garlic flavor like T, you can also mute it a little by using bottled minced garlic or roast garlic

close up overhead shot of bowl of chipotle aioli

What is aioli?

Aioli translates to “garlic and oil” and is usually emulsified with egg. Is this starting to sound familiar? Emulsified oil and egg is… drumroll please… MAYONNAISE.

You can make mayo from scratch or you can combine your desired ingredients and flavors with premade mayonnaise. So easy! Although making mayonnaise is also pretty simple. Aioli recipes differ from person to person.

So simple that I’ve taught my niece how to make her own in a blender. I love making my own, it has so much more flavor, especially when you use a good quality olive oil.

overhead shot of bowl of chipotle aioli

Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce

For this recipe, my flavor of choice is chipotle. Chipotles in adobo are smoky and sweet, providing the best of both worlds for the ultimate gluten free chipotle sauce. 

Chipotle peppers are pretty spicy! Therefore, depending on how many peppers you throw into the blend, you can also adjust the heat of your sauce.

Some dishes, like my Spicy Chicken Sandwich, are defined by the chipotle aioli and certain level of heat.

overhead shot of spoon in bowl of chipotle mayo

Ingredients

All of these homemade aioli ingredients can easily be found in your local grocery stores. The can of chipotle peppers can be found down the international aisle.

  • Chiles in adobo sauce – Chipotles in adobo are smoky and sweet, providing the best of both worlds for the ultimate gluten free chipotle sauce.
  • Mayonnaise – Grab your favorite store-bought mayo and use it for this recipe. Or you can learn how to make mayonnaise.
  • Lime juice – Squeeze your own or just get it from the store. I much prefer the taste of fresh squeezed lime juice though.
  • Cilantro – I know you either love or hate cilantro, so this ingredient is optional. That being said, I like the zing it adds to this  dipping sauce.
  • Fine sea salt and ground black pepper – Just use a pinch! The chiles and mayo will do their jobs bringing the saltiness to the table.
close up overhead shot of spoon in bowl of chipotle aioli

How to Use Spicy Chipotle Aioli

This easy dipping sauce can be used for just about anything! My favorite thing to do is spread it on a sandwich or dip french fries or veggies into it.

Here are a few more fun options for dipping:

You can always use this creamy sauce as a dipping sauce for your favorite protein too. You can dunk chicken tenders or anything else you’d dip into Kraft chipotle aioli.

close up of two french fries in bowl of chipotle pepper aioli

How to Make Chipotle Pepper Aioli

You are going to love how easy it is to make this spicy sauce!

  1. Blend peppers. In a small food processor (or immersion blender), puree chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. It should be thick and paste like, it will not be smooth.
  2. Add rest of ingredients. Without cleaning the food processor,  stir in remaining ingredients including lime juice, mayonnaise, cilantro fine sea salt and ground black pepper. 
  3. Add in peppers. Add 1 tablespoon of chipotle peppers at a time until the desired taste is achieved. I use the whole can, however I like things spicy. You are much better off adding in small amounts and taste testing along the way than to estimate.
  4. Chill. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes or until served. You can refrigerate for up to a week in an airtight container

Storage and Freezing

How to Store Chipotle Mayo

Make easy chipotle aioli sauce and store it an airtight container or mason jar for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Can I Freeze Chipotle Aioli?

Unfortunately, I don’t suggest freezing mayo based sauces.

angled shot of two french fries dipping into bowl of chipotle pepper mayo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is chipotle mayo spicy?

It is as spicy as you want it to be. Make is less spicy by adding less chipotle peppers and/or adobo sauce. Want to sweat a little? Add more! 

You can also alter the the flavor profile to make your own unique recipe by adding a dish of smoked paprika, chili powder, basic salt and pepper or even just lemon juice. 

Can I use chipotle powder instead of canned chiles?

You can! You’ll miss the smoky factor of adobo sauce, but about 1 teaspoon of chipotle chili powder will do the trick in a pinch. 

What does chipotle aioli taste like?

It is a little sweet, a little spicy and a little smoky. All of these flavors can be adjusted when you are making chipotle aioli from scratch.

overhead shot of spoon full of chipotle pepper aioli recipe

Classic Sauce Recipes

There’s nothing I love more than a good sauce to accompany a good meal. Here are some of my favorites.

gold spoon with garlic butter sauce

Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe

Easy garlic butter sauce recipe is perfect for steak, pasta, fish, shrimp, vegetables, and more! Make ahead and freezer friendly!
See The Recipe!
bowl of nashville hot sauce in a bowl

Nashville Hot Sauce Recipe

Nashville Hot Sauce is a regional hot sauce made from cayenne pepper, other spices and brown sugar. Served on fried chicken!
See The Recipe!
close up of ranchero sauce on a spoon

Homemade Ranchero Sauce

Perfect for topping your favorite Mexican dishes like burritos and enchiladas, this Homemade Ranchero Sauce recipe is packed full of flavor!
See The Recipe!
angled shot of two fries dipping into chipotle mayo with text overlay
close up overhead shot of spoon in bowl of chipotle aioli

Chipotle Aioli Recipe

4.61 from 128 votes
Creamy Chipotle Aioli is a quick and zesty sauce perfect for dipping or spreading on sandwiches.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small food processor (or blender), puree the chipotle peppers and adobo sauce for 30 seconds. It should be thick and paste like, it will not be smooth. Transfer to a seperate bowl. 
  • Without cleaning the food processor,  add the lime juice, mayonnaise, cilantro (optional) fine sea salt and ground black pepper. 
  • Add 1 tablespoon of the chipotle peppers at a time until the desired taste is achieved. I use the whole can, however I like things spicy. You are much better off adding in small amounts and taste testing along the way.
  • Refrigerate the sauce for a minimum of 30 minutes or until served. You can refrigerate for up to a week in an airtight container. 
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, please come back and leave us a rating and comment. We like to hear how we did! 

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 190 kcal, Fat: 20 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 11 mg, Sodium: 252 mg, Potassium: 5 mg, Vitamin A: 20 IU, Vitamin C: 0.4 mg, Calcium: 2 mg, Iron: 0.1 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Anne
Calories: 190
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: aioli sauce, chipotle aioli, chipotle mayo
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
collage of chipotle pepper aioli recipe
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.61 from 128 votes (96 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 3 stars
    I love how the texture and the heat was with this recipe. Although, it just tasted like mayo for the most part. Maybe adding some sour cream would have helped. Regardless, thank you for the recipe!

    1. Hi Shannon! The heat has to do with the chipotle peppers, some batches are hotter than others. I would cut the amount in half. Or start with a very small amount and slowly add more until it is to your desired taste.

  2. 5 stars
    Basically my favorite condiment ever! i cannot wait to try it with the spicy chicken sandwich next – holy cow that looks good together!!!

  3. 5 stars
    How lovely. I’ve never attempted to make my own mayo, but i should get around to it. Like you, for now ‘ll settle for premade and add to it. I’m imagining this dip with crisp onion rings. it’s a very happy thought.

    1. Hi Matt, thanks for stopping by! I’m trying to figure out why that was. Did you by any chance use a light mayo instead of full fat or was your can of chiles more saucy than usual?

  4. 5 stars
    Aoli is very popular here in Australia. I’m sure this would impress my friends, and so easily too!
    Thanks for such a simple way to spice up a popular classic.

  5. 5 stars
    Chipotle is one of my favorites and this looks so creamy and delicious. I love the idea of drizzling this sauce on burgers.

  6. 5 stars
    Yum! I was looking for a Chipotle ranch for a grilled chicken gyro. So glad I found your recipe. We added a little ranch seasoning and probably used half the pepper. Everyone loves it and now we are trying to figure out what else we can make to use the rest of sauce. The possibilities are endless!

    1. Thanks for stopping by to let us know, Jodi! Adding ranch is an excellent idea! We use our Chipotle as a dipping sauce for potato wedges, fries, onion rings, on burgers, hot dogs or even just for potato chips!