How to make Chipotle Mayo (aka Mexican Secret Sauce) – a fast and easy 5-minute sauce that everyone should know about, to give meals a huge BURST of flavor! Vegan-adaptable, gluten-free.Video. Serve this with our Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw.
Your self-love is a medicine for the earth. ~ Yung Pueblo
This vegan-adaptable Chipotle Mayo (or Mexican Secret Sauce)- is probably not a huge secret anymore … but to some, it may be the difference between a dish that is bland and unexciting and something fantastically delicious! Use it as a taco sauce, over burrito bowls, tacos, burgers, or with almost any Mexican-inspired recipe!
The best thing is that this Chipotle Mayo only takes FIVE minutes to make, and I’m pretty sure you already have the simple ingredients on hand. It keeps in the fridge for weeks and frequently comes in handy around here. It’s the best-tasting taco sauce, ever!
This and our Yum Yum Sauce just seem to make everything better so we always try to have at least one on hand.
How to make ChiPotLe mayo | 30-sec video
Ingredients in Chipotle Mayo
- Mayonnaise – You can use store-bought mayo, homemade mayo or our vegan mayo
- Lime juice– fresh lime is best!
- Chipotle (either dried ground chipotle powder or canned chipotle in Adobo Sauce-best!)
- Salt and spices (chili powder and smoked paprika)
How to make Chipotle Mayo?
- Combine the ingredients in a bowl and whisk away!
- Taste, adjust heat and lime to your liking!
- Keeps 7-10 days in the fridge.
Simply stir the ingredients together. You can make it spicy, or you can keep it mild. Your choice!
Just whisk it up….and it’s done!
Taste, add more chipotle, or keep it mild.
What to use Chipotle Mayo with:
- Quick Fish Tacos
- Mexican Style Oaxacan Bowls
- Baja Fish Taco Bowls
- Tlayludas
- Chipotle Portobello Tacos
- Amazing Black Bean Burgers (in under 30 mins!)
- Crispy Jackfruit Tacos
Variations:
This Chipotle Mayo is one we use in our catering business. At home, I make a healthier vegan version (with silken tofu– see notes in recipe) and keep it in a squirt bottle ready to drizzle lightly over tacos, burgers, fish,corn on the cob, nachos, enchiladas, pretty much anything that needs a burst of flavor.
If you are vegan, make this with Veganaise or silken tofu. A flavor booster for sure!
If you would like to keep the Chipotle Mayo for longer than a week, substitue a little vinegar for the lime juice, which will help preserve.
How easy is that?
On the homefront: I’ve been meaning to tell you a little story, but until now the words have not come. It’s why I picked this quote. I trust that those of you who need to hear this story will find it, and those who don’t can simply skip to the recipe.
When my mother, Lea, turned 80, she left my father.
He had gone on his yearly month-long trip to Egypt, and with the help of her good friend, she packed up all her belongings and moved out of the house where I grew up, where she had lived for 35 years. Imagine how difficult this would be at any age, and then imagine it at the age of 80.
When he returned, she was gone. They were married for 42 years.
My father, like all of us, had his good qualities and his flaws. He could treat her terribly, become angry and volatile, tearing her down emotionally, but he could also be very loving in his own way. Which made leaving him very difficult. A complicated man, heavily influenced by his culture. He could not see any areas for improvement within himself and would not even consider “working on the marriage” with her. She stayed with him purely out of duty, guilt, religion, and out of “what would people think?”.
Growing up, I found myself wishing desperately she would leave him because I could see how the stress of being in that relationship took a toll on her, not just emotionally but physically. She was constantly on edge, stressed, sad, isolated. She began to have serious heart problems. It wasn’t until she was 80, that she had the strength and courage to leave.
And then she lived 3 more years…
Believe me when I tell you, even though the rest of her time here was short, they were the happiest, most incredible, three years of her life! She was free and light and bubbling with joy!
Effervescent. I had never witnessed this before! She completely transformed. All her worry lines faded. It was like a huge weight was lifted. Her heart became light, and love just poured out of her entire being. Truly remarkable.
Looking back, I believe her lesson in this life was to experience love fully and, specifically, to experience self-love. She had always put everyone else first, serving others in her beautiful, faithful way -as a nurse, midwife (in Nigeria), faithful friend, nurturing mother, sister, and wife. But a day came when she listened to her soul’s wish- and chose the path of self-love and healing. This did not mean she stopped loving my father. It just meant she couldn’t be married to him for one more day.
Such a beautiful lesson to give her only daughter, who at the time was also struggling in her first marriage.
I just wanted to share this with you because I know that marriage can be one of the hardest things we experience in this life. I once read somewhere, “Relationships are hard. Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.” Sometimes the lesson is not always “making our bed and lying in it”, and being miserable for the rest of our days. If a partner is willing to work on marriage, then, by all means, work on it! But if a partner is unwilling to work on it, you don’t have to continue down the same dead-end road until your dying days. And chances are, any step that you take towards self-love and self-healing will teach your children (and perhaps partner) to do the same. It was the most precious gift she gave me.
Sometimes, the lesson is learning to love ourselves enough to take care of our souls, make healthy, unsettling choices, and take courageous action. This is not an easy road; change always feels so much scarier than living with unhappiness. But I just wanted to share that a different path is indeed possible. If my mother could do this, at 80, so can we, if need be. And it is never too late.
Ok, enjoy the recipe for Chipotle Mayo! Share what you think in the comments below. 🙂
xoxo
More from Feasting At Home
Chipotle Mayo (Mexican Secret Sauce)
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup
- Category: Condiment
- Method: whisk
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Chipotle Mayo– a smoky spicy zesty Mexican Secret Sauce for tacos, tosadas, enchilada’s or most any mexican food. Can be made vegan with Veganaise or use Silken Tofu (see notes). Gluten Free.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayo (or use sour cream, vegan mayo “Veganaise” – or make with silken tofu, see notes below)
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 –2 teaspoons lime juice (to taste)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8– 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle powder – you can also use one chipotle pepper from a can (blending it with the mayo in a blender) or just stir in 1-3 teaspoons of the smoky adobo sauce from the can. Start conservatively, adding more to taste. I prefer the Adobo Sauce!
Instructions
- If making with Mayo or Veganaise, place all ingredients in a small bowl. Be conservative with the chipotle (you can always add more). Whisk until smooth with a fork or tiny whisk. ( See notes below if making with silken tofu.)
- Taste, adjust salt, heat, and spices to taste. (I like mine slightly salty, and slightly spicy).
- Store in a small jar in the fridge, or in a squirt bottle for easy use.
- Keeps up to 2 weeks.
Notes
VEGAN VERSION: If making a vegan version with silken tofu– replace the mayo with ½ of a package silken tofu ( about 6 ounces or 165 grams), leave out the water and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Increase salt to ½-¾ teaspoon, add ¼ teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (in addition to the lime) and place all in a food processor, blending until smooth and creamy. Use a canned chipotle pepper ( or half of one!) or just a teaspoon or two of the adobo sauce from the can, for the best flavor. Adjust salt, heat and lime.
I use Mori-Nu Organic Silken Tofu– Firm or Extra Firm Tofu – half of a 12.5 ounce package.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 teaspoons
- Calories: 64
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 103.6 mg
- Fat: 6.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.3 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
- Cholesterol: 3.9 mg
Your recipes are always the best. Thank you! The story you shared reminds me not to take loved ones for granted. Each day is a gift and I hope we all learn to love fully and unconditionally with healthy boundaries. Respecting every individual for who they are. Not an easy goal!
Thanks Jen! Appreciate this!
When it’s family, your own children, you may still have to walk away. I was in my late 60s and finally realized that you can kill yourself, literally, if you don’t retreat. That was about 30 years ago, and my health has improved dramatically once I walked away. I keep my distance, now. Yes, that’s how old I am!
Great, easy, and delicious recipe. Because I use Avocado Oil based Mayo, I also added 2-3 teaspoons of Greek Yogurt, otherwise the Mayo taste is too overpowering. Perfect!
Perfect Linda- sounds lovely!
This Chipotle Mayo is on our weekly meal prep. It is the best and goes with everything, I’m just sorry it took so long to rate it Sylvia
Thanks Sybil-So happy you are enjoying this!
Really good. The recipe could be a bit more specific when it comes to using a can of chipotle chilies. I used a half cup of mayo with a 3.7 oz can of chipotles in adobo. A bit hot, but as a condiment, it is amazing. Simple, easy. great
Hey Richard- glad you liked this! Did see the recipe card? There it gives specific instructions. You can also jump to the recipe card at the top of all of our posts ( click the button) if you rather not scroll.
This was a delish accompaniment to your fajita bowls. I made it with chipotle powder, which is what I had on hand, rather than canned chipotle or adobo sauce. Yummy!
Glad you enjoyed these!
Excellent sauce on burritos. Used adobe sauce as u suggested and turned out great. Will be making a big bottle of this next time!!Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Great to hear Nita!
This was fantastic with two tsp of lime juice and 3 tsp of adobo sauce from the canned adobo peppers. Literally perfect.
Great to hear!
This sauce is delicious! I wanted to make it again and couldn’t find the recipe so tried another one. It just wasn’t as tasty… I was determined to find this recipe again, and I am thankful that I did. It’s a keeper! Thank you!
Thanks so much and happy you tracked it down again!
Okay this literally is the best Chipotle mayo ever! And here’s how I know. My husband who absolutely hates mayonnaise or anything white and creamy loved this. I told him he had to try it and I knew he would love it and he absolutely did. I made BLTs and added this Chipotle mail and he wants it on his sandwich now too. Usually he eats his dry with no sauce and he’s so excited to have found something he likes. Thanks so much for this recipe. (Also I made this with vegan mayo) SO yummy!!
So happy you both enjoyed Courtney! 🙂
Made this with chipotle sauce and sour cream. i think I added too much chipotle so added mayo still too chipotle then added ketchup Bing Bing Bing we have a winner. Thanks
Glad you found what worked for you Paul!
Great addition to my hamburgers!
Thanks and happy you liked this!
Excellent!
Thanks Carla!
Loved it!
hands down the best one i have tried yet!!! Love this recipe!!! ty for sharing
Awesome!
Definitely going to make this sauce for wild-caught Alaskan fish tacos this week. I LOVE smoked paprika, and also adobo sauce. (Wish I could buy just the sauce!) And Georgia peach salsa – a match made in heaven.
Now, about your mother…whew! What an inspiration. A beautiful story of stoic sustenance followed by a shining transformation. Like a butterfly, Lea was reborn and lived her best life. I love that she had the courage to do that, and you got to see her do so. Thank you for sharing her/your story. We learn from each other.
Thanks so much Lesley, appreciate this. 🙂
Dear Sylvia
“On the home front” was an emotional and inspirational read
Thank you ❤️
and for all the wonderful recipes..I’m truly addicted to cooking new and exciting dishes for my family and friends, especially with my homegrown produce
It’s never too late to try something new!
Elaine😊
Thanks Elaine!
I couldn’t agree more Elaine. I too was rocked by your courage.
Sylvia, I always turn to your recipes first and as I love to cook new recipes when entertaining I know your are always a winner🤩
So easy, and SO good! This goes really well on fish tacos.
Perfect! Thanks Paula.
Wow, I came here just to read up about chipotle, but your story about your mother was very touching. So glad she got to live those last 3 years in happiness. Thankyou for the great recipe and an amazing story
thanks Sam!
Great recipe and can’t wait to try it.
Thank you for sharing.
I can relate to your story because I lived like your mom for 33 years.
You are welcome and I’m glad you found your way out of it, Helenea!
The story of your mom and her life was so beautiful, thank you for sharing. I don’t usually read content and just jump to recipes. Today, when I needed it, I landed on your story. I am in a similar place. Hurrah to your mom and her three lovely years of life. Your recipes are always great, thank you for the hard work of a blog and sharing with others. ♥️♥️
Thanks so much and happy you found it. ❤️
Hello Sylvia… I certainly plan on trying this recipe and will promptly comment after—I’m sure it will be delicious. What I wanted to say was THANK YOU for sharing that beautiful story about your mother. I needed to hear it, for so many reason. “Choose your hard” 🙏🏼
Thanks Amanda- glad it resonated!
We made this with tilapia. The spicing on the fish was excellent and the chipotle mayo was a great topping. Thanks
Thanks Karen!
Tastes salty. I added 1/4 pepper, 1/8 tsp garlic powder, a tbls of lime juice (total, maybe a bit more), I recommend salt to taste. I also added a 1/4 ancho chili powder to increase the smoke and pepper flavor a bit more without additional spice. My child is relatively mild on spice, so that will be a to taste item for me.
Hi Kevin- sorry this was to salty for you. We make intenionally so- because we use it as a condiment on other things. Feel free to cut back. 😉
The best! Thank you for sharing it 🙂
Finally found a chipotle sauce I love! Thank you!