This SAUCE. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been a sauce girlie. I firmly believe that one of the best ways to level up a meal is to add a drizzle of a flavorful, bright, (hopefully spicy) sauce. My husband Tony keeps about 5 different types of ranch in our fridge at all times, but I’m always whipping up unique homemade sauces that he ends up loving even more.
This creamy chipotle tahini sauce is spicy, smokey, sweet, savory, and SO versatile. It’s adapted from a sauce I have in my cookbook that everyone raves about (the tahini gochujang one!) but I created this because I wanted something to go with veggie bowls, tacos, nachos, and all the burritos I make on the regular. It’s bold, bursting with flavor, and made with super simple ingredients.
This chipotle sauce will be one of your back-pocket recipes you’ll want to add to everything!
Ingredients in this chipotle tahini sauce
This easy chipotle sauce is spicy, a little sweet, zesty, and so simple to make. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Tahini: the sauce gets part of its creaminess from tahini — one of my favorite things to use in dressings and sauces.
- Adobo sauce: the smokey, spicy chipotle flavor comes from the sauce from a can of chipotle chilies.
- Yogurt: a little Greek yogurt adds more creaminess and helps balance the heat fro the adobo sauce.
- Lime juice: add brightness and acidity with fresh lime juice.
- Honey: with the spice and tangy flavors we have, you’ll add honey for a little sweetness. YUM.
- Garlic powder: season the chipotle tahini sauce with savory garlic powder.
Optional ingredient swaps
There are a couple of easy swaps you can make in this recipe that will still give you a delicious chipotle sauce:
- For the tahini: I think a neutral nut or seed butter like cashew butter could also work well!
- For the yogurt: you could also use mayo or sour cream if you’d like a richer sauce.
- For the honey: agave or maple syrup will also give the sauce the right sweetness, but I personally love the honey.
Can I make it dairy-free?
Absolutely! Simple use a plain, dairy-free yogurt in the sauce.
Choose your spice level
Everyone’s heat tolerance is different, so you can easily adjust how spicy the sauce is by adding more or less adobo sauce. Start with 1 tablespoon, and add another if you want it spicier.
Delicious ways to use this chipotle sauce
Trust me when I say you’ll want to dip, drizzle, and pair this sauce with EVERYTHING. Try these out:
- Dip or drizzle on my slow cooker turkey tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and even these delicious chicken burritos
- Add it to taco salads or grain bowls
- Dip french fries, sweet potato fries, or even chicken nuggets
- Use it as a spread for sandwiches and burgers
How to store this chipotle tahini sauce
Store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Give it a stir before you use it so that it stays nice and creamy! If the sauce gets thicker than you’d like while it’s in the fridge, simply stir in a little more warm water.
More sauce recipes you’ll love
- Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce
- Spicy Green Feta Sauce
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
- Spicy Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
- The Best Vegan Cashew Cheese Sauce You’ll Ever Eat
Get all of my sauce recipes here!
I hope you love this easy chipotle tahini sauce! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Chipotle Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoon warm water
- 1 to 2 tablespoons tablespoons adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chilis, depending on your heat tolerance
- 1 tablespoon greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the tahini, water, 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce, greek yogurt, lime juice, honey and garlic powder. Whisk until well-combined and smooth. Taste and add an additional tablespoon of adobo sauce if you like a little more heat. Makes about ½ cup sauce.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
i tried searching for the gochujang tahini recipe I made it with black tahini for Halloween prefer the original recipe with the white sesame tahini It’s seriously sooo good, love it with poke bowls or burritos. I wish it was on your site so more people can enjoy it!
So glad you love the gochujang tahini sauce from my cookbook! People can grab a copy of the book to get it 🙂
Would this freeze well? I’m planning on making freezer burritos and was wondering how it would hold up inside the burrito