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This vegan chipotle sauce is smoky, spicy, savory, creamy, & ready in just 3 minutes! Perfect as a taco salad dressing & for vegan tacos, burritos, burgers, and more!

completed Vegan Chipotle Sauce [Taco Salad Dressing] alongside a taco salad
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3-Minute, 6 Ingredient Vegan Chipotle Crema Sauce

Practically every week this summer, weโ€™ve pulled together fully loaded taco salad bowls with a batch of this taco salad dressing. And, every week, weโ€™ve saved the leftovers to dip, drizzle, and spread over multiple meals (like tacos, burritos, and fries) because weโ€™re obsessed!

With a combination of silken tofu (which helps to create a super creamy base – but can be replaced with soy-free alternatives if needed), chipotle pepper, lime juice, and several other pantry spices, this vegan chipotle sauce (aka chipotle crema) combines to create a sauce thatโ€™s super creamy, slightly spicy, smoky, savory, and even optionally a little sweet.

The result is a condiment that works as the best taco salad dressing, a vegan taco sauce, creamy salad dressing, and as a dip, drizzle, or spread for all types of appetizers and mains. Best of all, you can throw together this rich, bold, creamy chipotle sauce in just minutes in a blender or food processor, easily tweak the flavor profile (and consistency) to your liking, and make it up to a week in advance.

The Ingredients and Substitutions

ingredients for Vegan Chipotle Sauce [Taco Salad Dressing] against a white surface
  • Silken tofu: This creates a super creamy base loaded with plant-based protein. Refer to the FAQs for soy-free alternatives.
  • Limes: (or lemons) This adds a bright, tangy, citrusy flavor to create this chipotle lime crema. We prefer fresh limes, but bottled juice works in a pinch.
  • Garlic: If you have time, we love using fresh garlic cloves. However, garlic power will work in a pinch for this easy recipe for creamy chipotle sauce.
  • Paprika: We use regular and smoked paprika, though the latter is optional.
  • Chipotle peppers: Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce combines smoked dried peppers in a spicy, tangy sauce to add spice and tons of depth.
  • Salt & black pepper: To season the vegan chipotle sauce to taste.
  • Fresh cilantro: (optional) for a burst of freshness.

What Could I Add to this Creamy Chipotle Sauce Recipe?

  • Sweetener: Balance the savory, spicy flavors with maple syrup, agave, or a sugar-free alternative. Add it to taste.
  • Cumin: To add an earthy, savory note to the vegan creamy chipotle sauce.
  • Onion powder: To enhance the savory, aromatic flavor in the creamy taco salad dressing.

How to Make Creamy Chipotle Sauce (Chipotle Crema)

Learn how to make taco salad bowls in a handful of simple steps.

  • 1) First, juice the limes.
  • 2) Then, transfer all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute), then taste and adjust any of the seasonings.

To adjust the flavor, first combine all the spices and stir, then add them to the dressing gradually, to your desired flavor. You can then tweak individual flavors if preferred.

  • 3) Enjoy the chipotle crema immediately or, even better, leave it to rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (a few hours is even better) before using it for the flavors to meld.

FAQs

Can I make this homemade taco salad dressing soy-free?

There are several ways to replace the silken tofu, including vegan sour cream, vegan Greek yogurt, cashew cream, or even dairy-free mayonnaise (or a combo of plant-based sour cream and mayo), depending on your desired flavor profile and consistency.

Is vegan chipotle sauce healthy?

Yes! The base of this chipotle lime crema is made using silken tofu, a plant-based complete protein containing several beneficial plant compounds and nutrients while remaining low on fat and containing no added fat/oil.

Pro Recipe Tips

  • Adjust the consistency: We love the thickness provided by the silken tofu. If youโ€™d prefer it a little thinner, add your favorite plant-based milk (or water), a tablespoon at a time.
  • Season to taste: Add the spices gradually and tweak any of them to your liking to find your preferred flavor profile of smoky, spicy, etc.
  • Leave it to rest: Leaving it for even 30 minutes (a few hours or overnight is even better) will allow time for all the flavors to meld and produce an overall better-tasting vegan taco salad dressing recipe.
completed Vegan Chipotle Sauce [Taco Salad Dressing] against a white surface

Storing Instructions

Store the vegan chipotle sauce in a clean, lidded jar in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. We donโ€™t recommend freezing it, as the texture of the tofu changes when frozen.

How to Use Vegan Chipotle Sauce?

completed Vegan Chipotle Sauce [Taco Salad Dressing] alongside a taco salad

More Easy Vegan Dressing and Sauce Recipes

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

Vegan Chipotle Sauce [Taco Salad Dressing]

5 from 39 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
This vegan chipotle sauce is smoky, spicy, savory, creamy, & ready in just 3 minutes! Perfect as a taco salad dressing & for vegan tacos, burritos, burgers, and more!

Ingredients 

  • 16 ounces of silken tofu
  • 2 limes
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons of chili powder
  • 3 teaspoons of garlic powder or one large fresh garlic clove
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons of chipotle pepper, depending on how spicy you would like it to beย 
  • 1 teaspoon of paprika
  • ยผ teaspoon of smoked paprika (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of cilantro

Instructions 

  • Add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend for one minute. Taste and adjust spices and salt levels. (Start with 1 teaspoon of spices and work your way up to achieve the desired levels).

Notes

  • Adjust the consistency: We love the thickness provided by the silken tofu. If youโ€™d prefer it a little thinner, add your favorite plant-based milk (or water), a tablespoon at a time.
  • Season to taste: Add the spices gradually and tweak any of them to your liking to find your preferred flavor profile of smoky, spicy, etc.
  • Leave it to rest: Leaving it for even 30 minutes (a few hours or overnight is even better) will allow time for all the flavors to meld and produce an overall better-tasting vegan taco salad dressing recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 25gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 137mgPotassium: 1126mgFiber: 8gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 2512IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 220mgIron: 6mg

Disclaimer: Although journeytowellnesspath.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. journeytowellnesspath.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: ReaderRecipes
Course: Dips and Sauces
Cuisine: Spanish
Method: No cook
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! ๐Ÿ™‚
About

Toni Okamoto

“They say you are what you eat, so I strive to be healthy.
My goal in life is not to be rich or wealthy,
‘Cause true wealth comes from good health and wise ways…
we got to start taking better care of ourselves ” – Dead Prez

More about Toni Okamoto
5 from 39 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This sounds amazing! My husband is allergic to soy, do you think white beans would work well in place of the tofu? Or should I use an almond yogurt instead?

    1. There are several ways to replace the silken tofu, including vegan sour cream, vegan Greek yogurt, cashew cream, or even dairy-free mayonnaise (or a combo of plant-based sour cream and mayo), depending on your desired flavor profile and consistency.

      1. 5 stars
        thank you for the suggestions! I used the vegan mayo/Almond yogurt and I swear I could DRINK it …this was delicious.