Creamy JalapeƱo Sauce
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This Creamy Jalapeno Sauce is zesty with a bold kick of jalapenos. It’s made with a sour cream and mayo base and loaded with pickled jalapenos for a spicy, tangy flavor. The creamy sauce comes together in just 5 minutes and it’s perfect for your tacos, burritos, salads, and more.
If you are a jalapeno lover, this creamy jalapeno sauce is going to become your new favorite sauce. It’s perfectly tangy with some heat that keeps you returning for more.
It’s similar to our quesadilla sauce but with more jalapenos and the addition of cilantro. The taste of the cilantro is barely noticeable but it contributes to the lovely light green hue of the sauce.
Whether you’re serving tacos, burritos, grilled vegetables, quesadillas, or simply want a dip for your tortilla chips, this is the best sauce. It has more flavor than our crema sauce and it’s quite different from our burrito sauce.
This is probably one of our favorite sauces and we think you’re going to love it too!
Why This Recipe Works
- This creamy jalapeno sauce uses sour cream and mayonnaise as a base for the cool, creamy texture.
- The pickled jalapenos plus the juice add a zippy tang with a touch of heat.
- It’s a thinner sauce that can be drizzled or used as a dip.
What You Need
The best thing about this recipe is it requires just a few staple ingredients. You most likely have most of them on hand already.
Ingredients
- Sour cream: When blended, the sour creamy is thin enough to be drizzled. Avoid the light sour cream if you can.
- Mayo: Combined with sour cream, the base of the sauce is thin but sturdy enough to use as a dip if desired.
- Pickled jalapenos: This sauce is loaded with pickled jalapenos! The tangy flavor from the pickling process is key to this sauce’s flavor. It won’t taste the same with fresh jalapenos!
- Pickled jalapeno juice: A little brine from the jar is essential to the consistency of the sauce.
- Cilantro: Adds a light freshness to the sauce and contributes to the light green color. You can omit this if you are not a fan of cilantro.
- Spices: Onion powder, garlic powder, and salt add extra flavor to the sauce.
How To Make Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
This sauce comes together in just 5 minutes! It does require a blender, food processor, or immersion blender.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
- Add all the ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth.
- The sauce will be thin at first. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes and it will thicken up slightly.
Tips For Success
- Choosing jalapenos: Depending on where you live, you can usually find mild, medium, or hot pickled jalapenos. This way you can adjust the spice level if needed.
- If you can only find one type of pickled jalapenos and the sauce turns out too spicy for you, you can add more sour cream to tone the heat down.
Storage & Make Ahead Tips
This is one of those sauces that tastes better a few hours after it’s made. You can make it a day in advance and allow the flavors to meld as it sits in the refrigerator overnight.
Once it’s made, keep the sauce stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Variations To Try
Consider this recipe as a base. Feel free to experiment and adjust the ratios of ingredients.
If you are not a fan of mayonnaise, leave it out and use additional sour cream in its place.
You can add more cilantro if you really like that fresh cilantro flavor.
Creamy JalapeƱo Sauce
Ingredients
- Ā½ cup sour cream
- ā cup mayonnaise
- ā cup pickled jalapeƱos rings
- Ā¼ cup cilantro, packed
- 2 tablespoons juice from pickled jalapeƱo jar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Ā¼ teaspoon salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients the a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Serve with tacos, burrito bowls, salads, and more.
Notes
- The sauce will seem thin at first. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes and it will thicken slightly.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients and brands you used in the recipe.