Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

It’s time to roll up your sleeves and make some homemade chipotle peppers in adobo sauce! These smoky, spicy, and potently flavorful smoked chipotles will raise your cooking to new heights. Making your own chipotles en adobo sauce might seem daunting at first, but I’m going to show you how straightforward it is – and so rewarding! These homemade chipotles will become a pantry staple and soon you’ll be working absolute magic on your Mexican dishes and beyond!

If you’ve ever walked down the spice aisle of your local grocery store, you’ve probably spotted those small cans of chipotles in adobo sauce. Their rich, smoky aroma and complex flavor can elevate a dish from ordinary to extraordinary. But did you know that you can make this versatile ingredient right at home? Let’s dive into the art of crafting your own homemade chipotles in adobo sauce – a process that’s both satisfying and surprisingly simple.

Making chipotles in adobo sauce at home is a rewarding endeavor that allows you to customize flavors and control ingredients. With just a few steps and basic ingredients, you can create a flavorful condiment that will become a staple in your kitchen. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a culinary novice, these DIY smoked chipotle peppers with their sultry, smoky sauce will absolutely “wow” your taste buds!

What Are Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce?

Chipotles in adobo sauce, or chipotles en adobo, are a staple in Mexican cuisine, made from dried, smoked jalapeños (chipotles) simmered in a tangy, slightly sweet sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, and various spices. This combination results in a flavorful condiment that adds depth and heat to a variety of dishes, from stews to tacos.

Why Make Your Own?

I LOVE taking store-bought condiments and seasoning blends and making my own homemade versions of them. Just check out the dozens upon dozens of seasoning blends, homemade condiments, and pickled veggies on my blog and you’ll see what I mean. And while store-bought chipotles are convenient, homemade chipotles in adobo sauce have several huge advantages:

1. No junk ingredients: It’s all made from scratch without preservatives, flavor enhancers, and artificial ingredients.
2. Customization: Adjust the heat, sweetness, and spice levels to your taste.
3. Flavor: They’re fresher, more vibrant, and vastly more flavorful!
4. Satisfaction: There’s just something incredibly rewarding about creating your own from scratch.

In short, nothing beats homemade and I’m going to show you step-by-step how to make chipotles in adobo sauce!

Ingredients You’ll Need

You need two things to make these DIY chipotles in adobo sauce: 1) Chipotle Peppers and 2) Adobo Sauce. I’ve created in-depth tutorials on how to make each of these (see below). Note that both of these can be separately made well in advance. And when you combine the two together – the smoky chipotle peppers with the sweet-and-tangy adobo sauce – you get a magical condiment that elevates everything from tacos to marinades.  

Chipotle peppers are jalapeño peppers that are allowed to fully ripen to red, then smoked and dried. They’re known for their smoky, slightly sweet, and intense flavor profile.

Grab the recipe: How to Make Chipotle Peppers

Adobo sauce is a traditional Mexican sauce made from puréed chiles, tomatoes, onions, garlic, vinegar and variety of spices. It’s thick in texture and has an incredibly rich and robust flavor. It is the sauce that the smoked chipotle peppers are submerged in for making Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce.

Grab my recipe: Adobo Sauce

Storage

These homemade chipotle peppers in adobo sauce will keep in the fridge in a sterilized airtight glass jar for at least a few weeks (check periodically for mold or off-smells). For longer storage they can also be frozen for up to 6 months. A convenient way to do that is in ice cube trays: place one chipotle pepper in each cubicle with some adobo sauce, freeze until solid, and then transfer them to a freezer ziplock bag. Then you can simply take out however many chipotles you need for your whatever you’re making.

A common question is, can you can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in either a water bath canner or pressure canner? Theoretically they can be canned in a pressure canner but this recipe has not been tested for that purpose. For longer storage I recommend freezing them.

How to Use Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce

And this is where the magic begins and never ends! These smoky chipotles are a powerhouse of flavor and can be used in a whole host of delicious ways. Here are just a few ideas:

• Spice Up Soups, Stews and Sauces: Add a minced chipotle and a spoonful of sauce to enrich the flavor of soups, stews, chili, or sauces. Use them in my Pozole Rojo, Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup, and Instant Pot Chili.
• Flavor Boost for Marinades: Mix it into marinades for beef, pork, chicken, seafood or tofu to give them a smoky kick.
• Tacos and Burritos: Spoon some into tacos, burritos, or quesadillas for a smoky, spicy surprise. Add them to our Birria Tacos, Tinga Poblana Tacos, Mexican Meatballs, Albondigas Soup,
• Spice Up Eggs: Add some to your scrambled eggs and omelettes for a delicious kick.
• Dips, Spreads and Salsa: Blend with sour cream or yogurt to create a spicy dip or spread or stir some into your salsa for a mega flavor boost. Add some to our Queso Fundido and Restaurant Style Salsa for a flavor boost.
• Ketchup and Barbecue Sauce: Add a spoonful or two for some smoky flavor and kick. Try it in my BBQ Sauce recipe and Cherry Barbecue Sauce.

Homemade Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce Recipe

Let’s get started!

Note: As mentioned above, the smoked chipotle peppers and the adobo sauce can both be made far in advance and then combined whenever you’re ready.

First we need to reconstitute the smoked chipotle peppers. To do that place the chipotles in a large bowl and pour boiling water over them until they are submerged. Let them sit until cooled. Then very thoroughly drain them to remove as much water as possible.

Heat the adobo sauce in a large saucepan, add the drained reconstituted smoked chipotle peppers, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Spoon the hot mixture into sterilized jars, close the lids, and let them cool completely. Transfer the jars to the fridge and let them rest for a few days before using to give the chipotles time to absorb the sauce and allow all the flavors to meld.

These DIY chipotle peppers in adobo sauce will keep in the fridge for a few weeks. Just check them periodically for any signs of mold or off odors. Alternatively they can be frozen (see my “Storage” tips above).

Enjoy!