Chipotle Vinaigrette is smoky, spicy, and slightly sweet—pure magic for salads, roasted veggies, or burrito bowls!

Jar filled with Chipotle Vinaigrette dressing.

Chipotle Vinaigrette

Wondering if Chipotle® sells their famous dressing? They don’t—but homemade is even better! You control the ingredients, spice, and sweetness.

If you love their dressing (let’s be friends!), this copycat will blow you away! It’s spicy, sweet, and tangy with a fresh kick from lime juice.

Thick, flavorful, and perfect for so many dishes! Here are my favorite ways to use it:

Chipotle Vinaigrette Uses

Quick Tip

Chipotles are actually smoked jalapeños – They ripen red, then get dried and packed in adobo sauce.

Here’s how to say it: chi-POTE-lay.

All the ingredients for Chipotle Vinaigrette prepped and ready, including garlic, oil, lime, honey, vinegar, chipotles, and seasonings.

What’s In This Chipotle Vinaigrette

  • Oil: Chipotle uses rice bran oil, but vegetable, canola, or olive oil work too.
  • Honey: Adds sweetness. More honey = sweeter, less = spicier.
  • Chipotles: Use one from a can of chipotles in adobo, freeze the rest! (See below.)

Quick Tip

Freeze Leftover Chipotles

  • Place peppers with sauce on a lined pan, keeping them 1/2 inch apart.
  • Freeze for 1 hour, then move to a freezer bag. Store for up to 6 months.
  • To use, let sit at room temp for 15-20 minutes or microwave for 10-15 seconds.

Ingredients in a blender.

Recipe Tips

  • I love wide-mouth jars with plastic lids for storing homemade sauces, including this Chipotle Vinaigrette!
  • Juice the lime with a citrus juicer.
  • Use a small, strong blender for the best mix. A mini “Twister” jar works great for sauces!
  • Blend the dressing long enough to get a smooth creamy dressing.
Blending chipotle vinaigrette together.

Spice Levels

This Chipotle Vinaigrette is mild as written, but you can adjust:

  • Less spice? Use a small chipotle and add more honey.
  • More heat? Add extra chipotles or sauce from the can. Taste as you go!
Chipotle Vinaigrette in a glass jar, showing its rich, smooth texture.

Storage

Leftover Chipotle Vinaigrette

  • Lasts about a week in the fridge (may get spicier as it sits!).
  • Oil may solidify—let sit 15-20 minutes, then shake or stir.

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5 from 1 vote

Chipotle Vinaigrette

Chipotle Vinaigrette is the perfect mix of heat, tang, and sweetness. Try it on salads, veggies, or burrito bowls!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 lime
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 6 tablespoons oil see note 1
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 chipotle pepper plus surrounding sauce, see note 2

Instructions 

  • Zest the lime to get 1/2 teaspoon zest. Juice the lime to get 1 tablespoon juice.
  • Add all ingredients, including zest and juice, to a small blender. Blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  • Pour into a jar, seal, and refrigerate. The heat will intensify as the dressing sits.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Chipotle uses rice bran oil, but olive, vegetable, or canola oil work too. Vegetable and canola are more neutral.
Note 2: Grab a can of chipotles in adobo from the international aisle. Use 1 heaping tablespoon (about 1 pepper with surrounding sauce). Freeze leftovers by spreading peppers on a parchment-lined pan, spacing 1/2 inch apart. Freeze for 1 hour, then transfer to a freezer bag. Store for up to 6 months.
Nutrition: Chipotle Vinaigrette nutrition is based on a 2-tablespoon serving.
Storage: Keep in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week. If it thickens, let it sit at room temp for 15 minutes, then shake or stir.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.04g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 6mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelsea’s Messy Apron! I’m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. I’m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping by—I hope you find something delicious to make!

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5 from 1 vote

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1 Comment

  1. Olivia Mendenhall says:

    5 stars
    As Chelsea’s employee I have made this vinaigrette so many times! I put it on EVERYTHING! It takes any meal to the next level!