✔ Updated · fixed card amounts + heat levels and storage times
Subway's chipotle southwest sauce is a creamy, smoky, slightly spicy sauce that wakes up a sub, a wrap or a basket of fries. It is my favorite sauce on the menu.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Start with one chipotle pepper. You can always blend in more adobo sauce for heat, but you can't take it out.
This copycat-style version blends one chipotle pepper in adobo with mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, fresh cilantro, lime juice, garlic, cumin and a pinch of dill. It takes 5 minutes in a blender, tastes best after a short chill and keeps for a week in the fridge. Below you'll find step-by-step photos, how to make it milder or hotter, and the best ways to use it.
Why You'll Love This Chipotle Southwest Sauce
- Creamy, smoky and tangy, with heat you control.
- 5 minutes in a blender, no cooking at all.
- Lighter than straight mayo, thanks to the Greek yogurt.
What Is Chipotle Southwest Sauce?
Chipotle southwest sauce is one of Subway's most popular sauces, and I always ask for extra: a creamy, pale orange dressing with a smoky, slightly spicy flavor from chipotle peppers, which are smoked, dried jalapeños. It is especially popular on chicken, steak and turkey subs, but it is just as good on wraps, tacos and fries.
My homemade version uses canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for smoke and heat, mayonnaise for richness and plain Greek yogurt to keep it lighter and tangier. Cilantro, lime, garlic, cumin and a little dill round it out. For a creamy chipotle dip with a ranch twist, try our chipotle ranch.
Ingredients and Swaps
- Chipotle pepper in adobo: sold in small cans in the Mexican or international aisle. No canned chipotles? Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder plus 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika.
- Mayonnaise: the creamy base. Light mayo works.
- Plain Greek yogurt: adds tang and body with fewer calories than all-mayo. Sour cream is a good swap.
- Cilantro: adds freshness. Leave it out if you dislike it, or use fresh parsley.
- Lime juice, garlic, cumin and dill: bring brightness, savoriness and a hint of herbal flavor. Use 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder in place of fresh garlic if you prefer.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Control the heat. One chipotle plus a tablespoon of adobo gives a medium, Subway-like warmth. For mild, use only 2 teaspoons of adobo sauce and skip the pepper. For hot, add a second chipotle.
- Use full-fat Greek yogurt for the creamiest texture. Nonfat works but makes the sauce tangier and a little thinner.
- Freeze the leftover chipotles. A can holds more than you need. Freeze the extra peppers and sauce in an ice cube tray or a flat freezer bag and break off what you need.
- No blender? Mince the chipotle, garlic and cilantro very finely and whisk everything together in a bowl. The sauce will be a little more rustic.
- Want it thinner for drizzling? Stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of water or lime juice at a time. Squeeze bottles make drizzling easy.
- Chill before serving. 30 minutes in the fridge lets the smoky chipotle and garlic mellow and blend.
Subway-Style Chipotle Southwest Sauce
10
servings (2 tbsp each)5
minutes85
kcal35
minutesA copycat-style take on Subway chipotle southwest sauce: a chipotle pepper in adobo blended with mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, cumin and dill into a creamy, smoky, gently spicy sauce for subs, wraps, tacos and fries.
Ingredients
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (from a can)
1 tablespoon adobo sauce from the can
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 small garlic clove, peeled
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, to taste
Directions
- Add the chipotle pepper and 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce from the can to a blender or small food processor.
- Add the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, chopped cilantro, lime juice, garlic, cumin, dried dill and salt.
- Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides once, until the sauce is completely smooth and an even pale orange. Taste and adjust: add more adobo sauce for heat, a squeeze of lime for tang or a pinch of salt.
- Transfer the sauce to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so it thickens slightly and the flavors blend.
- Drizzle it over subs, wraps, tacos and burrito bowls, or serve it as a dip. Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Recipe Video
Notes
- For best results mix all of the ingredients in a regular bowl, chill the contents for 1 hour prior to consuming.
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How to Use Chipotle Southwest Sauce
- Subs and sandwiches: chicken, steak, turkey, veggie or a classic meatball sub. Pair it with the right roll using our guide to the best Subway bread.
- Tacos, wraps and quesadillas: drizzle it over chipotle shrimp tacos or a grilled chicken wrap.
- Bowls: spoon it over burrito bowls with cilantro lime rice, beans and grilled vegetables.
- Dip: serve it with fries, onion rings, chicken tenders or tortilla chips.
- Dressing: thin it with lime juice or water and toss it with a southwest salad.
How to Store It
Keep the sauce in a clean jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or until the earliest use-by date of your mayonnaise and yogurt. Stir before using, as a little liquid can separate. Don't leave it out for more than 2 hours, and don't freeze it: the mayonnaise and yogurt split and turn grainy when thawed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Subway chipotle southwest sauce made of?
It is a creamy, mayonnaise-based sauce flavored with chipotle peppers, spices and a little tang. This copycat version blends a chipotle pepper in adobo with mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, cumin, dried dill and salt to get a similar smoky, creamy, slightly spicy flavor.
Is chipotle southwest sauce spicy?
It is mildly to moderately spicy, with more smoke than burn. The heat comes from the chipotle pepper and adobo sauce. Use less adobo and skip the whole pepper for a mild sauce, or add a second chipotle if you like more heat.
What is the difference between chipotle southwest and baja chipotle sauce?
Both are creamy chipotle sauces. Chipotle southwest is smoky with cumin and a hint of herbs, while baja chipotle sauces are usually a little tangier and brighter with more lime. To make a baja-style version from this recipe, double the lime juice and add a pinch of chili powder.
What goes well with chipotle southwest sauce?
It is great on chicken, steak and turkey subs, wraps and quesadillas, drizzled over tacos and burrito bowls, spread on burgers, and as a dip for fries, onion rings and chicken tenders. Thinned with a little lime juice, it also makes a good salad dressing.
How long does homemade chipotle southwest sauce last?
Store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or by the earliest use-by date of the mayonnaise and yogurt if that is sooner. Don't leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and don't freeze it, because the mayonnaise and yogurt separate when thawed.
