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    Home » Most Recent

    23 Easy Recipes You Can Make Using Chipotles in Adobo

    March 28, 2020 By Patrick 23 Comments

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    Need some new recipes?  Chipotles in adobo can become your new secret weapon if you just give 'em a chance! 

    No other Mexican ingredient can impact your home cooking the way chipotles can -- they have the ability to make dinner taste like it took hours to make when it actually only took minutes.

    Keep a few cans of these beauties around and you can instantly add the 23 recipes listed below to your kitchen arsenal.  Yes, all 23 of these recipes rely on that unique chipotle flavor to make some mouthwatering dishes!

    Keep a few cans of these chipotles in adobo around and you'll always have the option of making these seven recipes! mexicanplease.com

    If you're new to chipotles in adobo you can see more details on them in our working with chipotles article.  But I'll list out the key points here as well.

    You'll find your new best friend in the Latin goods section of most grocery stores, and if not there you can always grab them from a local Hispanic market.

    Most dried peppers in Mexico have a different name than their fresh counterpart, so when ripe jalapenos are dried and smoked they are referred to as chipotles.   These chipotles are combined with a tangy adobo sauce and the result is a fiery, smoky flavor that works wonders in all sorts of Mexican dishes.

    Keep a few cans of these chipotles in adobo around and you'll always have the option of making these seven recipes! mexicanplease.com

    Each can will contain 6-8 chipotles and a few tablespoons of the adobo sauce.  

    Don't overlook the adobo sauce as it will be infused with the flavor of the chipotles and can be used just about any time chipotles are called for.

    adobo sauce for adob flavored salt

    Normally I'm a fan of using a pepper's seeds in salsas and sauces, but I tend to scrape out the seeds of chipotles.   You can consider this step optional, but sometimes the seeds will harden over time so I usually just scrape them out.

    Keep a few cans of these chipotles in adobo around and you'll always have the option of making these seven recipes! mexicanplease.com

    It's easiest to slice off the top stem and make a vertical slit down the length of the pepper, then pry them open and use a knife or fork to scrape out the seeds.  Don't sweat it if you leave a few stragglers behind as it won't affect the flavor too much.

    You can store the remaining chipotles in a small, airtight container in the fridge where they'll keep for at least a few weeks.   And don't forget to save all of the adobo sauce as this will help preserve the actual peppers.   If you're looking for a longer term storage solution you can consider freezing them.

    Don't forget that chipotles pack some punch!  If you prefer your food less spicy then consider adding the chipotles incrementally.  If a recipe calls for a single chipotle then add half of a chipotle and give it a taste.  You can always increase the heat level by adding more chipotles or by adding some of the adobo sauce.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    And of course, the usual warnings that accompany chili peppers apply.  Wash your hands thoroughly after handling them.  If you happen to touch your eyes or nose while handling them you've got a homemade version of pepper spray coming your way.

    Okay, here are some great recipes that you can add to your kitchen repertoire just by keeping some chipotles on hand.  Click the title of the recipe and it will take you to a page on this site where you can print out the recipe.  I've made all of these recipes multiple times so feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about them.

    Buen Provecho!

    15 Minute Creamy Chipotle Chicken

    Update:  just added this recipe to the site!  This Creamy Chipotle Chicken is a great meal to rely on when you need good food NOW!  It lets the chipotles do all the heavy lifting, your job is to sit back and take all the credit 🙂

    This 15 Minute Creamy Chipotle Chicken is a great meal to rely on when you need good food NOW.

    Tomato Chipotle Salsa

    Don't tell your friends and family how easy it is to make this authentic salsa.   It's best to let them think you slaved away in the kitchen all afternoon!

    Tomato-Chipotle Salsa Step-by-Step | mexicanplease.com

     

    Easy Red Sauce Enchiladas

    This is my go-to recipe for red sauce enchiladas.  Chipotles provide the bulk of the flavor -- fast, delicious, and stress-free to make.

    This is my go-to recipe for red sauce enchiladas. Fast, incredible flavor, and stress free to make. Sound too good to be true? mexicanplease.com

     

    Chipotle and Cheese Bean Dip

    This is a killer bean dip to keep in mind for parties and get-togethers.  Plop this dip down in the middle of the table and you'll make some friends for life!

    Serve up this Chipotle and Cheese Bean Dip straight from the oven and you'll make some friends for life! Don't forget to add some salsa or roasted tomatoes, it makes a huge difference. So good! mexicanplease.com

     

    Chicken Tinga Tacos

    Tinga is becoming more common north of the border, and people are slowly discovering that chipotles are the secret to the Tinga flavor.  This version uses tomatillos to create some seriously Tingalicious Tacos.

    These Chicken Tinga Tacos are the real deal and worthy of being called Tingalicious!!! mexicanplease.com

     

    Chipotle Mayo

    This is a great secret sauce to have in your arsenal!  I use it in all sorts of dishes:  fish tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches.  You can also make a lighter version of it by substituting Greek yogurt for some (or all) of the mayonnaise.

    A delicious update on the classic Cuban Sandwich. We are using pickled jalapenos and chipotle mayo in place of the pickles and mustard. Works great with leftover carnitas! mexicanplease.com

     

    Classic Ground Beef Tacos

    Chipotles work wonders when combined with ground beef and these tacos are the perfect example of that!  If you grew up with tacos made from a seasoning pack then give this recipe a try, you'll get a massive upgrade in flavor when you use chipotles to flavor the ground beef.

    Classic Ground Beef Hardshell Tacos mexicanplease.com

     

    Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette

    This is a great recipe if you're a fan of the salad dressing from Chipotle Mexican Grill.

    Here's an easy recipe to mimic the awesome Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette from Chipotle Mexican Grill. It has a sweet, smoky flavor that'll make your salad sing! mexicanplease.com

     

    Enfrijoladas

    Corn tortillas drenched in a chipotle infused Black Bean puree? I’m in!  These Enfrijoladas have incredible flavor and can be easily customized to your liking.

    Keep a few cans of these chipotles in adobo around and you'll always have the option of making these seven recipes! mexicanplease.com

    Chipotle Burgers

    These burgers are another great example of the enduring partnership between chipotles and ground beef.  Mince up some chipotles and combine them with seasoned ground beef and you'll have some incredible burgers on your hands.

    Spicing up your cheeseburgers with chipotles might convert you over for life. And when drenched in a creamy avocado sauce you just made the best burger in town. So good! mexicanplease.com

     

    Chipotle Flavored Tortillas

    Wait, homemade chipotle flavored flour tortillas?  Yes!  Once you get the basic technique down the flavor variations are endless.

    chipotle flavored tortilla one side cooked

     

    Homemade Refried Beans

    I use this black bean mixture all the time!  It has incredible flavor and will give you countless options for some delicious meals you can make on the fly.

    This is a delicious, fiery version of Chicken Tinga. The key is to use both tomatoes and tomatillos, along with plenty of chipotles! mexicanplease.com

     

    Chipotle Cream Cheese Taquitos

    Chipotles are a quick way to add flavor to the inner mixture of taquitos and flautas.  This batch was baked in the oven for a lighter, non-fried version.

    Adding cream cheese to your taquitos is a massively rewarding shortcut to take! We're also using some Tomatillo Chipotle Salsa in this batch -- so good! mexicanplease.com

     

    Tomatillo Chipotle Salsa

    This is another great salsa to add to your repertoire.  Tomatillos and chipotles are a match made in heaven and all you need to add is a bit of garlic to make a killer salsa.

    A rich Tomatillo Chipotle Salsa that's bursting with flavor. No one will believe you when you show them the tiny ingredient list. So good! mexicanplease.com

     

    Chipotle Cinnamon Picadillo

    This is a tasty variation of our traditional Picadillo.   Chipotles and cinnamon are a unique combo that everyone should try at some point in their life!

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

     

    Spicy Black Bean Nachos

    Remember those homemade refried beans from above?  You can use them to make some incredible vegetarian nachos!  This is easily one of the most popular recipes on the site and it's a combo worth trying out at some point.

    It's tough to beat the combo of warm tortilla chips, melted cheese, and spicy black beans. In other words, NACHOS!! These beans have some kick built into them from chipotles in adobo and they are beyond delicious. mexicanplease.com

     

    Chipotle Skillet Cornbread

    If you're thinking chipotles would work great in cornbread, we're way ahead of you!  This is a simple, rewarding recipe that I usually make in a cast iron skillet.

    Chipotles give this skillet cornbread the perfect hint of spice and when served fresh out of the oven with a pad of butter you'll be in heaven! mexicanplease.com

     

    Chipotle Hot Sauce

    This is an easy recipe to turn that addictive chipotle flavor into a bottle of hot sauce that you can use on all your favorite dishes:  tacos, eggs, and definitely potatoes!

    Here's a super easy recipe for some homemade Chipotle Hot Sauce. It's a smoky, fiery delight and you'll only need a few drops to spice up your life! mexicanplease.com

     

    Queso Dip

    And who doesn't love Queso Dip!   This recipe has some real zip so feel free to dial back on the chipotles if you want a milder version.

    Such an easy Queso recipe! Tons of flavor from the smoky, fiery chipotles but you can always dial back on them for a milder version. mexicanplease.com

     

    Chilaquiles with Tomatillo Chipotle Salsa

    You can use Tomatillo-Chipotle Salsa to make a wicked batch of Chilaquiles.  In this recipe I bake the tortillas instead of frying them -- try to coat the tortilla pieces with the Salsa just before serving (and not too much earlier) as this will keep 'em crispy!
     
    coating baked tortilla chips with salsa
     
     

    Spicy Chickpea Tostadas

    Lately I've been using a chipotle infused chickpea puree to make some quick vegetarian tostadas.  It's not necessarily a traditional Mexican dish, but it's a great alternative if your stomach is craving something new. 
     
    Adding all the ingredients
     

    Papas con Chorizo

    Potatoes flavored with smoky chipotles?  And there's chorizo involved too?  I'm in!  You can serve up this dish as is, or you can use it to make some Potato Chorizo Taquitos. 
     
    Saute potatoes with chipotles in adobo
     
     

    Tinga Tostadas

    You can also use Chicken Tinga to make some wicked tostadas.  This batch has a bottom layer of refried beans and is topped with Queso Fresco and Mexican Crema -- yum!!
     
    Tostadas de Tinga are such a rewarding meal for the fam! Be sure to add some tomatillos to your Tinga as it makes a huge difference! mexicanplease.com
     
     

    Easy Chicken Tacos

    And last I want to mention these simple Chicken Tacos.  Seasoned chicken, some Easy Guacamole, and drenched in some freshly made Tomatillo-Chipotle Salsa -- such an easy meal to make and I come back to it on a regular basis. 
     
    Serving easy chicken tacos.

     

    Okay, got some new chipotle recipe ideas?!  I hope so!  Feel free to get in touch if you have questions about any of them.

    Buen Provecho!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Phil

      November 28, 2020 at 4:34 pm

      Wonderful, inspiring recipes! I'll be making Chipotle burgers soon.

      Reply
      • Patrick

        November 30, 2020 at 2:37 pm

        Thanks Phil!

        Reply
    2. Danielle F.

      October 26, 2020 at 5:28 pm

      Thank you so much for all these awesome recipes! I enjoyed the read - you write beautifully and have a wonderful sense of humor 😃 First up: taquitos tomorrow night!!

      Reply
      • Patrick

        October 28, 2020 at 2:34 pm

        Hey thanks much for your feedback Danielle! I hope you find some keepers on the list 🙂 Cheers.

        Reply
    3. Liz

      March 30, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      DO you have a recipe for chihuahua style capirutada made during lent

      Reply
      • Patrick

        April 01, 2020 at 12:49 pm

        Hey Liz! Sorry, I don't have a Capirotada recipe on the site yet but I will try and bump it up my list. Cheers.

        Reply
    4. J Gentry

      March 29, 2020 at 5:45 am

      Patrick,
      One more. How about a *Mexican Tuna Sandwich? No? Okay, how about a regular tuna salad sandwich to which you've added 1 minced chipotle.. delicious! Wrapped in a warm flour tortilla or bolillo and you can see we're getting closer to our Southern Border.
      All the best,
      JG
      *Tuna, 1/2 mayo & 1/2 plain yogurt - celery - red onion - touch of lemon juice - chipotle - S&P to taste

      Reply
      • Patrick

        April 01, 2020 at 1:07 pm

        Ahh thanks for this suggestion J! Cheers.

        Reply
    5. Chris

      January 15, 2019 at 10:56 am

      Can I re-can the remaining Chipotles?

      Reply
      • Patrick

        January 16, 2019 at 5:36 pm

        Hey Chris! I usually put the remaining chipotles in the smallest Tupperware container possible and then store them in the fridge -- they'll stay good for a few weeks if not longer. Cheers.

        Reply
      • Joe

        September 05, 2019 at 3:19 pm

        You can also make it into Chipotle paste, which will last for weeks, and has the advantage of being a paste you can put in a lot of different foods (chili, tacos, eggs, etc.) You just put the remainder of the can in the blender for a few seconds.

        Reply
    6. Gretchen A Foley

      December 25, 2018 at 9:16 am

      I saved this post. Whenever we open a can of chilis in Adobo, we use only a small amount and I never know what to do with the rest. Great ideas!

      Reply
      • Patrick

        December 27, 2018 at 5:28 pm

        Thanks Gretchen!

        Reply
    7. Derek Ye

      December 06, 2018 at 12:31 pm

      Your recipes have really made me appreciate these things. I’ve made the bean dip and enchiladas for friends in the past. They always love it and say they never tasted anything quite like the peppers before. Can’t wait for an excuse to make the burgers once winter passes!

      Reply
      • Patrick

        December 07, 2018 at 12:55 pm

        Thanks Derek! It does seem like chipotles are a new flavor for a lot of people -- luckily they are super easy to find these days!

        Reply
    8. Carol Taylor

      November 06, 2018 at 6:31 pm

      Wow..A lovely insight into the chipotle and some great recipes as a chilli lover I am hoping I love these...Thank you for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Patrick

        November 07, 2018 at 1:16 pm

        Thank you Carol!

        Reply
    9. Amber H

      November 02, 2018 at 11:55 am

      Such great ideas! Thanks for the post. I'll be making quote a few of these.

      Reply
      • Patrick

        November 02, 2018 at 5:06 pm

        Thanks Amber! Feel free to get in touch if you have questions about any of them. Cheers.

        Reply
    10. Betty

      November 02, 2018 at 11:19 am

      Question
      Can this be made in quantity and canned?

      Reply
      • Patrick

        November 02, 2018 at 5:07 pm

        Hi Betty! Which recipe are you referring to?

        Reply
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