Description
This homemade honey chipotle sauce is a game-changer for transforming simple grilled chicken or roasted vegetables into exciting family favorites. It offers a burst of smoky, sweet heat with a vibrant orange-red hue, making store-bought sauces a thing of the past.
Ingredients
Scale
- 0.5 cup honey
- 2 large roasted red peppers (or 5.3 oz jarred)
- 2 to 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from chipotle can)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 0.25 cup water or vegetable broth
- 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Peppers: If using fresh red peppers, roast, peel, and deseed them. For jarred peppers, drain and pat dry to ensure a smooth base.
- Combine in Blender: In a high-speed blender, combine honey, roasted red peppers, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, smoked paprika, sea salt, and water or broth.
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend on high until completely smooth and a vibrant deep orange-red color, scraping sides as needed. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons more water or broth if too thick.
- Simmer to Thicken: Pour sauce into a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring until it thickens and becomes glossy.
- Cool and Adjust: Remove from heat and let cool slightly (it will continue to thicken). Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more honey for sweetness or cayenne for extra heat if desired.
- Serve with Garnish: Pour the vibrant honey chipotle sauce into a serving bowl and garnish sparingly with finely chopped fresh cilantro for visual contrast.
Notes
This sauce stores well in the refrigerator for up to a week. For quicker prep, use jarred roasted red peppers and pre-minced garlic. Adjust sweetness or heat to your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauce, Condiment
- Method: Blending, Simmering, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (approx. 30 g)
- Calories: 55 calories
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 125 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: honey chipotle sauce, smoky sauce, sweet sauce, versatile sauce, easy recipe, quick dinner, family friendly, condiment, roasted red pepper