Creamy 5-Minute Jalapeño Cilantro Sauce
This Jalapeño Cilantro Sauce is dangerously good. It’s creamy, garlicky, and bright with lime It’s the kind of sauce that ends up on everything before you realize you’ve eaten half the batch!
I put this stuff on everything. Fries? Yep. Tacos? Definitely. Grain bowls, grilled veggies, sandwiches, you name it. This jalapeño cilantro sauce always comes in clutch, and makes your meals (and your bowls) absolutely delicious!
I made it extra creamy by using both mayo and Greek yogurt, then I added fresh cilantro, tangy lime juice, and jalapeño for some spice. It’s bold without being overpowering, which makes it perfect for using on loads of things, all week long.
Ingredients You Need
- Low-fat mayonnaise: Keeps things creamy and rich without feeling heavy.
- Plain Greek yogurt: Adds tang and a bit of protein. It gives the sauce its perfect texture!
- Garlic cloves: A couple of cloves go a long way in giving that depth of flavor.
- Jalapeño: Bring on the spice! Deseed it for a milder kick, or leave some seeds in if you love heat.
- Lime juice: Brightens everything up and balances the richness, add more if you want extra acidity.
- Cilantro: The star of the show! Fresh, herby, and vibrant.
- Salt: To enhance all the flavors!
- Olive oil: Used to thin the sauce to your desired consistency and add a little extra silkiness.
How to Make Cilantro Jalapeno Sauce
For the full ingredients list and instructions, click here.- Prep the Jalapeño: For a milder heat, deseed the jalapeño and remove the white pith inside.
- Combine in a Food Processor: Add all ingredients into a food processor or blender.
- Blend: Blend until smooth. Taste test for acid and salt. If it needs a little more tanginess, add some more lime. If it needs more salt, add a pinch more and blend. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Tips for Success
- Adjust the spice: I always remove the seeds from the jalapeño before adding it to the food processor. You can keep the seeds or just keep some, depending on how spicy you want it. If you keep all the seeds, it will be pretty spicy!
- Taste as you go: This is important for the best creamy cilantro jalapeño sauce! Blend, taste, and tweak however you lie it. Use more lime for brightness, more salt for balance, or more mayo if you want it creamier.
- Use fresh cilantro: Limp herbs won’t blend as smoothly or taste as vibrant.
- Make it ahead: The flavor gets even better after a few hours in the fridge, so it’s great for meal prep.
- Storage tip: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
Serving Suggestions
This sauce is good on almost everything, but here are some of my favorites:
- Drizzle over steak taco bowls for a bright, herby finish.
- Use it as a dip for crispy fries, roasted sweet potatoes or roasted crispy potatoes.
- Spoon it over grilled chicken, shrimp, or roasted veggies.
- Stir into rice or quinoa bowls for an instant flavor boost!
- Spread it on sandwiches or wraps instead of mayo for a creamy, spicy twist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just swap the mayonnaise and Greek yogurt for your favorite vegan versions, it will still blend up beautifully.
Sure, though it’ll change the flavor significantly. Parsley or a mix of parsley and basil work well if you’re not into cilantro.
With one jalapeño (and no seeds), it’s mild to medium. If you keep the seeds, it will turn into a pretty spicy jalapeño cilantro sauce!
Creamiest Cilantro Jalapeño Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- For a milder heat, deseed the jalapeño and remove the white pith inside.
- Add all ingredients into a food processor or blender.
- Blend until smooth. Taste test for acid and salt. If it needs a little more tanginess, add some more lime. If it needs more salt, add a pinch more and blend. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Notes
- Adjust the spice: I always remove the seeds from the jalapeño before adding it to the food processor. You can keep the seeds or just keep some, depending on how spicy you want it. If you keep all the seeds, it will be pretty spicy!
- Taste as you go: This is important for the best creamy cilantro jalapeño sauce! Blend, taste, and tweak however you lie it. Use more lime for brightness, more salt for balance, or more mayo if you want it creamier.
- Use fresh cilantro: Limp herbs won’t blend as smoothly or taste as vibrant.
- Make it ahead: The flavor gets even better after a few hours in the fridge, so it’s great for meal prep.
- Storage tip: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
