Easy Honey Chipotle Sauce

Sweet, smoky, tangy, and fiery, this super Easy Honey Chipotle Sauce is perfect for everything from coating chicken wings to topping a cream cheese appetizer.

This *might* literally be the easiest Honey Chipotle Sauce recipe you will find. It only requires 5 ingredients (4 if you don’t count the water). For real-real, not for play-play! And except for maybe the canned chipotle en adobo peppers you probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry right now.

Chipotle en adobo peppers (in a can), ketchup, honey, soy sauce, and water are literally all you need to make this incredible Chipotle Honey Sauce. No foolies! 

In addition to how easy this Honey Chipotle Sauce is, it is most importantly incredibly delicious! The chipotle en adobo peppers provide a smoky, savory, and fiery base. Honey provides that much-needed sweet counterbalance. I actually HATE ketchup, but I can’t deny the magic it brings here; it lends sweetness and body, sort of operating as the bridge that brings the two extreme flavors of the sauce together. The soy sauce punches up the umami and adds saltiness. And I like to add just a wee bit of water, using it to swish out the chipotle en adobo residue from the can. 

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• What can I use Honey Chipotle Sauce for? 
• Adobo Honey Sauce Variations
• Equipment
• Sauce Storage
• Top Tip to Tone Down the Heat
• Making your own sauce can save you $$$
• Easy Honey Chipotle Sauce

Ingredients

Let’s get to it! Here’s how you make this Easy Adobo Honey Sauce.

• canned chipotle en adobo peppers
• water
• ketchup
• honey
• soy sauce

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Add the entire can of chipotle en adobo peppers, ketchup, honey, and soy sauce to a blender. I like to add the water to the chipotle en adobo can and do a quick swish with the water, then add to the blender along with the rest of the ingredients. 

Blend for 30 seconds; the resulting sauce should be relatively smooth. 

Add the sauce to a small saucepan and turn to medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes over a gentle simmer, stirring constantly. 

Remove from heat and let cool. Makes 1 ¼ cup sauce.

Note: If the sauce seems initially too spicy for you, let it sit for 24 hours and try it again. In my experience, the heat mellows over time. 

What can I use Honey Chipotle Sauce for? 

Oh so many things! Adobo Honey Sauce is a solid choice for everything from glazing proteins to topping appetizers. Use this magical sweet, smoky sauce to:

• Coat chicken wings
• Glaze ham or meatballs
• Spread on a sandwich
• Season slow-cooked meats, like carnitas
• Jazz up leftovers, like drizzling over Leftover Pulled Pork Tacos
• Top a block of cream cheese and serve with crackers for a simple appetizer

Adobo Honey Sauce Variations

Since there are only 5 ingredients (4 if you don’t count the water!) there aren’t any substitutions I’d recommend making to this Easy Adobo Honey Sauce, but you can certainly add if you’d like to make it your own. Some easy add-ins might include:

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Hot sauce
• Lime juice, freshly squeezed

Equipment

Blender or food processor

Small saucepan

Sauce Storage

Store the Honey Chipotle Sauce in a lidded container (like a Mason jar) in the refrigerator. Shake well before using. For best results, use within 7 days.

Top Tip to Tone Down the Heat

If the sauce seems initially too spicy for you, let it sit for 24 hours and try it again. In my experience, the heat mellows over time. This sauce definitely has some noticeable heat to it; I'd equate it to eating jalapeno poppers.

Making your own sauce can save you $$$

Did you know that making your own sauces can save you money? Using ingredients you already have on hand can save you a few bucks here and there vs. buying a specialty sauce that you may or may not use before it expires. Plus, homemade sauces can be prepared in smaller quantities, reducing waste.

For more money-saving ideas, check out Practical Ways to Stretch Your Food Budget.

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