Homemade Chipotle Seasoning is a great spicy seasoning to have on hand. Use it as a rub for chicken, steak, seafood and roasted veggies. You can also add Chipotle mix to soups and sauces or Slow Cooker Chipotle Honey Chicken for that unique combination of smoky flavor with peppery heat. It's so versatile!
What is a chipotle pepper?
A chipotle pepper is a ripe red jalapeño that has been smoked and dried - the same jalapeño you know from salsas and Mexican dishes, just transformed by time and smoke into something deeper, earthier, and more complex. That process gives chipotle its signature quality: it doesn't just add heat, it adds a rich smokiness that fresh chiles simply can't deliver.
Chipotles are a staple in Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking, and one of the most common ways to use them is canned in adobo sauce - a tangy, slightly sweet tomato-based sauce that makes the peppers shelf-stable and even more flavorful. I use them that way in recipes like my Traditional Mexican Ground Beef and Rice Skillet, where a spoonful of chipotle in adobo adds a smoky depth that takes the whole dish to another level.
This seasoning is just the starting point. For the full picture on types, forms, and flavor-building techniques, visit the Complete Guide to Cooking with Chipotle Peppers.
How to use Chipotle Seasoning
After you mix ingredients, you can use chipotle seasoning immediately, or store in an airtight container away from heat, light and humidity. For a lower-sodium version, simply omit or reduce the amount of salt used. If you don't like it too spicy, use less chipotle pepper.
The amount in the recipe lasts me for 10 meals. I often add this Chipotle spice on top of bacon in pan before I flip it over. It's also fantastic on turkey skin, pork chops, ribs, steak, shrimp, not overpowering like chili powder. I dust the outside of tortilla wraps before pan warming, add to popcorn, pretzels, nuts, crackers, soft cheeses, bread with olive oil, crackers. It's very addictive and everyone asks "What is that?" in a good way.
This seasoning adds a nice smokey and reasonable level of spice to any meat, beans, etc. Use it as a rub for chicken, seafood and roasted veggies. Or, even make your own adobo sauce. Then you can easily add it to almost any dish!
I recommend using it as a rub on Baked Salmon, Tri-Tip Santa Maria Style or Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast.
Chipotle Recipes to Try Next
Now that you have this blend ready, here's how I use it across full recipes. For chicken, try it in my Chipotle Chicken Pasta, Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle Chicken, or Pollo Asado Tacos (Achiote and Chipotle Grilled Chicken Tacos)
For seafood, it's the rub behind my Chipotle Salmon Tacos and Chipotle Shrimp Tacos.
And if you want the full picture on cooking with chipotle, my Complete Guide to Cooking with Chipotle Peppers covers everything from pepper types to sauces to storage.
How to store Chipotle seasoning
If you really enjoy the recipes that use this seasoning, then make a batch and store it in an old large spice container. You can use glass, plastic or even a ziplock bag. That way you will always have it in your pantry when you need it!
More Seasonings, Sauces and Dips
Ingredients
- ½ Tablespoon crushed Chipotle pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Chipotle chili powder (or any other chili powder)
- 1 Tablespoon paprika (smoked if available)
- 1 Teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon oregano
- 1 Teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ Teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl or plate.
- Store in airtight container for up to 4 months.
LANE says
Yes, perfect!
Agda says
I use this seasoning on my chicken tender wraps. These get rave reviews all the time.
Ben says
Very good seasoning to mix with mayo to make it spicy mayo with some color.
Kim Betts says
This was perfect as seasoning on a flank steak for the grill. Quick easy and tasty.
Jackie says
Great recipe used it in Mexican chicken
Olya says
Great idea!
Jenn says
This sounds perfect for the dressing for the southwest orzo salad I want to make. Here are my questions:
1. Is this ingredient, ½ Tablespoon crushed Chipotle pepper, a dried chipotle pepper that you removed the seeds from and crushed?
2. How much of this would you use to add to a salad dressing for an orzo salad that serves about 12 people? I will be adding lime juice, date powder, and liquid (balsamic, aquafaba) to combine with it. Just wondering if I should start with a tsp or a tbsp then add to taste. Appreciate any help! Thank you!
Olya Shepard says
Yes— ½ tablespoon crushed chipotle pepper means a dried chipotle chile (the whole smoked, dried jalapeño) that’s been crushed or ground, not the canned chipotles in adobo. You don’t have to remove every seed, but shake out at least some seeds before crushing.
For an orzo salad dressing serving about 12, start with ½ teaspoon of this chipotle seasoning blend in the dressing, taste, then gradually increase up to about 1 teaspoon if you want more heat and smokiness. Since you’re adding lime, date powder, and balsamic, they’ll make it less spicy, so it’s safer to begin small (½ teaspoon), whisk, taste, and only then inch up toward 1 teaspoon rather than jumping straight to a tablespoon.
Jean says
I use a spice grinder to make a paste out of this and then add them to my roasted potatoes
Olya says
Yes - you can also add flavored oils to that - great idea!!
Michelle says
We use it for grilled steak all the time - thank you for the easy recipe
Olya says
Also good on bone in skin on chicken thighs
Chris says
I added ghost pepper powder for a smoky flavor.
Olya says
Sounds delicious!
Penny garvey says
Can I just use chipotle seasoning instead of purée?
Olya says
Absolutely!
Noonan Patrick says
Wow!
Love Chipotle restaurant and this is the closest recipe I have found. Tastes amazing.
Thank you so much
Olya says
So glad you found this! Enjoy!
Mary says
Easy enough!