If you are a fan of spicy and sweet sauces, then this Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce recipe is a gem for you. Chili’s customers love it; a dedicated fan base would have it with anything. This recipe is surely a savior.

I can attest to it because I am one of their fans, too. As the name suggests, this sauce is a unique combination of sweet and spicy flavors with a dash of tanginess.
People who have low spice tolerance or hate super sweet sauces can customize it to their liking without compromising the original base of the sauce.
Knowing it is a fan favorite, I was skeptical about trying it out, but luckily, I did, and it turned out to be incredible. This sauce requires easy-peasy kitchen ingredients and is ready in under 7 minutes.
If you are tired of trying out big meals and want to try condiments, start with this Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce recipe. It has everything you can ask for in a sauce; no matter how many times you have it, you will always ask for more. So, get ready to learn how to make this delicious home sauce immediately!
Equipment Required
- Saucepan: I use a saucepan to heat up all the ingredients and cook this sauce.
- Spatula: I use a spatula to stir the sauce.
- Bowl: I arrange all the ingredients before cooking to save time and hassle, so I place the ingredients in a bowl.
- Spoon: I use a small spoon to add the ingredients to the bowl.
Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce Ingredients & Substitutions
Note: The ingredients in this recipe can serve up to 4 people. You can increase or decrease the quantities as required or make more or fewer portions.
- 1 Cup Tomato Puree: I am using store-bought and canned tomato puree, but you can also make this at home.
- 1 Cup Light Corn Syrup: If you don’t like the taste of corn syrup, then you can add regular sugar to it, but remember that granulated sugar will take more time to dissolve well in the sauce.
- 1 Teaspoon Citric Acid
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon of Corn Starch
- ¼ Cup Honey: Don’t like honey? Add maple syrup or agave syrup instead.
- 1 Teaspoon Chipotle Pepper Powder: If you don’t have these, you can use regular Adobe chipotle peppers, but this will not give you a smooth texture.
- 2 Drops of Lemon Juice: If you do not prefer lemon juice, add a little apple cider to it.
- ½ Teaspoon Salt and Black Pepper
Preparation And Cooking Time
Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
---|---|---|
5 Minutes | 20 Minutes | 25 Minutes |
How To Make Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce At Home
Step 1
Add tomato puree to a saucepan and heat it on medium heat. Once it starts boiling, add lemon juice and onion powder.
Step 2
Give it a nice stir, and add garlic powder, citric acid, and corn syrup to the pan.
Step 3
Make a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce and add it to the pan. Add honey and chipotle pepper powder too.
Step 4
Finally, season it off with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5
Give it a few tosses and twirls with the spatula, and your Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce will be ready quickly.
Expert Tips That I Recommend
- For sauce recipes, it is always best to use fresh ingredients, which makes the sauce taste better. Of course, fresh ingredients stay fresh longer if you plan to store them.
- I like my Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce a bit thick, but remember that the sauce will eventually thicken once it starts cooling. So do not thicken it completely on the stovetop.
- I am using chipotle powder in this recipe, but if you are using chipotle peppers, you can use a blender and food processor to smoothen the chunky particles in the sauce. This will give you a thick creamy, and chunk-free sauce.
- To allow the flavors to meld up, I even recommend chilling it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- I have often observed that trying out the Chili’s honey chipotle sauce immediately after it has cooked can be a bit spicy. So, I like to let it rest in the fridge for about 2-3 hours, and I can surely say that the spiciness mellows over time.
- Since I am making this at home, I like to experiment with different types of honey, such as clover, wildflower, etc., for interesting flavors.
- In some cases, the sauce can turn out to be extremely sour. If so, add a pinch of baking soda while cooking the sauce. This will help balance the sourness of the sauce.
- I prefer to cook the sauce slowly over medium heat for an additional 5-10 minutes for a richer flavor.
FAQs About Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce
Nutritional Information Per Serving
Enjoying this Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce daily is not a bad idea because it is healthy. Being low in calories, I like to slather it over everything.
Well, if you don’t trust me and are still curious about the nutritional values, then have a look at the table below:
Calories | 140 kcal |
Carbohydrates | 35 g |
Protein | 1 g |
Fat | 1 g |
Sodium | 500 mg |
Potassium | 85 mg |
Fiber | 1 g |
Sugar | 26 g |
Calcium | 20 mg |
Iron | 1 mg |
This Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce also has other good qualities, like soy, nut, and gluten-free. It is also dairy-free and vegetarian.
Hence, people following those diets can have it without any restrictions. On the other hand, people following vegan diets can also have it but must make certain modifications first.
Recipe Variations For Different Diets
- Vegan: Unfortunately, Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce is not vegan because it contains honey. However, to make this sauce vegan-friendly, I add maple syrup or increase the quantity of light corn syrup to avoid adding honey.
Storing & Reheating This Recipe
Storing
- Countertop: Once my Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce is ready, I do not leave it on the countertop for more than an hour to prevent it from getting contaminated.
- Refrigeration: Making Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce in bulk is not a bad idea, as it can be stored in the fridge for about three days. Just make sure you are using an airtight container to prevent your surface from coming in contact with moisture. Also, make sure that the sauce is completely cooled down before you carry out the refrigeration or freezing process.
- Freezing: If you have even larger quantities of Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce, you can freeze it. Transfer the leftovers to a freezer-friendly bag and store them for up to 3 months.
Reheating
- Microwave: If you are in a time crunch, pour the leftovers into a Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce microwave-friendly bowl and heat it over medium power for a minute. You can follow it up with a 110-secondburst if required. Moreover, keep a close eye on it.
- Stovetop: Before serving Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce, I like to reheat refrigerated sauce until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F for safety. I pour the sauce into a pan and heat it over medium heat. I stir it gently to transfer the heat throughout the sauce, and once it is heated enough, I take it off the stove. If you find out that your sauce is sticking to the pan, then you can also add a little bit of water but do not overdo it, as it can ruin the consistency of your sauce.
What to Serve With This Recipe
If you have been enjoying Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce with French fries only, you are missing out because there are so many other options. I like to dip Chicken Wings and Cauliflower Wings in a bowl of Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce, too.
When I am in the mood for something tangy and spicy, I also make my Pasta and Sandwiches with it. You can also use it to layer your Tacos and Burrito.Â
Printable Version
Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Tomato Puree
- 1 Cup Light Corn Syrup
- 1 Teaspoon Citric Acid
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Corn Starch
- ¼ Cup Honey
- 1 Teaspoon Chipotle Pepper Powder
- 2 Drops of Lemon Juice
- ½ Teaspoon Salt and Black Pepper
Equipment
- Microwave
- Spatula
- Bowl
- Spoon
Instructions
- Add tomato puree to a saucepan and heat it on medium heat. Once it starts boiling, add lemon juice and onion powder.
- Give it a nice stir, and add garlic powder, citric acid, and water to the pan.
- Now, make a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce and add it to the pan. Add honey and red pepper, too.
- Finally, season it off with salt and pepper to taste.
- Give it a few tosses and twirls with the spatula, and your Chili's Honey Chipotle Sauce will be ready quickly.
Notes
- For sauce recipes, it is always best to use fresh ingredients, which makes the sauce taste better. Of course, fresh ingredients stay fresh longer if you plan to store them.
- I like my Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce a bit thick, but remember that the sauce will eventually thicken once it starts cooling. So do not thicken it completely on the stovetop.
- I am using chipotle powder in this recipe, but if you are using chipotle peppers, you can use a blender and food processor to smoothen the chunky particles in the sauce. This will give you a thick,creamy, and chunk-free sauce.
- To allow the flavors to meld up, I even recommend chilling it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- I have often observed that trying out the Chili’s honey chipotle sauce immediately after it has cooked can be a bit spicy. So, I like to let it rest in the fridge for about 2-3 hours, and I can surely say that the spiciness mellows over time.
- Since I am making this at home, I like to experiment with different types of honey, such as clover, wildflower, etc., for interesting flavors.Â
- In some cases, the sauce can turn out to be extremely sour. If so, add a pinch of baking soda while cooking the sauce. This will help balance the sourness of the sauce.
- I prefer to cook the sauce slowly over medium heat for an additional 5-10 minutes for a richer flavor.
Nutrition
More Sauce Recipes That You Can Try
Conclusion
This recipe is the easiest Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce, and it comes together in under 10 minutes. I am pretty sure that you already have all the ingredients to make it right away as it does not call for something fancy and out of the box.
It has a smoky, sweet firebase along with hints of tanginess, which makes it ideal for so many food options. This sauce also stores well, so you can enjoy its magic more often. Give this Chili’s Honey Chipotle Sauce a try at home, and let me know in the comments how it turned out.