Copycat Taco Bell Creamy Jalapeno Sauce - It Starts With Good Food (2024)

This easy recipe makes a Taco Bell Creamy Jalapeno Sauce copycat you’ll want to put on everything! Perfect for quesadillas, tacos, nachos, and more!

Creamy Jalapeno Sauce

When you need to add a bit more flavor to your favorite dish, this Creamy Jalapeno Sauce is the solution! It’s not super spicy as the mayo and sour cream base balance out the tasty pickled jalapenos and seasonings. It instantly elevates a plain chicken quesadilla, makes nachos super special, and turns every taco into your new favorite taco.

This isn’t the exact Taco Bell recipe as theirs uses several emulsifiers and thickeners that aren’t easily available for the average household. I made a few changes to make up for this like swapping out buttermilk and thickeners for sour cream, or using pickled jalapeno juice instead of vinegar. This recipe gets pretty close, but you can always start with a small amount of the ingredients and add more for your own preferences.

Ingredients for Taco Bell’s Jalapeno Sauce

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this recipe. For exact measurements, keep scrolling down to the printable recipe card.

• Mayonnaise & Sour Cream – These combine for an amazingly creamy base that melts wonderfully with other ingredients. If you only have one or the other, you can still make this sauce–Just use a 1/2 cup of either. This does change the texture and flavor a little bit, but this sauce is super flexible and delicious either way.
• Pickled Jalapenos & Juice – These jalapenos and the juice come from the jarred or canned jalapenos you can get in the pantry section at the grocery store. These are milder in taste than fresh jalapenos and add a bit of a “tangy” flavor. If you only have fresh jalapenos, mince them very finely and add a tablespoon of vinegar (preferably white wine or rice vinegar).
• Paprika, Cumin, Garlic powder, Onion powder, Chili powder – These give a great, well-rounded flavor to the sauce! If you’re worried about the spice, leave out the chili powder entirely. If you enjoy spice, increase it!
• Optional: Water – If you’d like to drizzle this on top of a quesadilla, chimichanga, or other dish, you may want the sauce to be a thinner consistency. Start by adding 1 teaspoon of water and stir, then add additional teaspoons of water until the sauce reaches your preferred texture. If adding INSIDE a tortilla for a quesadilla or other dish, I recommend NOT watering the sauce down. If it is too watery, it will make your tortilla soggy.

How to Make Creamy Jalapeno Sauce from Taco Bell

This is an easy no-cook recipe. It’s great for beginners and a good way to have kids help in the kitchen. Just measure, mix, and chill for the best jalapeno sauce!

Mix ingredients

In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients. If you prefer a super smooth sauce, you can do this in a blender to completely process the jalapenos.

Chill

This sauce is best after you give the flavors some time to meld together. Chill the mixture in the fridge for at least an hour before using so that the flavors are bright and strong.

How to Use Creamy Jalapeno Sauce

This Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla uses jalapeno sauce for a simple yet awesome dinner. You can drizzle it on your tacos or nachos for a huge added burst of flavor, too. It’s great for dipping fries, tater tots, or even wraps (like this California Turkey Club Wrap)!

You could mix this with some smashed avocado for a quick, super creamy version of guacamole, or mix the sauce in with some Beer Cheese Dip for fun twist! It would be great spread in some pinwheels, too.

Store

This jalapeno dip should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and will stay fresh up to 5 days. It’s not recommended to freeze this sauce as the mayonnaise and sour cream base will likely split and change texture after thawing.

If you love this sauce, you’ll love these easy recipes:

• Smoked Queso Dip – This thick, cheesy dip is ridiculously easy… Just put it on the grill and let it be! It’s great with quesadillas, nachos, tacos, and so much more.
• Homemade Enchilada Sauce – If you love enchiladas, skip the canned stuff and make your own sauce from scratch! The flavor will immediately upgrade your enchilada game.
• Cheese Sauce – This easy sauce was initially made for pretzel bites (amazing), but it’s so good on burgers, in wraps, or on nachos.
• Whipped Feta Dip – Awesome with vegetables or crackers! It makes a great spread to add to bruschetta, sandwiches, wraps, or pinwheels, too.
• Chuy’s Jalapeno Ranch – This is a bit spicier and thinner, but still delicious with tacos, nachos, vegetables, chips, and more!

FAQs about Jalapeno Sauce