How to Use Canned Chipotles—the Smoky, Spicy Peppers We Always Have on Hand

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This affordable pantry staple is a transformative ingredient in everything from slow-cooked meats to sauce for tacos.

Con Poulos

Canned chipotle chiles in adobo are one of the most versatile and impactful ingredients in your pantry. Chipotle chiles are smoked and dried jalapeño peppers that are then rehydrated and canned to preserve their freshness. They add a unique flavor that you just can’t get from other canned chile products—or even fresh peppers, for that matter. Canned chipotle chiles sit in a spicy, smoky sauce known as adobo, which is just as delicious as the chiles themselves. Consider yourself lucky if you have a can in your kitchen cupboard because we’ve compiled a list of eight ways to make good use of canned chipotles.

Chipotle Chiles In Adobo, Explained

There are two components to a can of chipotle chiles in adobo. Crack one open, and you’ll immediately sense a combination of sweet and smoky flavors. The smokiness comes from the plump chiles themselves. Since they have been smoked before being processed, they retain all of that flavor. The sauce that they are packed in is generally tomato-based, which is where it gets the sweetness comes from. There is also a tangy, acidic element to the sauce, thanks to the addition of vinegar. Other flavorings in the adobo sauce often include onion, garlic, and spices such as cumin, coriander, and dried herbs (such as oregano, marjoram, thyme, or bay).

To add the whole chiles to a dish, you’ll want to first mince them into finer pieces so that they incorporate seamlessly. Use the minced chiles when you want to add a punch of spiciness or smokiness. You can also stir a spoonful of the adobo sauce into recipes where you’re looking to add a touch of sweetness.

8 Ways to Use Chipotle Chiles

If you’re looking for a quick way to add a trifecta of flavor—spicy, smoky, and sweet—canned chipotle chiles are just the thing. You can use the chiles, the adobo sauce, or both elements to achieve the perfect balance of flavor for your recipes.

Marinades

Marinades are a playground for cooks—you can add any and all flavors to a combination of oil and acid, choosing what will best suit your meal. Both the minced chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce are a great addition to marinades when you want to add something smoky. They pair particularly well with certain flavors, including orange juice, honey, soy sauce, and fresh cilantro. Use these marinades for all kinds of meat—it works for everything from a hearty lamb shank to a more delicate pork tenderloin. It’s also delicious in marinades for fish, seafood, and vegetables.

Sauces

If you’re looking to add something unique to an everyday sauce, reach for canned chipotles.

Tomato salsa: Want to add more smoky flavor to homemade or store-bought salsa? Whether blended or chopped, we love to stir in some of the adobo sauce to liven things up.
Marinara sauce: A touch of this smoky flavor can completely transform a jar of marinara sauce. When it takes a smoky turn, it’s good for more than chicken Parmesan. Pair it with noodles and spicy grilled shrimp (perhaps made with one of the marinades above).
BBQ sauce: Whether it’s brushed over chicken, baby back ribs, or even jackfruit, we’re very generous with the BBQ sauce. Add one or two minced chipotle chiles to your next batch–your friends and family will wonder what your secret ingredient is.
Buffalo wing sauce: Add the chiles to the sticky sauce used to coat Buffalo chicken wings for equally smoky and spicy results.
Béchamel: Fan favorites like macaroni and cheese, lasagna, and baked ziti all use béchamel sauce as their base. Next time you make this classic sauce, stir in a few spoonfuls of the adobo. The mild smokiness is delicious, especially when using sweet or spicy sausage in baked pasta.
Cocktail sauce: What is shrimp without cocktail sauce? The sauce already has plenty of spice from the grated horseradish, but a tangy element is always nice–enter adobo sauce.
Creamy sauces: Ranch and mayo-based sauces can benefit from a small spoonful of minced canned chipotles.

Glazes

We’re always looking for new ways to glaze the holiday ham and Thanksgiving turkey. We’re not exaggerating when we say that every glaze we’ve tried has been delicious, but chipotle chiles take glaze to the next level. Both the chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce pair well with glazes made with citrus like blood orange and grapefruit, apricot jam, honey mustard, or bourbon.

Slow-Cooker Meals

With slow-cooker meals, you want to pack in as much flavor as you can with as few ingredients as possible. Canned chipotle chiles are the perfect flavor enhancer. They work particularly well for recipes that already have an ingredient that adds spice. If that’s the case, you can just swap in the chipotle chiles in recipes like pulled pork, braised lamb, and pot roast.

Ground Meat

For dishes like meatloaf, meatballs (beef, turkey, and anything in between), and ground meat casseroles, a splash of the adobo sauce from canned chipotles is a big flavor booster. You can even incorporate it into the ketchup glaze that goes on top of meatloaf or you can spice up the sweet hoisin glaze on these individual turkey meatloaves.

Soup, Stew, and Chili

Any time you need to make something taste a little more fiery, turn to chipotle chiles. Dishes like tortilla soup take well to the addition of these smoky chiles. If you want a lot of heat, add the chiles early on in the simmering process. For a more subtle flavor, stir in a small amount toward the end.

The same goes for stews and chilis (meaty or otherwise) that simmer for hours on the stovetop.

Vegetables

Minced chiles and adobo sauce can easily be tossed with any of your favorite vegetables before roasting or grilling. They impart a subtly smoky flavor to the cooked vegetables. Try them with delicate vegetables like cherry tomatoes and summer squash or more hearty ones like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. These chiles can even be added to potato salad for a fun twist on the summer classic.

Beans

Canned chipotles are a surefire way to upgrade canned beans when warming them to serve alongside tacos and rice. Simply stir the minced chiles and a splash of adobo sauce in toward the end. Alternately, you can add the chiles along with other aromatics, such as onions, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns, when you’re cooking dry beans from scratch.

Ways to Use Leftover Canned Chipotles

A little goes a long way, so you’ll rarely use the whole can. You’ll generally have a handful of chiles and a few spoonfuls of the sauce leftover, and they’re a delicious ingredient that you shouldn’t let go to waste.

Liven up a dip: If you want to add dimension, depth of flavor, and heat to an ordinary dip, or you’re looking to dress up a store-bought one, a bit of chipotle chile will do the trick. Add it to hummus or bean, Buffalo chicken, spinach artichoke, and crab dips.
Stir into drinks: When you make your next batch of Bloody Mary mix, substitute adobo sauce for Tabasco—it essentially adds the same type of spicy, acidic element.
Make spiced nuts: You’ll see chili powder in many spiced nut recipes, so why not use canned chiles instead? You only need a teaspoon or so of the minced chiles for one batch of nuts. This is because as it toasts in the oven, its flavors enhance.