Creamy and spicy Chile Crema is the best topping for tacos or any of your favorite Mexican meals! It's super simple to make this chile crema recipe with sour cream, chile paste, and just a few minutes in the kitchen.
Why This Chile Crema Recipe is So Good
- It's sour cream, but way more delicious! Just like our Smoky Red Pepper Crema, the addition of flavorful chili paste and lime juice takes a simple condiment to a whole new level.
- Restaurant-style crema at home - You might enjoy the chile crema at Qdoba or your local taco shop, but now you can make it at home, and it's so simple and inexpensive!
- A 5-Minute Recipe! Simply add all of the ingredients listed below to a mixing bowl and stir. That's it! Chile Crema is a very easy recipe.
Tips and Tricks for Making The Best Chile Crema
- The key ingredient to this flavorful crema is chipotle paste. This is a concentrated blend of roasted peppers that can be used to add a kick to just about anything!
- You will find chipotle paste in a small jar or can in the Mexican section of your grocery store. It's also sold in a tube, similar to how tomato paste is packaged. Either one works!
- Instead of chipotle paste, you can also use the same amount of pureed or minced chipotles in adobo.
- The amount of heat in your crema will depend on your chiles and what type of hot sauce (and how much) you add. I suggest adding a small amount of hot sauce to start, and adding more at the end if you need more spice.
- Use full-fat sour cream. Low-fat versions just don't have the same flavor and texture! This recipe will also work with vegan sour cream like those from Good Culture or Violife. Use your favorite!
What to Serve with Chile Crema
Once you've mixed up this spicy Mexican sour cream, you are going to want to put it on everything!
Chile crema is the perfect topping for tacos, so be sure to check out our recipes for Tofu Tacos, Air Fryer Cauliflower Tacos, and Vegan Taquitos.
More Tasty Sauce Recipes
- Vegan Buffalo Sauce
- Sweet and Spicy Sriracha Sauce
- Homemade Bitchin Sauce
- Cilantro Garlic Sauce
- Firery Dragon Sauce
I found this recipe for Pepita Serrano Crema that sounds delicious too!
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Chile Crema
Creamy and spicy Chile Crema is the best topping for tacos or any of your favorite Mexican meals! It's super simple to make this chile crema recipe with sour cream and chile paste, and it only takes 5 minutes to create.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp hot sauce
- 2 tsp chipotle paste
- Juice of half a lime
Instructions
- Add the sour cream, garlic powder, salt, hot sauce and chipotle paste to a bowl and mix well to combine.
- Squeeze in the lime juice and stir through.
- Transfer to your serving bowl or jar or choice.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Instead of chipotle paste, you can also use the same amount of pureed or minced chipotles in adobo.
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- Use full-fat sour cream. Low-fat versions just don't have the same flavor and texture! This recipe will also work with vegan sour cream like those from Good Culture or Violife. Use your favorite!
Nutrition
Calories: 372kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 5gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1813mgPotassium: 289mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1197IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 190mgIron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
I've been looking for a recipe like this for a long time! I like that you can add as much or as little chile paste and lime juice. I like it quite spicy and tangy, but the rest of my family prefer a little less spice, so I can split this in two and keep us all happy! Thank you.
Hi Tammy!What a great idea to split into two, to keep everybody help with the spice level!