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Home » Easy

Creamy Cilantro Garlic Sauce With Jalapeños & Limes

Published: Sep 1, 2020 · Modified: Apr 21, 2024 by Ash, The Grocery Addict · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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Creamy, spicy, and bright, this Jalapeño Cilantro Garlic Sauce recipe is a true kitchen hero. Simply made with just 5 ingredients, this homemade condiment-meets-dip is perfect for nearly every meal! I can almost guarantee you'll be making at least one batch a week, if not more.

small glass jar filled with chuy's copycate creamy jalapeno cilantro lime garlic sauce with a silver spoon for serving.

Some of my favorite flavors are garlic, cilantro, lime, and jalapeño. This super easy garlic cilantro sauce brings them all together — and it comes together in just 5 minutes. We're so obsessed, we've been putting it on everything from egg bites and Asian-inspired pork burgers to avocado tartines and tuna sandwiches.

Question: Do any of y'all have a signature accessory? You know, a necklace, a beautiful shade of lipstick, or your very favorite pair of boots? Well, as much as I enjoy fashion, I love food so much more. And, TBH, I'm much more likely to accessorize my plate than my person. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

This creamy cilantro lime sauce has become my new signature accessory. It’s the little black dress your fridge needs (especially with grilling season coming up!). It’s perfect for nearly any occasion, any dish, and any cuisine. I'm not hyperbolizing here. 

If you're looking for a creamy hot sauce, this chimichurri cilantro sauce is it. You can use it as a substitute for mayonnaise on chicken sandwiches and pita wraps. It makes a great dipping sauce for french fries, sweet potato fries, and any kind of chip. I've even thinned it out with a bit of olive oil and used it as a salad dressing. It's creamy, acidic, spicy. And it is flat-out perfect.

Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Garlic Cilantro Sauce With Jalapeños & Lime
  • Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations
  • Expert Tips
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage Instructions
  • FAQs
  • Creamy Garlic Lime Cilantro Sauce
  • 💬 Reviews
flat lay shot of creamy chimichurri cilantro sauce in the bowl of a food processor after blitzing.

Why You’ll Love This Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe

  • So Stinkin’ Simple - 5 ingredients, 5 minutes, and a blender or food processor are all that stands between you and Flavor City.
  • Absolutely Crave-Worthy - The first time I made this garlic cilantro sauce recipe for a BBQ, Joe was so excited that he started squirting it onto chips and crackers. I had to ask him to stop so some would be left for the meat (and the guests!). I can’t blame him, though — this creamy green sauce is epic.
  • Easily Customizable - Make it vegan, paleo, extra spicy or mild with simple tweaks.
  • Versatile AF - You can definitely use this creamy lime cilantro sauce for tacos (especially fish or shrimp!), but it’s also the perfect sidekick for any grilled meat, fish, or veggies; it’s awesome on pizza (better than ranch by a long shot!); and is the best dipping sauce for any chip, fry, or raw veggie you can think of. Read on below for lots of ideas. 
hero shot of a jar of pollo tropical style cilantro lime sauce with jalapenos and garlic on a white table with slices of limes and fresh cilantro strewn about.

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make your new favorite kitchen side-kick:

bunch of cilantro, 2 limes, a bowl of mayonnaise, a fresh jalapeño and a head of garlic laid out on a table for making creamy cilantro lime garlic sauce.
  • Cilantro - One of my favorite things about cilantro is it requires very little prep. Simply rinse it well under cool water to remove any dirt, then chuck the whole bunch in the blender, stems and all.
  • Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice - Since limes can vary widely in terms of size and juiciness, I recommend you grab a few. To get the most from your fruit, wash and zest it (either using a veggie peeler or microplane), then roll it firmly on the countertop for 10-15 seconds before slicing it open and juicing. While we won’t use the zest in this recipe, it freezes well. When you’re done, toss your spent rinds in a pitcher and make no-waste fruit-infused water.
  • Jalapeño - I don’t do any more prep than washing and lopping off the stem. Feel free to give it a rough chop if your blender or food processor needs the assist.
  • Garlic - Fresh garlic cloves are definitely the way to go here. I like to buy pre-peeled garlic in giant Costco-sized bags, then keep it in the freezer to pull out as I need.
  • Mayonnaise - I prefer Hellman's/Best Foods or Duke's, but any high-quality store-bought mayo you like will do just fine. Out of mayo? Sub in full-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt for a tangier, yet equally yummy twist!
pounded black serving tray topped with a small white plate holding a jar of creamy jalapeno cilantro sauce with sliced limes and a sprig of cilantro.

How To Make Garlic Cilantro Sauce With Jalapeños & Lime

This easy recipe for creamy jalapeno sauce couldn’t be easier if it tried. Don’t believe me? Here’s a video of me making this creamy green sauce in just 2 minutes. If you prefer to read than watch, here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Add all ingredients to high-speed blender or food processor. 

Step 2: Blend until smooth. Pour into a squeeze bottle and get ready to have some fun. Enjoy!

mayo, jalapenos, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice added to a food processor fitted with the chopping blade.
flat lay shot of the garlic cilantro sauce in the food processor after blitzing.
Chuy's style creamy jalapeño sauce in a white bowl for serving with tortilla chips.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

While Joe and I have no notes for this delectable cilantro lime dip, there are plenty of ways for you to make it your own:

  • Vegan Cilantro Sauce - Use your favorite vegan mayonnaise to keep it entirely plant-based!
  • Pollo Tropical Copycat Recipe - Use half mayo and half sour cream or Greek yogurt.
  • Paleo/Whole30-Friendly - Use avocado oil mayonnaise.
  • Adjust the Heat. If you're not a fan of spicy things, you can easily adjust the Scoville level by removing the ribs and seeds of the jalapeño before blending. Prefer tongue-tingling tastes? Add extra jalapeños and/or experiment with adding spicier peppers to the mix (e.g. serrano, scotch bonnet, or habanero).
creamy jalapeno sauce with garlic, lime, cilantro and mayo in a small glass jar with slices of lime leaning against it.

Expert Tips

  • This Peruvian green sauce will look different if you make it in a high-speed blender vs. a regular blender or food processor. I have a Vitamix, so it emulsifies entirely and becomes a uniform shade of green. If you don’t have a Vitamix/Blend-Tec, yours will look more like Chuy’s creamy jalapeno sauce — whiteish with some green flecks. It’s delicious either way.
  • Scrape down the sides as needed. In the video, you can see me using the blender plunger to get all the good stuff down into the blades. If you’re using a food processor, stop and scrape the bowl at least once to make sure all the chunks of jalapeños and garlic are blended out.
  • Sauce too thick? Add more fresh lime juice.
  • Can’t get fresh limes? Nellie & Joe’s Famous Key West Lime Juice is the next best thing. You can also use it to make my favorite ginger coconut key lime bars!
  • Feel free to wing it. While I’ve given y’all a recipe that yields a modest amount of this yummy creamy jalapeño sauce, if I’m being honest, I don’t measure anymore. We make a big-batch recipe with an entire 30oz tub of mayo, then chuck in a 2-3 bunches of cilantro, a handful of garlic cloves, 3-4 jalapeños, and enough lime juice to make the blender purr (usually about 3-4 limes worth). It’s pretty impossible to mess up.
silver spoon taking a dollop of creamy cilantro garlic sauce out of the jar.

Serving Suggestions

Friends, once you make a batch of this creamy jalapeno sauce recipe I’m pretty sure you’ll find no shortage of ways to put it to use. Here are just a few ideas to get your creative wheels turning:

  • Slather it on a Santa Fe chicken sandwich, or use it as a dipping sauce for the fries you eat with it!
  • You couldn’t ask for a better creamy cilantro sauce for fish tacos or salmon burritos.
  • Take your fusion meal to another level of yum by drizzling this aji verde on Korean steak tacos.
  • Use it to dress up these BBQ chicken sweet potato bowls or to tame the heat of my zhoug chicken rice bowls.
  • Forget ranch dressing for your pizza; this low-carb creamy hot sauce is way better.
  • Use it to make my spicy avocado tuna salad or drizzle it over salmon sweet potato cakes.
white dip bowl filled with creamy jalapeno garlic sauce with a sprig of cilantro.

Storage Instructions

  • Keep the spicy cilantro mayo sauce in a squeeze bottle in the fridge for easy access and mess-free usage. Note that if you use a food processor instead of a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, it’ll be a bit chunkier, so you may need to cut the nozzle to make it wider. You can also keep it in the air-tight container of your choice.
  • Since store-bought mayo already has preservatives in it, the sauce should keep well in the fridge for a month or more. We make a giant mayo-tub-sized batch about once every 6 weeks and have never had an issue with spoilage.
  • I do NOT recommend freezing aji verde. The mayo tends to separate and/or become spongy, leaving you with a less-than-desirable consistency.
spicy, garlicky cilantro lime sauce in a jar on a table with fresh limes and cilantro.

FAQs

What is cilantro garlic sauce made of? Does creamy jalapeño sauce have dairy?

It depends on the recipe, but mine is made using store-bought mayo, cilantro, fresh garlic, jalapeños, and lime juice — so, no dairy.

Is cilantro garlic sauce fattening?

Considering it’s mostly mayonnaise, it is somewhat fattening. But the fat is worth it for the taste! If you’d like to make it healthier/lighter, try swapping in full-fat Greek yogurt.

Is creamy jalapeño sauce spicy?

I’d consider this a mild-medium spice level, but you can easily tweak it to your preference. Hop up to the “optional variations” section above for more details on how to do it.

Does this taste like Chuy’s creamy jalapeno sauce?

It’s pretty darn close. Chuy’s uses bottled ranch dressing instead of mayo, so it’s a bit thinner than this. If you’d like to make yours with a similar consistency, add a splash of milk, buttermilk, or even olive oil to thin it out.

flat lay shot of spicy cilantro lime dip in a white bowl with a slice of lime and a silver spoon for serving.

If you love this post and want more budget-friendly recipe inspiration, be sure to subscribe for email updates and follow me on Pinterest!

cilantro lime fish taco sauce in a jar on a table with a houseplant and a lime blurred out in the background.

Creamy Garlic Lime Cilantro Sauce

This beautiful green sauce is creamy, spicy and bright. You'll want to put it on everything from pizza to burgers, tacos to eggs, and everything between.
5 from 10 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine Keto, Paleo, Peruvian, Whole30
Servings 12 oz
Calories 48 kcal

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Squeeze Bottle

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bunch Cilantro stems and all
  • 1-2 Limes juiced
  • 1-2 Jalapeño stem removed
  • 5-10 cloves Garlic
  • 2 C Mayonnaise Hellman's or Duke's preferred

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to high speed blender and blend until smooth. Pour into squeeze bottle and prepare to put this on everything. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Optional Variations:
  • Vegan Cilantro Sauce - Use your favorite vegan mayonnaise to keep it entirely plant-based!
  • Pollo Tropical Copycat Recipe - Use half mayo and half sour cream or Greek yogurt.
  • Paleo/Whole30-Friendly - Use avocado oil mayonnaise.
  • Adjust the Heat. If you're not a fan of spicy things, you can easily adjust the Scoville level by removing the ribs and seeds of the jalapeño before blending. Prefer tongue-tingling tastes? Add extra jalapeños and/or experiment with adding spicier peppers to the mix (e.g. serrano, scotch bonnet, or habanero).
Expert Tips
  • This Peruvian green sauce will look different if you make it in a high-speed blender vs. a regular blender or food processor. I have a Vitamix, so it emulsifies entirely and becomes a uniform shade of green. If you don’t have a Vitamix/Blend-Tec, yours will look more like Chuy’s creamy jalapeno sauce — whiteish with some green flecks. It’s delicious either way.
  • Scrape down the sides as needed. In the video, you can see me using the blender plunger to get all the good stuff down into the blades. If you’re using a food processor, stop and scrape the bowl at least once to make sure all the chunks of jalapeños and garlic are blended out.
  • Sauce too thick? Add more fresh lime juice.
  • Can’t get fresh limes? Nellie & Joe’s Famous Key West Lime Juice is the next best thing. You can also use it to make my favorite ginger coconut key lime bars!
Big-Batch Recipe
Joe and I don't mess around with this stuff — it's literally our favorite condiment. To make a big batch, use:
  • 1 30-oz jar mayo 
  • 2 large bunches cilantro, stems and all (rinsed well)
  • 10-20 cloves garlic (depending on how garlicky you like it)
  • juice of 3-4 limes
  • 3-4 jalapeños

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5ozCalories: 48kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 140mgPotassium: 20mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 71IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Easy, Fast, Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
vertical pin with a photo of a jar of cilantro garlic lime sauce with a silver spoon sticking out and two lime slices and a sprig of cilantro in the foreground with text overlay that reads "just neeed 5 ingredients, cilantro garlic sauce with jalapeños."
closeup shot of spicy, creamy cilantro lime dip in the food processor bowl.
lime cilantro garlic sauce in a jar on a white plate on top of a pounded black round metal serving tray.

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  1. Grace says

    November 11, 2024 at 6:00 pm

    5 stars
    This was so good! I did change it up just a little bit. 1/2 sour cream & 1/2 mayo. I will make this every time from now on.

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      November 19, 2024 at 12:36 pm

      Hi Grace, YUM! That sounds like such a good tweak! I'll have to try that myself next. 🙂

      Reply
    • Alex & Pat says

      June 04, 2025 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      This was great! Instead of using cilantro, I used fresh parsley’s for all those people who have an aversion to cilantro. Instead of using only mayonnaise, I divided the dip into one part mayonnaise to parts, Greek yogurt for a healthier spin. Excellent taste!

      Reply
      • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

        June 05, 2025 at 5:09 pm

        Thanks so much for this fun variation, Alex & Pat!! I'm gonna have to try it next. 🙂

        Reply
  2. Carmen S says

    January 04, 2025 at 8:51 am

    5 stars
    This sounds awesome! I'll try it today! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      January 04, 2025 at 3:47 pm

      Yay Carmen! I hope you love it as much as we do!!

      Reply
  3. Victoria says

    February 12, 2025 at 1:24 pm

    5 stars
    Just found you and have to try this recipe. It sounds amazing!

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      February 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm

      Hi Victoria, thank you so much! I hope you love it as much as we do!

      Reply
  4. Julie Kennedy says

    February 15, 2025 at 6:12 pm

    It's good for how long in the fridge

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      February 18, 2025 at 5:59 pm

      Hi Julie! I've kept mine for up to a month or longer in the fridge using Hellman's/Best Foods Mayonnaise—whatever is in the mayo that keeps it fresh also keeps this doctored-up version fresh. That said, I'd bet most food safety experts would tell you to use it within about a week. Use your best judgment!

      Reply
  5. Sherry says

    February 18, 2025 at 5:45 pm

    Could this been dine in a Nutribullet because I don't have a blender or food processor?

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      February 18, 2025 at 5:56 pm

      Absolutely!

      Reply

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Hey y'all! My name is Ashley, and I'm the Grocery Addict. I'm here to share my best time saving tips, money saving tricks and store bought grocery hacks to make being the CFO (Chief Food Officer) of your family a little easier. All of my recipes are designed for real, busy people - like you! - who want to eat healthy, homemade food on a tight budget. I can't wait to see you in the kitchen!

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