Prepare homemade ancho aioli with simple ingredients from your pantry. The savory sauce is the best addition to meals tacos with ground beef, air fryer turkey burgers, chicken spinach wraps and fried salmon bites!
What is an Ancho Chile?
Ancho chiles are a variety of dried chili peppers used in Mexican cuisine to flavor sauces, marinades, soups, and stews with their sweet and earthy flavor.
What is Ancho Aioli Made of?
- Lime Juice: Include two tablespoons of lime juice to cut the creaminess of the aioli. You can also use fresh lemon juice, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
- Honey: Balance the smokiness with a small amount of honey.
- Garlic: I use three fresh garlic cloves, but measure with your heart.
- Salt: Taste and season the ancho aioli with salt.
- Ancho Chile: Ancho chile powder gives the sauce its signature flavor. Purchase ancho chili powder online or at your local grocery store.
- Mayonnaise: Stir mayonnaise into the sauce, like Duke’s or Hellman’s. You can also make homemade aioli using 3 egg yolks, 3 garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil.
Additions and Substitutions
- Increase the smokiness. Increase the smoky flavor with a couple of drops of liquid smoke.
- Swap the sweetener. Replace the honey with brown sugar, agave nectar, maple syrup, or a sugar-free option like monk fruit.
- Make the paste from scratch. Use two whole dried ancho peppers for a more authentic flavor. Dry toast the chiles in a non-stick pan over medium heat or high heat, depending on your oven range. Transfer the toasted peppers to a bowl of warm water to rehydrate them. If using whole chiles, I recommend preparing the sauce with an immersion or small blender instead of whisking the sauce by hand.
How to Make Ancho Aioli
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Whisk the lime juice, honey, garlic, ancho chile powder, and salt in a mixing bowl or liquid measuring cup.
Step 2: Add the mayonnaise and whisk until smooth.
If you enjoy the smoky sauce, pair it with one of these dinner recipes!
Serving Suggestions
Ancho aioli is a perfect spread for brisket, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, sliders, and chicken wraps. Transfer the sauce to a small bowl and it’s a great dipping sauce for your favorite chicken tenders, fried shrimp, sweet potato fries, tater tots, onion rings, french fries, or air-fried plantains.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftover ancho aioli in an airtight container or glass jar for one week.
More Aioli Recipes:
Ancho Aioli
- lime juice, 2 limes
- ½ teaspoon honey
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- Whisk the lime juice, honey, garlic, ancho chile powder, and salt in a mixing bowl or liquid measuring cup.
- Add the mayonnaise and whisk until smooth.