Prepare simple Cajun aioli with mayonnaise, fresh garlic, hot sauce, and fiery Cajun seasonign. Use the spicy aioli as a dip or spread to enhance sandwiches, burgers, wraps, vegetables, fried seafood, and grilled meats.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Cajun aioli is one of my go-to sauces for dipping, and it comes together in about 5 minutes!
- The versatile aioli sauce is easy to make and easily customizable. Adjust the creaminess and spiciness by using this recipe as your starting point.
What is Aioli?
Traditional aioli combines egg yolk, garlic, lemon juice, and oil. Since mayonnaise contains similar ingredients, I use it as a base for the easy-to-make sauce. Ours includes fresh garlic and Cajun seasoning, so it’s like regular aioli with a Cajun twist!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mayonnaise: You can make aioli from scratch with eggs, garlic, and neutral oil, or use mayonnaise and skip the extra step. I am from North Carolina, so Duke’s Mayonnaise is the only option (if you know, you know).
- Buttermilk: I love adding buttermilk for extra creaminess. Mix 3/4 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar with milk to make your own. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before using it in the sauce.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds brightness and balance to the aioli.
- Garlic: I suggest using four fresh garlic cloves, but measure with your heart.
- Cajun Seasoning: Flavor the aioli with homemade Slap Ya Mama Seasoning, or buy Cajun seasoning from the grocery store. My homemade version of the seasoning contains smoked paprika, seasoning salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, oregano, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes.
- Hot Sauce: Any hot sauce will work, but I love Crystal’s Hot Sauce. Add more or less depending on your tolerance for heat.
- Mustard: Use a grainy stone ground brown or Creole mustard for the best flavor.
Additions and Substitutions
- Replace store-bought mayonnaise with two egg yolks and 2/3 cup of vegetable or canola oil. Add the ingredients to a small blender with smashed garlic cloves and fresh lemon juice if you prefer to make the aioli from scratch.
- You can use Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of mayonnaise to reduce calories, but it won’t be the same as aioli.
Tools Used to Make This Recipe
You will need a small bowl and a whisk to make this simple sauce recipe. If you don’t feel like preparing the sauce by hand, use a small food processor, small blender like a Magic Bullet, or an immersion blender (especially if you want to make homemade aioli).
How to Make Cajun Aioli
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Whisk the mayonnaise, buttermilk, grainy brown mustard, hot sauce, and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth and combined.
Step 2: Add the minced garlic and Cajun seasoning. Stir to combine, cover, and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
- Refrigerate the aioli for 10-15 minutes before serving to let the ingredients combine.
If you love this recipe, try one of these Southern favorites!
Serving Suggestions
- Chicken or Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich
- Chicken Wings, Fried Chicken
- French Fries, Roasted Potatoes, Onion Rings, Fried Pickles
- Fish Fillets, Crab Cakes, Fried Shrimps, Cajun Honey Butter Salmon
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate – Store the leftovers in an airtight container for five days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between mayonnaise and aioli?
Aioli and mayonnaise are creamy condiments used in cooking. Mayonnaise combines oil like canola, safflower, or grapeseed with egg yolks and lemon juice. Aioli is a Mediterranean condiment made from garlic, egg yolks, olive oil, and sometimes lemon juice. What makes Cajun aioli different is the fiery spices and hot sauce.
More Aioli Recipes:
Cajun Aioli
- Small Bowl
- Whisk
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1½ teaspoons grainy brown mustard
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons Slap Ya Mama Seasoning
- Whisk the mayonnaise, buttermilk, grainy brown mustard, hot sauce, and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth and combined.
- Add the minced garlic and Cajun seasoning. Stir to combine, cover, and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Refrigerate the aioli for 10-15 minutes before serving to let the ingredients combine.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.