5 Minute Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce

This copycat Taco Bell quesadilla sauce comes together in just minutes and is the perfect way to take your homemade quesadillas to the next level in no time!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Sour Cream: Use full-fat sour cream for the best flavor and texture. Low-fat will work but you're going to sacrifice in the flavor department and it won't be as smooth and creamy.
• Mayonnaise: Mayo adds a bit of fat to the sauce to help balance out the acid and heat from the pickled jalapenos. Again, you can use low-fat but full-fat mayo will give you the best flavor and texture.
• Pickled Jalapenos & Juice: Pickled jalapenos are the star of the show here. I don't recommend using fresh jalapenos as it's really going to change the overall flavor of the sauce. If you aren't a fan of heat look for mild or tamed pickled jalapenos. You'll be using the juice too, so find the pickled jalapenos that come in a glass jar as opposed to the diced jalapenos that come in a small can.
• Spices: The spice blend for this sauce includes chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper. You can adjust these spices to suit your personal taste preference.
• Granulated Sugar: Sugar balances out the heat and acid and luckily little goes a long way. 

Instructions

Add ingredients to a food processor along with a couple pinches of salt and pepper.

Process until smooth and creamy.

Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with your favorite copycat Taco Bell quesadillas!

Tips for Making the Best Creamy Jalapeno Sauce

• If you don't have a food processor, no worries! All the food processor does is finely mince the jalapeno and combine everything into a creamy sauce. Alternatively, you can just finely mince the pickled jalapeños yourself and whisk everything together in a medium bowl.
• Scrape the sides of the food processor as needed to make sure everything is well blended. If you're using a food processor, be sure to stop once or twice and scrape down the sides to make sure that everything is well incorporated.
• Use this copycat Taco Bell quesadilla sauce recipe as a spread, dip, or accompaniment to your favorite meals. I like to make this sauce and keep it in the fridge to use as a tasty spread on a flatbread with spinach and crispy panko chicken for a quick lunch. It also tastes delicious on a juicy air-fried burger or as a dipping sauce for crispy baked fries or air fryer tater tots. You could even use it as a delicious salad dressing paired with my ground beef taco meat and crispy tortilla strips for an easy taco salad.
• This sauce recipe just gets better with time so feel free to prep it up to a week in advance and let the flavors mingle in the fridge.

How to Make the Perfect Chicken Quesadilla

Be sure to check out my full cheesy chicken quesadilla recipe to get all my tips and tricks but here are the basics!

• Heat a large skillet or large saute pan over medium heat.
• Add shredded cheese (try a Mexican three-cheese blend, Colby Jack, or Monterey Jack cheese), diced grilled chicken, and creamy quesadilla sauce to a burrito-size flour tortilla.
• Fold in half and cook each side for a few minutes until golden brown.
• Serve with a side of creamy quesadilla sauce for dipping.

What is the sauce in Taco Bell quesadilla?

The sauce used in Taco Bell's chicken quesadilla is a jalapeno sauce made with mayo, sour cream, jalapenos, and a variety of spices including chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.

Is creamy jalapeno sauce the same as creamy chipotle sauce?

Jalapeno sauce and chipotle sauce are very similar. The biggest difference is the pepper. Chipotle peppers are fully ripened red jalapeno peppers that are smoked and dried so they have a slightly different, smokier flavor. Creamy jalapeno sauce relies on pickled jalapenos and their juice. While the other ingredients are similar - mayo, sour cream, and spices - the peppers themselves are what make the sauces different.

What do you dip quesadillas in?

This creamy jalapeno sauce! A slightly crisp flour tortilla with diced chicken and melted cheese pairs perfectly with this sauce. It's got a delicious blend of cool, creamy mayo and sour cream combined with just a bit of heat from pickled jalapenos and smoky spices. Try it with my cheese quesadillas or my chicken quesadillas!

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Freezing

• Make-Ahead: Creamy jalapeno sauce is the perfect make-ahead sauce to keep on hand. Make a double batch to keep in the fridge and at the ready for any dipping or dressing needs. 
• Storage: Store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Freezing: You can freeze this sauce. Put it in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using and be ready to stir or whisk vigorously to recombine the sauce ingredients. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays so that you've got individual servings of the sauce ready to thaw at a moment's notice!

More Copycat Recipes

• Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla
• Taco Bell Crispy Chalupa Supreme
• Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch
• Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
• Noodles and Co Penne Rosa
• Noodles and Co Pasta Fresca
• Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup

Easy Family Dinner Recipes

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