Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce is my favorite of all the Subway sauces. It brightens any sandwich with a smoky, tangy kick and tastes just like the chipotle sauce from Subway.
I enjoy recreating favorite restaurant flavors at home — from Taco Bell’s Creamy Jalapeño Sauce to the classic Chick-fil-A sauce. This Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce was another successful experiment. If you love Subway, try making this sauce at home and pair it with sandwiches, wraps, or fries.
Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce
You really can make this popular Subway sauce in your own kitchen. I’m especially excited about this recipe because I used to work at Subway and know how that sauce should taste. I often drizzle it over my favorites like the Subway Club, Black Forest Ham, or Oven-Roasted Chicken. Although the restaurant receives the sauce pre-made, I reverse-engineered the flavor and refined the recipe until it matched the original.
When I inspected a takeout packet, I noticed specks of dried herbs like those in ranch dressing — that clue pointed me toward a ranch base with chipotle. From there I tested variations with sour cream, mayonnaise, and different ratios of chipotle in adobo until it tasted right. Family members helped with taste-testing and confirmed when it finally matched the sandwich shop version.
Making Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce
After examining a restaurant packet and tasting multiple iterations, I discovered the sauce’s identity: a ranch base combined with chipotle peppers in adobo, balanced with vinegar, onion and garlic powders, and a touch of sugar. It takes only a few minutes to blend everything together and the flavors improve after the sauce rests for a day.
This recipe is satisfying and easy to make. Store it refrigerated in a squeeze bottle for convenience and a fresh appearance. I’d love to hear how your version turns out — please leave feedback or comments.
How to Make Chipotle Southwest Sauce like Subway:
Subway Chipotle Southwest Sauce
Equipment
- blender
Ingredients
Southwest Chipotle Sauce:
- 3/4 cup ranch dressing (Hidden Valley Original)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (about 1.2 oz; use more or less to adjust heat)
- 2 Tbsp white distilled vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
How to Make Subway Southwest Chipotle Sauce:
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a squeezable bottle and refrigerate. The sauce keeps for up to 2 weeks; flavors improve after 24 hours.
Notes
- Note: The proportions in this recipe produce the closest match I found. Large changes to ingredient ratios will alter the final flavor.
- Chipotle peppers: These come in 7 oz cans with adobo sauce. Use the peppers and some of the adobo sauce when measuring. Reduce adobo for a milder sauce.
Nutrition (per serving)
Q&A
What is in Subway’s Southwest Chipotle Sauce?
The sauce is orange, smoky, slightly sweet, and zesty. Its key ingredients are a ranch base, mayonnaise, chipotle peppers in adobo, onion and garlic powders, vinegar, and a touch of sugar.
Is it spicy?
Yes — the sauce has a noticeable kick from chipotle in adobo, but it’s not overpowering. Adjust the amount of chipotle or adobo sauce to control the heat.
How long does it keep?
When stored in the refrigerator, the sauce will keep for up to two weeks. You can also freeze it for longer storage.
Tips:
- Use a blender or an immersion blender for a smooth consistency.
- Store in a squeezable bottle to keep the sauce from darkening and for easy use.
- Let the sauce rest 24 hours for the flavors to meld.
- Reduce adobo for a milder sauce or increase it for more heat.
Other Delicious Sauces to Try:
- Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce
- Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Taco Bell’s Creamy Jalapeño Sauce
- Easy Hollandaise Sauce