Make this copycat baja sauce recipe from Taco Bell easily and in just a few minutes. Use it as a taco, burrito or quesadilla topping!
Why This Recipe Works
I find it very important to eliminate unnecessary ingredients and preservatives whenever possible. Homemade sauces are an obvious focus for me personally because my family consumes a lot of them.
This baja sauce recipe from Taco Bell is the perfect copycat recipe. Here are the things I love about this recipe:
- It is such a yummy sauce and tastes just like the real thing, giving any Mexican dish a burst of Taco Bell flavor.
- This tasty sauce is done and ready to eat in 15 minutes.
- At any given time, it is very likely that I have all of the ingredients in my kitchen already for this delicious condiment.
- It seriously tastes delicious on just about anything and it makes my taste buds very happy, every single time.
What Is Baja Sauce
Taco Bell’s baja sauce is a creamy sauce made and served at many fast food chains that pairs well with tacos, burritos and other cheesy Mexican dishes.
It typically contains peppers, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, vinegar, lime juice and seasonings.
What Does Baja Sauce Taste Like
This slightly spicy sauce contains a hint of creaminess. The great thing about making the Taco Bell copycat recipe in your own kitchen is that it can be altered according to your unique flavor and spice preferences.
Baja Sauce Ingredients
Jalapeno peppers – This sauce is typically mildly spicy, but if you’d like a milder option replace the jalapeno with half of a green bell pepper.
Red bell pepper – Orange, yellow or red bell peppers can be used.
Onion – Use any variety of onion, such as white onion, yellow onion, green onions or red onions.
Mayonnaise – Use regular mayo or light mayo for this recipe. All or part of the mayonnaise can be replaced with plain Greek yogurt to slim down the recipe, if desired.
Parmesan cheese – Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best results.
Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is preferred, but white vinegar can be used, as well.
Lime juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice creates the best results. Lemon juice can be used as a substitution.
Seasonings – Garlic powder, cumin and freshly ground black pepper make the perfect seasoning combo.
How To Make Taco Bell Baja Sauce
Step 1
Place bell pepper, jalapeno and onion into the bowl of a food processor or blender. Puree peppers and onions until smooth.
Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl along with the following ingredients:
- Mayonnaise
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Vinegar
- Lime juice
- Garlic powder
- Cumin
- Black pepper
Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Recipe Notes
- Make it a spicy sauce by adding an extra jalapeno! Other ways to give it a bit of spice are to add cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
- For an extra cheesy sauce, replace half of the mayo with sour cream or softened cream cheese.
- This sauce is meant to be on the runnier side. For a thicker sauce, cut the amount of peppers and onions in half, as these ingredients can make the end result more watery. Additionally, you can increase the amount of mayo or yogurt used to 1 1/2 cups total.
- If you don’t own an immersion blender, transfer the mixture to a regular blender or puree it in a food processor.
- Transfer the mixture to a convenient squeeze bottle for easy storage and access.
- Other seasonings to consider adding for an easy flavor boost: onion powder, mustard powder or chili powder.
Ways To Use Creamy Baja Sauce
- Serve baja sauce with fajitas, enchiladas, fish tacos (such as mahi mahi), shrimp tacos, taco cups, chicken quesadilla, burrito bowls or nachos.
- Adds a spicy kick to black beans, refried beans or Spanish rice.
- Adds the perfect finishing touch when added to a juicy burger.
- It is a great addition to a southwest salad.
- Add it to steamed or roasted veggies.
- Use as a dip for veggies, French fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots or potato chips.
- Use it as a dipping sauce for grilled chicken, air fryer chicken tenders, chicken nuggets or steak bites.
How To Store Sauce
Transfer baja sauce to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Can You Freeze Mayonnaise Based Sauces
Sauces that contain mayonnaise as a main ingredient may be frozen, but the quality can potentially diminish after thawing. Freezing mayo-based sauces may cause a separation of the ingredients.
It may also look different than it did when it went into the freezer and may have a lumpier texture, as well.
Best Sauce Recipes
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Taco Bell Baja Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 jalapeno pepper stem removed, cut into quarters and seeded
- 1/2 red bell pepper seeded
- 1/4 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add the jalapeno quarters, bell pepper and onion to a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl along with the remaining ingredients.
- Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
- Make it a spicy sauce by adding an extra jalapeno! Other ways to give it a bit of spice are to add cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
- For an extra cheesy sauce, replace half of the mayo with sour cream or softened cream cheese.
- This sauce is meant to be on the runnier side. For a thicker sauce, cut the amount of peppers and onions in half, as these ingredients can make the end result more watery. Additionally, you can increase the amount of mayo or yogurt used to 1 1/2 cups total.
- If you don’t own an immersion blender, transfer the mixture to a regular blender or puree it in a food processor.
- Transfer the mixture to a convenient squeeze bottle for easy storage and access.
- Other seasonings to consider adding for an easy flavor boost: onion powder, mustard powder or chili powder.
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