Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce

4.96 from 41 votes
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My easy copycat Taco Bell quesadilla sauce recipe tastes like what you would find at the popular fast food chain. I can’t get enough of the bold flavors and creamy texture this sauce has to offer. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this sauce in minutes to give you that Taco Bell taste at home.

Bowl of creamy sauce.


 

Taco Bell is one of my top favorite fast-food restaurants because of 2 menu items, the Mexican pizza, and the chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla might seem boring but it comes with a creamy jalapeno sauce that adds so much flavor.

The problem is I want way MORE of the flavorful sauce than they give you, so of course I needed to make a version of it at home so I would have an endless supply.

After looking at the ingredients Taco Bell uses in their creamy jalapeno sauce, and some recipe testing, I came up with this copycat sauce that I think tastes super close the restaurant.

If you are a sauce lover like me, be sure to check out this copycat Zax sauce, Bloomin’ Onion sauce, and McDonald’s breakfast sauce.

Quesadilla sauce ingredients

This Taco Bell creamy jalapeno sauce uses just a few easy ingredients. It has a bit of tangy and spicy flavor that goes well with so many dishes.

  • Sour cream – Part of the base of the sauce. You can use full fat or light sour cream. You can substitute with plain Greek yogurt.
  • Mayonnaise – Use your favorite mayonnaise or even homemade mayo.
  • Spices – You will need garlic powder, cumin, paprika and salt. If you like your food on the spicy side, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • Pickled jalapenos – This recipe calls for both the jalapenos and a little bit of the juice, also called brine, that is in the pickled jalapeno jar. You will want to dice up the jalapenos pretty small to make it easier to eat. The amount used can be adjusted depending on how spicy you like the sauce. ***Feel free to leave out the diced pickled jalapenos if you prefer a smooth sauce.
Bowls of spices, sour cream, mayo and diced jalapenos.

How to make Taco Bell quesadilla sauce

Find the full, printable recipe and video below.

  1. Place the ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Whisk the ingredients until completely combined. Cover and refrigerate the sauce for at least an hour to let flavors come together.
Bowl of mayonnaise, spices, and diced jalapeno.
Bowl of sauce with a whisk.

Heather’s recipe tips

  • If you would like the sauce to be thinner, add another teaspoon of jalapeno juice. You can also leave out the diced pickled jalapenos.
  • Don’t skip letting the sauce sit in the refrigerator before serving. It will help amplify all of the delicious flavors.
  • This recipe makes a little over 1 cup of sauce. You can easily double the recipe if you want leftovers or making for a crowd.

How to store homemade quesadilla sauce

This quesadilla sauce needs to be stored covered, in the refrigerator. It will last for about 2 weeks if stored properly.

Since the base is made with mayonnaise, I would not recommend freezing.

How to use copycat Taco Bell quesadilla sauce?

This sauce is versatile and can be used for many different things. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Taco sauce – Pour on your favorite tacos or fajitas.
  • Chicken sandwich – Use as a spread on chicken sandwiches.
  • Chicken strips – Perfect for dipping.
  • Cheeseburgers – Forget ketchup and mustard, try this sauce on burgers.
  • Burritos – Can be used to top burritos, enchiladas or bowls.
  • French Fries – This makes a delicious French fry or onion ring dip.

Variations of Taco Bell creamy jalapeno sauce

Super Spicy – If you like your sauce really spicy, add extra diced jalapenos and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Cheese – Try mixing in 1/2 cup of shredded cheese for a delicious, chunkier dip.

Mild – If you don’t like much heat, reduce the amount of diced jalapenos or add in extra sour cream.

Salad Dressing – This makes an amazing salad dressing. Drizzle over your favorite salad to add a flavorful kick to those greens.

Bowl of quesadilla sauce with a quesadilla dipping into the sauce.

Common questions

Can you make quesadilla sauce ahead of time?

Yes, this is a great sauce to make ahead of time. The longer it sits, the more the flavors come together. This sauce will stay good for about 5 days in the refrigerator. I like to give it a stir before serving.

Is quesadilla sauce the same as jalapeno sauce?

Yes, this copycat recipe is the same thing as the jalapeno sauce.

Can I leave out the diced jalapenos?

Yes, you can leave these out if you prefer a smooth sauce. Just don’t leave out the jalapeno juice.

More homemade sauce recipes

Let me know if you tried this recipe in the comments.

Bowl of dipping sauce.
4.96 from 41 votes

Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce

By Heather
Creamy, easy to make copycat Taco Bell quesadilla sauce. This copycat jalapeno sauce can be made with a few simple ingredients and is great on quesadillas, tacos, sandwiches, and more.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoons chopped, pickled jalapenos
  • 2 tablespoon juice from pickled jalapenos
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne optional

Instructions 

  • Mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pickled jalapenos and juice. Stir until combined.
  • Serve immediately or cover and store in the refrigerator.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • If you would like the sauce to be thinner, add another teaspoon of jalapeno juice. You can also leave out the diced pickled jalapenos.
  • Don’t skip letting the sauce sit in the refrigerator before serving. It will help amplify all of the delicious flavors.
  • This recipe makes a little over 1 cup of sauce. You can easily double the recipe if you want leftovers or making for a crowd.

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 474mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 856IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
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Recipe Rating




21 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    I used smoked paprika instead of Spanish. I also used smoked chipotle pepper instead of cayenne. I’m not sure if it was that the pickled jalapeno liquid wasn’t as acidic as it should be, but I also added about a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for half the recipe. It was delicious!

  2. 4 stars
    I found that it need a little something more. I increased the salt to 1 tsp. And, added 2 tsp of lime juice.

  3. Made it exactly how it says the first time, it was good. But the second time I added less cumin and little more jalapeño juice and it taste so good and way better! Exactly like Taco Bell.

  4. I always wondered about the Taco Bell sauce. It is interesting to read about what goes into your copycat recipe!