Adobo sauce is a blend of garlic, chiles, herbs, and vinegar. The sauce comes in Southwestern, Latin American, Tex Mex, and Asian varieties. Adobo is used to add color and tang to grilled scallops, fish, shrimp, pork, and chicken.
TABASCO chipotle hot sauce is the closest substitute for adobo sauce because it strikes the same flavor notes. Other alternatives that match adobo’s flavor profile include chile-garlic and ranchero sauces.
Best Substitute for Adobo Sauce: TABASCO Chipotle Hot Sauce
The best substitute for adobo sauce is TABASCO chipotle hot sauce because both sauces are made with vinegar, chipotle chiles, garlic, and herbs, and both sauces measure 2,500 SHU on the Scoville Heat Scale.
The main difference between the two sauces is their texture. Adobo sauce is syrupy, and chipotle sauce is thin. To thicken the chipotle sauce to adobo’s consistency, add 1 cup of chipotle sauce to a blender with 5–6 dried chipotle, guajillo, or ancho chiles.
Use a 1:1 ratio to substitute adobo sauce with chipotle sauce. TABASCO chipotle hot sauce is commonly available in supermarkets.
Other Adobo Sauce Substitutes, Alternatives, and Replacements
A few excellent condiments, homemade chile sauces, and spice blend rubs work in the place of adobo sauce because they are made of similar ingredients and taste similar to adobo sauce.
Condiments
Achiote Paste
Achiote paste is a delicious alternative to adobo sauce because it fuses several of adobo’s cross-cultural variations by combining Mexican spices with mild, aromatic Mediterranean cuisine.
Increase the heat and dampen the earthy flavor of achiote by adding 2 tablespoons of Mexican in a Minute seasoning to the achiote replacement.
To substitute adobo sauce, use twice as much achiote paste as adobo sauce, or use 1½ tablespoons of achiote paste with a pinch of Tex Mex seasoning for every tablespoon of adobo sauce called-for in your recipe.
Achiote paste is delicious as a pre-grill rub for meat or fish.
Ancho Chile Paste
Ancho chile paste is a delicious substitute for adobo sauce because it has similar flavor notes, but is sweeter, milder, and smokier than adobo.
As a substitute for 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce, combine 1 tablespoon of Mexican in a Minute seasoning with 1 tablespoon of ancho chile paste. To increase the heat, add 2 tablespoons of chopped, dried chipotle chiles.
This replacement condiment tastes fabulous over chicken, beef, and fish.
Canned Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
Chipotle peppers canned in adobo sauce are a spicier replacement for adobo sauce, but with flavors similar to adobo. The following chipotle sauce brands are medium-hot alternatives to adobo sauce:
The canned chipotle sauce works as a side dip, over-grilled meat and fish, and in tacos.
Homemade Sauces
Homemade adobo sauce is loved by spicy-food fans who also enjoy garlic and herbs.
Homemade Adobo Sauce
After TABASCO chipotle hot sauce, homemade adobo sauce is the ultimate substitute for authentic store-bought options, and the ingredients can be adjusted to your taste and texture preference.
Use these ingredients to make homemade adobo sauce:
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder or cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh chipotle chiles
Method:
Add all the ingredients into a bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until a ketchup-thick sauce forms. Store homemade adobo sauce in a fridge or freezer and use as a meat rub, fish rub, in tacos, over nachos, and as a side dip. Use the same amount as you would commercial adobo sauce.
Ranchero Sauce
Ranchero sauce is a yummy alternative to adobo sauce because it has similar ingredients and a similar flavor. The replacement sauce uses various chiles that result in smoky, spicy, earthy flavors.
Use the following ingredients to make ranchero sauce:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 chopped, medium onion
- 3 diced chipotle peppers
- 4 crushed garlic cloves
- 16-ounce can of diced tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
- 1 tablespoon chipotle powder
- 1 tablespoon guajillo chile powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (optional)
Method:
Fry the onions and peppers for 5 minutes, and add the garlic to cook for another minute. Stir in the tomato, chicken broth, and cilantro, followed by the spices, salt, and pepper, and simmer for 25 minutes. Sprinkle the lime juice into the cooked sauce. Add soy sauce for adobo sauce color.
Use 2 parts ranchero sauce to replace 1 part adobo sauce in tacos and over chicken, pork, and beef.
Chile Garlic Sauce
Chile garlic sauce is an excellent replacement for adobo sauce because it mimics adobo sauce’s flavor in its blend of garlic and spicy chiles.
Use the below ingredients to make chile garlic sauce:
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces fresh jalapeno peppers
- 2 crushed garlic heads
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons cool water
Method:
Add the ingredients, except the cornstarch and half the water, to a blender. Blend on high for 1 minute. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 teaspoon of cool water with cornstarch to create a paste. Add the cornstarch paste to the chile garlic, and blend to combine.
Pour the blender contents into a pot on the stove, and bring to a boil. Simmer the chile garlic sauce for 20 minutes over low heat. Remove from the heat, and let cool before storing the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Chile garlic sauce isn’t as spicy as adobo sauce, so use 2 tablespoons of the replacement to substitute 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce. The alternative sauce works wonders as a dip and over beef, pork, and chicken.
Hoisin Sauce
Hoisin sauce is a mouth-watering alternative to adobo sauce because it matches adobo’s spicy Mexican and Southwestern flavors. A recipe using hoisin sauce in place of adobo sauce tastes almost exactly like the original.
Use the following ingredients to make hoisin sauce:
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 medium chopped onion
- 4 ounce can of diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons organic peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 3 crushed garlic cloves
- 3 diced chipotle chiles
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped cilantro
- Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Chinese five-spice seasoning blend
- 1 teaspoon miso paste
Method:
Fry the onion in sesame oil for 5 minutes before adding the tomatoes and honey, and cooking for another minute. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes. Blend the sauce smooth, then cool the sauce to room temperature. Store the sauce in the fridge or use it right away.
Use 3 parts hoisin sauce in place of 1-part adobo sauce as a dip, in tacos, and over nachos.
Spice Rubs
Spice rubs can be made to mimic adobo sauce’s mixture of fragrant spices, garlic, and chile. These rubs can be used as substitutes for adobo sauce with roasted meats and vegetables, and fried seafood.
Tex Mex Adobo Dry Seasoning
Adobo dry seasoning makes a good replacement for adobo sauce because it contains the same dry ingredients. The dry seasoning has strong chile and garlic flavors that burst through an herbal undertone.
Combine the following ingredients to make adobo dry seasoning:
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
Method:
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, and sprinkle the spice rub over the meat before spreading the seasoning over the meat evenly. Tex Mex adobo dry seasoning makes a good 1:2 adobo sauce substitute for steaks, seafood, pork, and chicken.
Cajun Seasoning
Cajun seasoning is a tasty spice blend replacement for adobo sauce because it uses similar spices.
Use the following herbs to create your own Cajun seasoning:
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Method:
Blend the ingredients together in a bowl before spreading them evenly over the meat. Cajun seasoning is tangier than adobo sauce, so use half the amount of this dry rub than you would use of adobo sauce to coat meat and fish before grilling or frying.
Chipotle Seasoning
Chipotle dry seasoning is an excellent dry replacement for adobo sauce because it hits the same flavors with an added smoky aftertaste.
Chipotle seasoning is generally spicier than adobo sauce, but it can be made at home and adjusted to your spice preference:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon crushed, dried chipotle chiles
- 1 tablespoon chipotle powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Method:
Blend the ingredients together in a bowl before applying half the amount you’d use of adobo sauce as a dry rub for meat, fish, chicken, and as a 2:1 substitute in spicy sauces.
Greek Seasoning
Greek seasoning is a delicious dry replacement for traditional adobo sauce for people who love Mediterranean and Mexican fusions. The following ingredients make the substitute:
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon chopped dill
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder (optional for extra spice)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
Method:
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and add the chipotle powder for a Mexican fusion. Leave the chipotle out for a Mediterranean spice rub.
Greek seasoning is milder than adobo sauce, so as an adobo substitute for meat and fish rubs, use double the amount of Greek seasoning.
