Empanada Dipping Sauce Recipes from Creamy to Spicy

Throughout history, empanadas were known as the ‘working man’s meal’ because they were full of hearty ingredients.

Plus, they didn’t cost a lot of money and workers could easily pack them up and take them to work.

Nowadays, empanadas are a popular snack that can easily be turned into a full-blown meal.

Yet, do you know what would make these delicious pastry turnovers even better?

An empanada dipping sauce, of course.

A good sauce can bring out the flavor and enhance its nutritional value.

Plus, it just makes it so much more fun to eat!

1. Empanada Dipping Sauce with Mayo

One of the more popular empanada dipping sauces is made with mayonnaise.

Simply combine mayo and salsa into a creamy, mildly spicy sauce perfect for dipping your empanadas.

However, if you want something with more of a kick, you can add some diced jalapenos or a bit of hot sauce.

Here are the ingredients:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

3/4 cup chipotle salsa

A dash of onion powder

1 teaspoon hot sauce, chili garlic sauce, or some diced jalapenos (optional)

Place the ingredients in a bowl and stir until they’re fully dissolved.

2. Empanada Dipping Sauce with Sour Cream

Sour cream dipping sauces go great with heavy, hearty meat-filled empanadas.

The sauce can be either mild or spicy, depending on your desired level of heat.

Not only is it mouth-watering, but it’s also quick and easy to make because you only need two ingredients:

1 cup sour cream

Any hot sauce of your choice

Combine the two ingredients in a bowl and mix.

Make sure you taste it before serving to make sure the level of heat is to your liking.

Here’s the kicker:

You can also add lime, garlic, or avocado, to make avocado crema and give it some zing.

3. Beef Empanada Dipping Sauce

If you’re looking to pair your beef empanadas with something flavorful, look no further than this recipe for Anaheim chili sauce.

It has a herby, fresh taste, and a wonderfully bright green color that pairs perfectly with beef empanadas in particular.

All you need is 1 seeded Anaheim chili pepper, 1 can of tomatillos, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 cup chopped onion, and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.

You’ll also need 1/4 tsp ground cumin, salt, and sugar.

Now:

Puree all the ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth.

Then, transfer the mixture to a small saucepan, and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes.

Let it cool for 5–10 minutes before serving.

4. Empanada Green Dipping Sauce

Another delicious green-colored sauce, also sometimes called salsa verde, is a Mexican classic.

Made from tomatillos, onions, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapenos, it’s perfect for dipping your empanadas, especially those made with chicken or pork.

Here’s the recipe:

Remove the husks off 1 lb tomatillos and the stems off 3 serrano peppers, then peel 3 garlic cloves.

In a saucepan, add the vegetables and cover with water.

Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes.

Move the ingredients to a blender and puree with a pinch of salt and pepper for flavoring.

Add 1/4 cup water or chicken broth.

For a thinner sauce, add more liquid 1 tsp at a time until you get the desired consistency.

5. Puerto Rican Empanada Dipping Sauce

Despite having Spanish origins, sofrito sauce has become a well-known seasoning often served with many Puerto Rican dishes.

I do have to point out that it takes longer to make than most sauce recipes on my list simply because there are more ingredients to prepare.

It gets better:

You can prepare it the day before.

You can also make a big batch and freeze it for up to six months.

Take a look at the ingredients needed to make 4 cups of sofrito sauce:

2 medium-sized Spanish onions cut into big chunks

4 stemmed and seeded cubanelle peppers cut into big chunks

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 roughly chopped large red bell pepper

1 bunch of roughly chopped cilantro

18 peeled garlic cloves

8 aji dulce peppers (optional)

4 leaves of cilantro (optional)

Salt for seasoning

To make, add the onions and peppers to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.

Then, one by one, add the remaining ingredients.

6. Empanada Dipping Sauce with Aioli

Chipotle aioli is all about that spicy, smoky flavor.

You can make it in a few minutes to add an extra layer of deliciousness to your empanadas.

This recipe calls for 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tsp of adobo sauce from a can of smoky chipotle peppers, 1 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp lemon juice, and a crushed garlic clove.

Here’s how you make it:

First, stir all the ingredients together, along with some salt and pepper to taste.

Then, add some adobo sauce if you need more heat.

7. Cuban Empanada Dipping Sauce

Of course, as any Cuban knows, the best way to eat Cuban Picadillo empanadas is with a cilantro cream sauce.

Tangy and herby, this sauce will bring out the flavors of your empanadas to the max!

Check it out:

In a mixing bowl, add 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro, and 1 lime.

Stir the ingredients, then add salt and pepper to season.

You can also replace the sour cream with some Mexican crema for some ‘out-of-the-box’ cooking.

It has a similar consistency as sour cream, but with a richer and thicker texture and a bit more zest.

Some people like to add the green parts of a green onion just to add a bit of kick to the flavor.

8. Chicken Empanada Dipping Sauce

Hands down, the best chicken empanada dipping sauce has to be the one made with cilantro and lime.

Tart and tangy, it adds extra flavor and depth to your chicken empanadas.

You might be wondering how to make the cilantro lime empanada sauce:

Start by adding 1.5 cups Greek yogurt, quarter-cup water, 1 lime, 1 garlic clove, and 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a blender or food processor.

Pulse until well combined.

Then, add half an avocado, half a cup of cilantro, and a quarter-cup of green onions without the white part.

Finally, add salt to taste.

9. Chicken Empanada Dipping Sauce with Yogurt

For my chicken empanadas, I prefer a light herbed Greek yogurt sauce.

It’s low-carb, high in protein, and tastes heavenly.

It takes about five minutes to make and works really well with chicken empanadas.

You can also use it as a dip for nachos, crackers, pretzels, raw veggies, you name it!

Now for the fun part:

Empty 1 cup Greek yogurt into a bowl and lightly whisk.

Add 1 tbsp of both chopped dill and chopped parsley.

Next, add 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, a dash of salt, 1 tsp lime juice, and 1 tsp olive oil.

Stir all the ingredients, and set aside for 10–15 minutes to give the flavors time to blend.

10. Spanish Empanada Dipping Sauce

Spanish empanadas are stuffed with ground beef and lots of vegetables, including pimiento-stuffed olives, roasted onions, and more!

So, it seems fitting that they would pair nicely with a roasted red pepper sauce.

Besides being rich in flavor, this recipe is incredibly quick and easy.

Take a look:

Add the roasted red peppers, salt, smoked paprika, garlic, and cream cheese to the food processor.

Blend until smooth.

Empty in a serving bowl, and dig in!

11. Empanada Dipping Sauce with Vinegar

Filled with ground beef, potato cubes, and onions, these will definitely be a crowd-pleaser at your next dinner party.

To make them even more savory, pair them with a tangy herb-based dipping sauce called chimichurri sauce.

Check it out:

Combine 1/4 cup vinegar, 1 tsp red pepper flakes, and 4 minced garlic cloves in a bowl.

Add 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil to the vinegar mixture, then set aside for 10 minutes.

Chop 1 cup parsley, 1 cup cilantro, and 1/2 cup fresh oregano.

Combine the herbs in a medium-sized mixing bowl, and add the oil and vinegar mixture.

Additional Dipping Sauce Ideas

Below are a couple of additional ideas to turn any simple dipping sauce into something out of this world!

Healthier Alternatives

You can easily turn any recipe that includes mayonnaise vegan by substituting the mayonnaise with Vegenaise instead.

Here’s the deal:

It tastes exactly like regular mayo, but without any eggs or large amounts of cholesterol or saturated fat.

Another healthier option is to make a honey mustard sauce.

This timeless classic goes well with almost all empanadas mainly because of its simple, yet rich, flavors.

Besides, no one can resist the taste of that creamy, sweet, and savory combo mixed together perfectly.

Fancy Sauces

Do you want to impress your guests? Or maybe you feel like trying something a bit more upscale?

Then, why not try making bechamel sauce?

While it sounds sophisticated and elite, Bechamel sauce is basically flour, milk, and butter stirred together.

You can also add stock and a roux to give it a darker shade and adds a deep flavor.

Some people add shredded Gruyere cheese and some Parmesan to make some Classic Mornay Sauce.