Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce is the creamy, slightly spicy secret behind their popular quesadillas. After experimenting with different combinations, I’ve finally nailed this copycat recipe that tastes just like the original! This versatile sauce transforms ordinary quesadillas into restaurant-worthy creations in just 5 minutes with five simple ingredients.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
The perfect balance of creamy and spicy elements creates that signature Taco Bell flavor. Sour cream provides tanginess, mayonnaise adds richness, and the combination of taco seasoning, chili powder, and jalapeño sauce delivers that distinctive kick. Unlike store-bought alternatives, this homemade version has no preservatives and can be customized to your heat preference.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Sour cream – Provides tanginess and creamy texture
- Mayonnaise – Creates richness and helps the sauce cling to food
- McCormick Taco seasoning – Delivers authentic Mexican-inspired flavor profile, since we use this, we do not need to add individual spices like cayenne pepper, cumin, chili powder, or paprika.
- McCormick chili powder – Adds depth and mild heat
- Tabasco green jalape̱o sauce РContributes the signature spicy kick
How to Make Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce
- Place all ingredients in a bowl.
- Stir until thoroughly combined. For best flavor allow this to rest in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before using.
- Serve with quesadillas.
This sauce is also a great topping for tacos and nachos.
Perfect For
There is no need to use this for just chicken quesadillas. There are many other ways to enjoy this dip.
- Taco topping
- Burrito bowls
- Nacho dipping sauce
- Salad dressing
- Burger spread
- French fry dip
- Vegetable dip
Make it your own
Follow the recipe to the ‘T’ the first few times you make this sauce. You won’t be disappointed. But you can tweak the ingredients a bit to reflect your tastes. Whether substituting your favorite spice mixture or adding a bit of this or that, this recipe is begging you to get creative. Here are several variations to help get you thinking:
Add in a few chopped jalapeno peppers. The recipe already calls for jalapeno Tabasco sauce, but why not up the heat level (if you’re into that kind of thing) and add in a few diced pickled Jalapeno peppers. If you go this route, maybe substitute some jalapeno pickling brine for the Tabasco sauce. If jalapeno peppers are too spicy, you may want to try using chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. This gives the dip a rich, smoky flavor.
Substitute Mexican crema for both the sour cream and mayonnaise in the copycat quesadilla sauce recipe. If you have never had Mexican crema, it is an incredibly white sauce with a bit of tang to help balance its richness. Unlike sour cream and mayonnaise, Mexican crema will not curdle if added to hot food. The recipe is simple. To make enough for this recipe, combine a cup of heavy cream with two tablespoons of buttermilk in a jar with a lid. Add half a lime juice or about 1/2 tablespoon of lime juice. Finish with a pinch of salt. Please put it on the top, shake it well, and keep the jar on your countertop for about 24 hours until the crema thickens.
Tips For Making and Storing DIY Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce
- Any leftover sauce should be kept in the fridge. As long as it is covered, it should last about ten days.
- Turn up the heat—if you want a little more fire in this sauce, add more Tabasco green jalapeno sauce!
You can see how we make a bunch more Taco Bell favorites on YouTube!
Love Taco Bell? Try these recipes!
- Fiesta Potatoes
- Fresco Taco
- Cinnamon Twists
- Crispitos Recipe
- Taco Bell Sauce
- Taco Bell Seasoning
- Taco Bell Baja Blast
Favorite Mexican Recipes
- Authentic Cheese Enchiladas
- Chile Relleno Casserole
- Chili’s Queso
- Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
- Rotel Dip with Beef
- Mexican Egg Rolls
Be sure to check out more of my easy Mexican food recipes and the best copycat Taco Bell recipes here on CopyKat.com!
Homemade Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce (5-Ingredient Copycat)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 4 teaspoons McCormick Taco Seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon McCormick chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Tabasco green sauce
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together, great on quesadillas or can be used as a topping for tacos, or you can use these to drizzle over nachos.
I put this on my shrimp tacos, they were the best ever.
Tastes just like the real thing!