13 Best Substitutes For Adobo Sauce Recipes For Spicy & Bold Flavor

Most people like to have some form of sauce when they are cooking different types of meat, to have on the side of a dish as a dipping sauce. One type of sauce that is commonly used is called adobo sauce. You can get different types of this sauce as there are different variations of the sauce that have been created in different parts of the world.

Some types of adobo sauce will feature ingredients like coconut milk, rice vinegar, and various other oils and liquids. However, there are other types of adobo sauce that feature additional ingredients like onion, various herbs and spices, and even sweet additions like lemon juice.

However, if you don’t have any adobo sauce to hand, you might be looking for other alternatives that you can use instead.

Adobo sauce is quite a unique type of sauce, but there are lots of other types of sauces that you will be able to use in its place. Some of the best substitutes include garlic and chili sauce, chipotle, and more. 

What Is Adobo Sauce?

Before we get into the different types of sauce that you can use in place of adobo sauce, it can be helpful to learn more about this sauce, so you know exactly what you are looking for in a replacement. 

Adobo, which is also called adobar in Spanish marinades, was a traditional method of cooking that originally comes from the Philippines. This is a phrase that is still used in both Mexican and Caribbean cuisine, but it has a slightly different meaning.

In the Philippines, abodo is a method of cooking for dishes that are made using meat, vegetables, or seafood. They are marinated in a divine mixture of vinegar, garlic, black pepper, bay leaves, and soy sauce.

Any dishes that are made this way are called adobo. The two main ingredients for this type of cooking are vinegar and soy sauce. These dishes can also be made with various types of meat, including fish, beef, and more.

When it comes to Caribbean cuisine, adobo is essentially a mixture of spices, and this dry seasoning mix will be used on various meats before they are cooked. However, it can also be created as a wet rub that is used to marinate either meat or veggies.

When it comes to Mexican cuisine, this version of adobo is essentially a sauce that has been made using ingredients like tomato, oregano, garlic, vinegar, salt, and chili peppers.

Some of the most commonly used chili peppers for this type of adobo sauce are poblano and chipotle, but various other peppers can also be used.

However, if you do not have adobo sauce at home, you can create your own using ingredients that you have readily available in your kitchen. Alternatively, you can get your hands on substitute sauces that are similar in nature to adobo sauce.

What Are The Best Substitutes For Adobo Sauce?

There are lots of different types of sauce that can be used in place of adobo sauce, and you can use any of these alternatives with your dish.

Quick Table: Adobo Sauce Substitutes

We are going to leave a list of some of the best substitutes for adobo sauce below for you to read about. You can then go ahead and choose the one that you think would pair the best with the dish that you want to make.

Adobo Seasoning

If you don’t have adobo sauce or the capability of creating your own sauce, then you could try making your own adobo seasoning instead.

This would create a blend of adobo flavors, without the use of a sauce. Some of the ingredients that could be used for this purpose include onion or garlic powder, oregano, and ground pepper.

Adobo seasoning is most commonly used to create sauces, stew, rice, vegetable dishes, soups, or marinades. Although, it can also be used as a type of dry rub for meats.

It contains the same ingredients as adobo sauce, you are just skipping the liquid part of the recipe. Although, you could add simple ingredients like vinegar or lemon juice to your mixture for an additional burst of flavor.

How To Substitute

The adobo seasoning gives flavor to the recipe and is a better substitute for Adobo sauce. The seasoning comes with the same content as adobo sauce and gives the same flavorful taste to the recipe.

Chipotle Adobo Sauce

If you didn’t already know, chipotle is a type of Mexican jalapeno pepper that is often used to make sauces and more. When these peppers are added into an adobo sauce, they will usually be dried and smoked in order to create a stunning smoky flavor.

Adobo sauce that contains chipotle is generally considered to be a hot sauce. So, if you don’t like spicy foods, then you might not want to use this substitute. 

How To Substitute

To enjoy the smokiness flavor in recipes, Chipotle Adobo sauce is an option. You can easily substitute adobo sauce with Chipotle Adobo sauce in new recipes to make smoky and spicy salsa or salad preparations.

Garlic Chili Sauce

Garlic chili sauce is typically made using vinegar, chili peppers, garlic, and salt. It creates quite an acidic garlicky flavor, but it works really well in sauces and liquid based dishes.

This substitute adobo sauce works really well, but if you are not the biggest fan of strong garlic flavors, you might be better off adding in some tomato and oregano to tone things down a bit. There are also various other spices that you could include to take the edge off.

How To Substitute

In a dish if you don’t have adobo sauce, you can make a delicious garlic chili sauce that is a great substitute. It will add great flavor to your dish and will provide a better taste than just using a sauce that you have to buy.

Ranchero Sauce

Ranchero sauce is great to use when you are making chicken, pork, beef, or veggie based dishes. You can even add it to things like tacos and nachos as the perfect filler.

This sauce is typically made up of a mixture of tomatoes, chili peppers, garlic, salt, onion, oregano, and oil. It has the perfect mixture of both a smoky and spicy flavor. 

If you want your sauce to look more like adobo sauce, then you might want to consider adding in some soy sauce or vinegar. There are also various different herbs that you could add into the sauce for extra flavor.

However you should be mindful not to add too much salt, as this sauce already contains salt, which makes it really easy to ruin the sauce by making it too salty.

How To Substitute

Ranchero sauce comes with a great option and the sauce is used as toppings on dishes. You can make Ranchero sauce at home in just a few minutes by adding tomato paste, water, and canned tomato sauce to canned diced tomatoes and spices.

Achiote Paste

Achiote paste is something that is most commonly used in Caribbean, Central American, and Mexican cuisines, and it is a tasty mixture of annatto seeds, black pepper, garlic, coriander, oregano, cumin, and cloves.

If you didn’t already know, annatto seeds have quite a sweet, peppery, and nutty flavor, and they can work as either a food coloring, a spice, or both. You can reduce this paste with a broth or water before you get down to cooking. 

It will work to create a sweet, smokey, and spicy flavor that is irresistible. You could even choose to use this paste as a meat rub, or even a fish rub.

Some people like to make it into a marinade or sauce to compliment their dinner. Although, if you are looking for a slightly spicier flavor, then you might want to think about adding some chili peppers for an extra kick.

How To Substitute

This easy recipe substitutes adobo sauce with achiote sauce. Achiote is a Latin American spice mixture that is typically used as a marinade and sauce. The sauce is great on meat and vegetables, and it’s a nice change from the adobo.

Hoisin Sauce

An adobo sauce substitute that you might have already heard of is hoisin sauce, which is a thick sauce that has a dark coloring and is mostly made up of chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, five-spice powder, fermented soybeans, sugar, and fennel. Although, it does have a strong taste of both sweetness and salt. 

Hoisin sauce makes the perfect dipping sauce, but it can also be used as a marinade, an addition to a stir fry, or even as a glaze for various types of meat. This sauce is known to be quite salty, which is why some people will add some water, lemon juice, vinegar, or oil to the sauce in order to make it less noticeable. 

You could even choose to add in some onion, garlic, tomatoes, or different herbs in order to improve the flavor to better suit your preferences.

How To Substitute

Hoisin sauce is a thick fragrant sauce that can be used as a dipping sauce. Substituting the adobo sauce for hoisin sauce will give you a delicious dish that will satisfy your taste buds. It’s easy to do and is much healthier than the traditional version.

Cajun Seasoning

Cajun seasoning mix is made up of different herbs and spices, like smoked paprika, balck pepper, oregano, garlic powder, and chili pepper. It features a distinct spicy and smoky flavor, with a subtle hint of garlic. 

Cajun seasoning is perfect for use with meat, seafood, soup, veggies, stir fries and more, and you could even choose to use it as a dipping sauce.

This seasoning is quite spicy, so you shouldn’t add too much of it if you don’t want to overpower your dish. Although, you could even use it as a dry rub, or add a liquid to it in order to marinate your chosen meat in it.

How To Substitute

To substitute Adobo sauce, you need to add an equal amount of Cajun seasoning to the recipe. With a blend of herbs giving robust flavor and spicy heat, the dish can be substituted for different flavor.

RELATED: What Are The Best Substitutes For Adobo Sauce?

Ancho Chili Paste

Ancho chili paste is a red chili sauce with a sweet and mild flavor. It is typically used in Mexican dishes like tacos and burritos, but can also be used as a rub for meats.

Ancho chili paste is a spicy, aromatic, medium-brown paste made from ground dried red chili peppers, salt, garlic, vinegar, and other spices. It is used in Mexican cooking and is a key ingredient in different sauces.

It is a great condiment to add a little spice to any meal. It’s not just for tacos or burritos, though, it’s also great for marinades and stir-fries.

A delicious and versatile chili paste is popular and can be used in different ways. Made with pepper, the thick paste is perfect for adding it to burgers, hot dogs and as dipping sauce. 

How To Substitute

Ancho chili paste can be used as a substitute for adobo sauce in recipes like adobo chicken, as well as some other recipes that call for adobo sauce. Ancho chili paste is a popular Mexican condiment and has a smoky, spicy flavor. It’s also thick and rich.

Greek Seasoning 

The Greek seasoning gives an authentic flavor. It is made with real oregano, thyme and savory. The Greek seasoning includes a mixture that adds a unique taste to any dish. It comes as a perfect side for pasta, fish, vegetables and meats. 

The unique and delicious spice blend from the finest herbs compliments the flavor of dishes. The best Greek seasoning will make any dish more flavorful, giving you a new appreciation for the Greek people’s culture. 

This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to cook or is interested in trying new flavors.

How To Substitute

When a dish is called adobo sauce, it can be hard to find the recipe without ingredients that are not found in most kitchens. The best way to make this dish is to use a greek seasoning, which can be found in most grocery stores. However, it can also be used to replace the traditional adobo sauce found in Filipino cuisine.

Homemade Adobo Sauce

The homemade Adobo sauce is a combination of delicious flavors with vinegar giving a tangy taste and soy sauce adding a salty flavor. 

You can make your own adobo sauce from scratch with ingredients like vinegar, brown sugar, salt, garlic, and bay leaves. 

This sauce has a unique sweet-and-sour flavor that goes well with a variety of dishes, like pork and chicken adobo, fish adobo, and beef adobo.

 It is a basic recipe that can be used in different dishes. The flavors of the sauce vary depending on the recipe and what ingredients are used. 

How To Substitute

You can make adobo sauce by using tomatoes, onions, garlic, bay leaves, vinegar, soy sauce, and cumin as a base. This sauce can be substituted in any recipe that calls for a different sauce, or you can use it to make your own adobo recipes.

Italian Seasoning

The Italian seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices that is popular in Italian cuisine. This blend includes basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, and pepper. 

It is typically used as a condiment on pasta, pizza, and other dishes. Italian seasoning can be used in many different dishes to give them a flavor reminiscent of Italian cuisine. 

It is a common spice in the United States and is sold in a variety of forms, including whole spices, powdered spices, and salt blends.

How To Substitute

The flavor of adobo is very strong and the sauce can be used as a marinade or as a dipping sauce. The best way to substitute adobo for Italian seasoning is to use equal parts soy sauce and red wine vinegar.

Tabasco Chipotle Hot Sauce

Tabasco chipotle hot sauce is a blend of chipotle peppers, red habanero peppers, and cayenne peppers that provides a spicy and smoky flavor.

This hot sauce is made with a mix of spices and peppers, including chipotle peppers. It has a nice blend of smoky and sweet flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.

The flavor of the sauce is balanced between sweet and spicy with a hint of smokiness.

How To Substitute

Tabasco Chipotle Hot Sauce is the perfect substitute for adobo sauce in many recipes. It has a similar taste and is made with the same ingredients as adobo sauce, but it contains more than twice the amount of Chipotle peppers.

Salsa Roja

Salsa Roja is a mild, medium-heat salsa that is red in color and slightly sweet in taste. It is made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, and a secret blend of spices. 

Salsa roja is a sauce with a spicy, acidic, and slightly sweet flavor that is often served with tortilla chips or on top of tacos.

The spiciness of the sauce is mild but its tartness and slight tang make it stand out from the other red sauces.

How To Substitute

The best way to substitute adobo sauce for salsa roja is to use a homemade version of the recipe. The easy, delicious recipe substitutes adobo sauce with salsa roja, and is perfect for those who are tired of the same old adobo sauce.

Make Your Own Adobo Sauce

If none of these adobo sauce substitutes are calling out to you, then you could even make your own version of the sauce at home.

Perhaps the best substitute for this sauce would be your very own homemade version. You could include various different ingredients, like garlic powder, onion powder, vinegar, chili sauce, smoked paprika, oregano, tomato paste, soy sauce, and cumin. 

All you have to do is select all of your chosen ingredients, mix them all together and strain the sauce that you have created.

If you don’t use it all up for dinner, you can store it in a jar within your refrigerator to save it for another day. You could even freeze the sauce to make it last for even longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you know about all of the different substitutes that you can use in place of adobo sauce, we are going to take a quick look at some of the most frequently asked questions on this subject. 

What Can I Use Instead Of Chipotle For Adobo Sauce?

If you are trying to make adobo sauce without using chipotle, you could choose to use things like smoked paprika, chipotle powder, or various other types of chili peppers that you have available to you.

Are Adobo Sauce And Chipotle Sauce The Same Thing?

No, adobo sauce and chipotle sauce are two very different types of sauce. Chipotle sauce is made up of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, making it two sauces in one.

Can I Use Adobo Sauce Instead Of Adobo Seasoning?

Yes, you can use adobo seasoning instead of adobo sauce if you want to create your own meat rub. Although, if you want to make a liquid based dish, you are better off either creating your own adobo sauce using the ingredients that you have, or choosing an alternative sauce..

Summary

Adobo sauce is the perfect blend of ingredients that works to create a delicious sauce that can be used for various different cooking applications. It doesn’t matter if you are marinating meat or fish or making a stir fry, adobo sauce can be used to introduce a variety of flavors to any dish. 

However, if you are unable to get your hands on some adobo sauce, you will be forced to either create your own or choose a suitable alternative.

Both of these things can create unexpectedly delicious results as long as you are conscious of the ingredients that you are using and keeping in mind the dish that you want to create.

You can either choose one of the delicious substitutes that are on our list above, or try your hand at creating your own tasty alternative.

If you do try and create your own adobo sauce at home, it might take you some trial and error to get the perfect blend of ingredients, but it will all definitely be worth it in the end. 

13 Best Substitutes For Adobo Sauce Recipes For Spicy & Bold Flavor

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

Total time

1

hour 

5

minutes

Adobo is a popular Filipino sauce made with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and bay leaves. Learn about the best substitutes for adobo sauce.

Ingredients

• Adobo Seasoning

• Chipotle Adobo Sauce

• Garlic Chili Sauce

• Ranchero Sauce

• Achiote Paste

• Hoisin Sauce

• Cajun Seasoning

• Ancho Chili Paste

• Greek Seasoning

• Homemade Adobo Sauce

• Italian Seasoning

• Tabasco Chipotle Hot Sauce

• Salsa Roja

Directions

• Choose your favorite substitute from the list given above
  
• Follow the directions given in the recipe after having substituted the ingredient in the correct ratio

Recipe Video

• Author
• Recent Posts

Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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