Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)
Quick Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups (300 g) tomato ketchup
- 2 Tbsp (30 ml) distilled white vinegar
- 1 tsp chipotle powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1/8 tsp fine salt
Do This
- 1. Whisk ketchup, vinegar, chipotle, cayenne, garlic powder, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan.
- 2. Set over low heat and warm, whisking, until steaming and smooth (160°F / 71°C), about 3 minutes.
- 3. Taste and adjust heat: add 1/8 tsp cayenne for hotter, or 1 tsp vinegar for tangier.
- 4. Cool 10 minutes at room temperature.
- 5. Transfer to a clean jar, cover, and chill 30 minutes for best flavor.
- 6. Serve as a smoky, peppery fry sauce for fries, burgers, nuggets, or onion rings.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast and pantry-friendly: no special equipment, no hard-to-find ingredients.
- Smoky heat that tastes “restaurant right”: chipotle brings a deep, rounded spice.
- Perfect fry sauce texture: thick, clingy, and dunkable.
- Easy to customize: control tang, sweetness, and heat to match your favorite bottle.
Grocery List
- Produce: none (optional: 1 small garlic clove if you want to use fresh garlic instead of powder)
- Dairy: none
- Pantry: tomato ketchup, distilled white vinegar, chipotle powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, granulated sugar, fine salt
Full Ingredients
Spicy Ketchup Base
- 1 1/4 cups (300 g) tomato ketchup
- 2 Tbsp (30 ml) distilled white vinegar
- 1 tsp chipotle powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1/8 tsp fine salt
Optional Adjustments (After Tasting)
- For more heat: add 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (up to 1/2 tsp total cayenne)
- For more smoke: add 1/4 tsp chipotle powder (up to 1 1/2 tsp total chipotle)
- For more tang: add 1 tsp (5 ml) distilled white vinegar
- For a touch sweeter: add 1/4 tsp sugar
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Measure and combine
Add the ketchup, distilled white vinegar, chipotle powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, sugar, and salt to a small saucepan. Whisk until the spices are evenly distributed and no streaks of vinegar remain.
Step 2: Warm gently to blend flavors
Place the saucepan over low heat. Whisk constantly (or very frequently) for about 3 minutes, until the mixture is smooth, slightly looser, and just steaming.
For precision, aim for 160°F (71°C). Avoid boiling; high heat can make the vinegar taste harsh and can slightly dull the fresh ketchup flavor.
Step 3: Taste and fine-tune
Remove from the heat and taste carefully (it will be warm). If you want it hotter, whisk in an additional 1/8 tsp cayenne. If you want more tang like a punchier fry sauce, whisk in 1 tsp (5 ml) vinegar. If it tastes a bit sharp, add 1/4 tsp sugar to round it out.
Step 4: Cool briefly
Let the spicy ketchup cool in the pan for 10 minutes. This prevents condensation in your storage container (which can water it down).
Step 5: Jar it and chill for best flavor
Transfer the sauce to a clean jar or airtight container. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the chipotle and cayenne fully bloom and the flavor tastes more “bottled” and cohesive.
For food safety, keep it refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or colder.
Step 6: Serve like a fry sauce
Stir before serving. Use it anywhere you’d use spicy ketchup: dunking fries, topping burgers, spreading on grilled cheese, or serving alongside chicken tenders and onion rings.
Pro Tips
- Use low heat, not a simmer: stopping at about 160°F (71°C) keeps the ketchup flavor bright while still blending the spices smoothly.
- Chipotle powder varies a lot: some brands are much smokier or hotter. Start with the listed amount, then adjust after chilling.
- Chilling matters: the sauce tastes noticeably more balanced after 30 minutes in the fridge.
- For extra-smooth texture: whisk for a full 60 seconds before heating, then whisk again right before jarring.
- Make it cling: if you accidentally thin it too much with extra vinegar, whisk in 1–2 Tbsp ketchup to thicken back up.
Variations
- Extra smoky version: increase chipotle powder to 1 1/2 tsp and reduce cayenne to 1/8 tsp for more smoke-forward heat.
- Tangier “fry dip” style: add an additional 1 Tbsp (15 ml) vinegar (total 3 Tbsp / 45 ml) for a sharper, more vinegar-forward kick.
- Milder version: reduce cayenne to 1/8 tsp and chipotle to 3/4 tsp; keep the sugar the same so it still tastes rounded.
Storage & Make-Ahead
Store in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or colder for up to 14 days. Stir before each use. This recipe is ideal for make-ahead: prepare it up to 3 days in advance for the most blended, bottle-like flavor.
Nutrition (per serving)
Approximate, per 2 Tbsp serving: 35 calories; 0 g fat; 8 g carbohydrates; 7 g sugars; 0 g protein; 190 mg sodium.
