Start by placing your mayonnaise and sour cream in your mixing bowl. These are the backbone of your sauce, providing a creamy, smooth texture that carries all the other flavors.

Use a bowl to mix mayonnaise and sour cream together.

Whisk until smooth.

Note: Ensuring these ingredients are well combined without any lumps will make your sauce silky smooth.

Next, it’s time to introduce our punchy flavors: chipotle, lime, and spices. Here we infuse our creamy base with character.

Stir in chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Season with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Whisk thoroughly to distribute the flavors evenly.

Warning: Be careful with the chipotle peppers; they can be quite fiery. Adjust the amount according to your heat preference.

Let’s get that saucepan out and gently warm the sauce to meld the flavors together. This step is crucial for letting the garlic and onion powders fully release their aromas.

Pour the sauce mixture into a medium saucepan.

Heat over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Do not let it boil; we just want it warm enough to enhance the flavors.

Note: Gentle heating helps in integrating the flavors better and removes any raw edge from the spices.