chipotle

American  

[chi-poht-ley, chee-pawt-le] / tʃɪˈpoʊt leɪ, tʃiˈpɔt lɛ /

noun

chipotles plural

1. a mature jalapeño pepper that is smoked until dried, used whole or ground into a spice, especially in Mexican cooking.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• chipotles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chipotle

First recorded in 1920–25; from Mexican Spanish chipotle, chilpotle, chilpocle, from unrecorded Nahuatl chīlpōctli, equivalent to chīlli chile ¹ ( def. ) + pōctli “smoke”

Explanation

A chipotle is a dried chili pepper with a smoky, rich flavor that's common in Mexican cuisine. Chipotles are used to make salsa and marinades, among other dishes. It takes a jalapeño to make a chipotle. If the slightly spicy green peppers are left on the vine, they eventually turn bright red. When these red jalapeños are smoked for several days over a wood fire, they officially become chipotles. You'll often find them packed in cans with adobo sauce made from spices and vegetables. Chipotle comes from the Aztec words chilli, "chili pepper," and poctli, "smoke."

Example Sentences

Twenty-five minutes or so transforms the skillet from simply good to richly cohesive, allowing the smoky chipotle, sweet corn and creamy beans to settle into each other properly.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

Add sliced chipotle peppers for an added layer of smoky heat.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

Black bean chipotle hummus was among the offerings in the craft services area.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2025

She loved them all: her own marinated chèvres, “velvety smooth” St. Loup goat Camembert, smoked chipotle Manchego from Quillisascut Farm.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 20, 2024

We keep the filling simple, with roughly mashed potatoes and shredded cheese, but we amp it with two flavor-packed pantry ingredients — canned chipotle chilies and the smoky sauce they are packed in.

From Washington Times • Jul. 24, 2023