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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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

Chili powders, red pepper flakes, chipotle in adobo, even jalapeño can all bring a slow-building warmth.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2025

For example, a pantry geared toward Mexican cooking might include cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle chiles, masa harina, and a bottle of good hot sauce.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2025

The red jalapeños and smoked chipotle are grown right here in California at Fire Tongue Farms.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

The Palace Kitchen chicken wings achieved a fiery Tabasco heat but lost any of their billed chipotle smokiness, while two out of three were over-grilled to dry and tough.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 7, 2023

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