The Perfect Sauce: Classic Spicy Aioli Recipe

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Cooking With Anadi

12K subscribers · creamy mayo spiked with sriracha and garlic

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This Spicy Aioli recipe is so easy to execute and you will feel like a saucier after you have made your first sauce. This was my first sauce that I made at home and this is still my favorite! Now if you are ambitious, you can whip up some homemade mayonnaise as a base for this recipe. Even if you don’t, this homemade spicy aioli is better than any store-bought spicy aioli sauces I have ever had. Whenever I make this sauce, I make sure to add it to everything! You’ll get a couple of ideas later on in this post, so be sure to keep reading!

Tools Needed

• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Garlic press
• Measuring spoons

Measuring cups

Ingredients for This Classic Spicy Aioli Recipe

This recipe only needs a few ingredients. Scroll to the bottom of this post or press the “Jump to Recipe” button to see the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD which has all ingredient quantities, plus you can save the recipe for later. Additionally, you can use the recipe card to scale the recipe based on how big of a batch of spicy mayo you’re looking to make!

• Mayonnaise: You can use regular mayo or even Japanese mayo for a smoother texture and a more mild taste, if desired!
• Sriracha sauce
• Lemon juice: You can do lemon juice or lime juice, depending on what you already have on hand and/or what you prefer!
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic cloves.
• Salt and pepper: Essential seasoning to bring out all the flavors in the spicy mayo.

How to Make Spicy Aioli at Home

To prepare your Classic Spicy Aioli at home, mix all the ingredients together.

How to Use Homemade Spicy Mayo

• Served with sushi: Try it out in sushi cones.
• A drizzle over bowls: A must-have in my Poke Bowl! It would also be an excellent sauce for my Ultimate Beef Burrito Bowl.
• Taco topper: This would be great to accompany Restaurant-Style Baja Fish Tacos.
• Sandwiches & wraps base: An essential spread for a Quick & Easy Grilled Chicken Sandwich. It would also be delicious in a Breakfast Bagel BELT, Baked Cheesy Deli Chicken Sandwich, or a Super Easy Open-Faced Tuna Salad Sandwich.
• Burgers: While there are so many mayo variations, I always come back to this classic Spicy Mayo recipe to use as a base in my so many of my burgers. A couple of examples include my McDonald’s India Crispy Paneer Burger and my McAloo Tikki Burger, Zinger Chicken Burgers and my Dinner Roll Smash Burger Sliders.
• For dipping: While I personally am not someone who likes to dip their fries in mayo, if you do like to do dip your fries in mayo, then go ahead and use this Spicy Mayo recipe as an incredible dip! Try out my Extremely Cheesy French Fries, Loaded Cheese & Bacon Air Fryer Fries, or Greek-Style Feta Fries. This Spicy Mayo is also a perfect dip for a variety of other snacks, including Chicken Tenders, Shrimp or Vegetable Tempura, Sausage Rolls, or Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks.

Tips for the Best Spicy Aioli

A few small steps take this spicy aioli from good to crave-worthy. Whisk the mayonnaise and sriracha together vigorously first, so the sauce turns smooth and glossy before anything else goes in. Reach for freshly minced or pressed garlic rather than the jarred kind — it is the backbone of that classic aioli flavor. Add the sriracha a little at a time and taste as you go; two tablespoons gives a gentle, well-rounded heat, but you are in charge of how spicy it gets. If you have a few minutes, let the finished sauce rest in the fridge before serving so the raw garlic mellows and the flavors meld. Then taste and adjust — a little more lemon juice for brightness, another pinch of salt if it needs it.

Easy Swaps and How to Store It

This spicy aioli is easy to make your own:

• Dial the heat up or down by adjusting the sriracha — add an extra teaspoon for a fierier kick, or pull it back for something milder.
• Swap the lemon juice for lime for a slightly different tang.
• Stir a spoonful of Greek yogurt in for some of the mayonnaise if you want a lighter, tangier sauce.
• Use roasted garlic in place of raw for a mellower, sweeter flavor, or add a pinch of smoked paprika or chipotle for a smoky twist.

To store, transfer the aioli to an airtight container — an airtight jar, a glass jar or a squeeze bottle all work — and refrigerate it, where it stays fresh for up to a week. Give it a quick stir before serving.