There are no jalapenos in this simple copycat Taco Bell quesadilla sauce recipe! It can be ready in a matter minutes and it is keto friendly! DIY recipes are a healthier version of the fast food favorites we love. Nothing is better than homemade!

If you've ever had the spicy sauce used on Taco Bell quesadillas, you know how amazing it is. Technically, the name for the sauce is creamy jalapeƱo sauce. The flavor of this copycat recipe is spot on...and no pickled jalapeƱos needed!
This isn't just for Taco Bell's chicken quesadillas, you can use it for so many different things including: a dip for tortilla chips, salad dressing for taco salad, or in burrito bowls. This creamy sauce is the secret ingredient to take any Mexican food to the next level.
I love to make a quesadilla out of thinly sliced steak, ground beef, or chicken breast, quesadilla or Monterey Jack cheese, and a large keto friendly flour tortilla. No onions or anything like that. I then cook it in a large skillet until it is nice and crispy and the cheese is melted. Such a simple quesadilla recipe. I have also made quesadillas in the oven!
Ingredients needed
This section explains how to choose the best simple ingredients for this Taco Bell quesadilla sauce recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For a printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
½ Cup Ranch Dressing - This shortcut ingredient really makes my version of Taco Bell's quesadilla sauce super easy. To keep the recipe truly "homemade" you could use your own homemade ranch dressing.
1 teaspoon Granular Sweetener - Just a little bit is all you need. I use a keto friendly sweetener that is zero carbs. You can also use sugar.
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper - if you like your Taco Bell sauce less spicy, you can omit this.
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar - any vinegar will actually work, this is just what I always have. This combined with the sriracha is a great substitute for the jalapeƱo juice that the original recipe uses.
1 ½ teaspoons Sriracha - again, for less spice, you can reduce or omit this hot sauce but it really gives this yummy sauce that certain spicy flavor like the jalapeño peppers.
Just as a comparison, here is the Taco Bell ingredients list for the Creamy JalapeƱo Sauce straight from their website:
How to make Taco Bell's quesadilla sauce
This section explains how to make this copycat Taco Bell quesadilla sauce recipe, step by step. For a full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
This easy copycat recipe is really super simple, you just mix everything together in a medium bowl! No need to cook or blend anything in a food processor. I don't know about you, but I hate busting out and cleaning small kitchen appliances.
I use this amazing creamy jalapeƱo sauce inside my steak quesadillas and plain cheese quesadillas, and then as a dipping sauce for my keto tortilla chips. You can't have too much! This would also be great as a dressing for a delicious salad, burrito bowl with rice or nacho fries!
Storing homemade quesadilla sauce
- This delicious Taco Bell quesadilla sauce should keep in the refrigerator for up to the expiration date of your ranch. Stored in an airtight container, of course.
One thing is for sure, this spicy ranch sauce is one of my favorite items on the Taco Bell menu and now that I know how to make it at home, I will never eat a quesadilla without it again.
I actually have 3 different quesadilla recipes on my website and this sauce will work on all of them. I have my Steak Quesadilla recipe, Keto Chicken Enchilada Quesadillas, and Avocado and Beef Quesadillas. Be sure to try them!
More copycat recipes
- Keto Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Copycat Rao's marinara
- Instant Pot Starbucks Egg Bites
- Chili's Copycat Chicken Enchilada Soup
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Easy Taco Bell Quesadilla Sauce Recipe - No JalapeƱo!
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Ranch Dressing
- 1 teaspoon Granular Sweetener (Click here to see my favorite on Amazon)
- ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper omit for less spice
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoon Sriracha
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl until fully combined. Makes approximately 10 tablespoons.
Jennifer's tips
- Ranch Dressing: For a more calorie friendly option, use my recipe for 24 calorie Greek Yogurt ranch dressing.
Nutrition per serving
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy only. Please re-calculate on your own with the ingredients and amounts you used for the most accurate data.
Jessica says
This sauce is amazing! I love that it didn't use pickled jalapeƱos like most recipes because I never have those on hand. This tastes exactly like Taco bell.