A fancy name for a flavor-packed dipping sauce, Spicy Garlic Aioli is a quick fix that will knock your socks off! It’s so flavorful, and with a hit of spice and plenty of garlic, this easy dipping sauce is perfect with so many things!
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If you’re looking for the perfect dipping sauce for nuggets, fries, and my favorite, sweet potato fries, you MUST try this Spicy Garlic Aioli!
The best part about this recipe is that you can make it as spicy – or garlicky – as you like! I LOVE garlic, so I never hold back on the garlic – but make sure you use fresh garlic as the flavor is so much punchier and makes a real difference in this dipping sauce.
What you’ll love about This Spicy Garlic Aioli Recipe
- It takes a handful of ingredients!
- Make it as spicy as you like!
- It’s so good with everything!
What Is Aioli?
Aioli vs. mayonnaise, what’s the difference? Mayonnaise and aioli are both sauces, and they’re both emulsions. This means they’re created from whipping some fat with something water-based. They don’t usually want to mix (oil and water, after all), but by whipping them, you can force them together, and the result is a thick and delicious sauce.
Aiolis are flavorful – and usually garlic-based sauces. They’re thick, creamy, and packed with flavor. They’re also versatile and can be changed up in many ways. Traditionally, they’re made from an emulsification of oil and garlic (and other flavors), but this is a time-consuming process, and the results often “break.” Breaking means the emulsification has failed, and the oil separates from the other ingredients.
These days, aiolis are made starting with mayonnaise. With so many good-quality mayos out there, it is easier and faster (and no less delicious) to start with commercially made mayo. If you want to make your mayo first, bonus points to you!
When I’m craving fries, and I want a good, punchy, and flavorful aioli with them, I start with mayonnaise. Go ahead – it’ll be delish!
Recommended
Ingredients
You don’t need any fancy ingredients to make this Spicy Garlic Aioli recipe, and you may already have everything in your fridge and pantry!
- Mayonnaise – Use a good quality mayonnaise. I like avocado oil-based mayos.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic is a must for this recipe!
- Lemon juice – Just a wee bit.
- Dijon – You can use regular Dijon mustard, but I like Bold & Spicy Dijon for this easy aioli recipe.
- Cayenne pepper – Start with a wee bit, and then add more if you like it spicy.
- Salt and pepper – Yes, even mayo needs a tad of salt.
How To Make Spicy Garlic Aioli
For a complete list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll down to the recipe at the bottom of this page.
- Grate the garlic with a microplane grater or chop it extremely finely.
- Mix the mayonnaise with the garlic, lemon juice, Dijon Bold & Spicy mustard, cayenne, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Serve with all your favorite dippers!
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- This Spicy Garlic Aioli recipe builds in flavor and intensity the longer it sits! Use it right away for a milder flavor, or make it a day or two in advance for the most potent garlic and spice flavor.
- Cayenne is where the heat comes from in this aioli dipping sauce, but you could use chipotle, hot sauce, jalapeno powder, or your favorite spice.
- Start with just a bit of cayenne and add more if you like it spicier.
- You don’t want big chunks of garlic in this aioli. Use a microplane to grate the garlic cloves or chop them very finely.
What Does Spicy Garlic Aioli Go With?
This versatile and delish dip goes with so many different things – here are some of my favorites:
- Sweet potato fries
- Nuggets
- Chicken fries
- Sandwich spread – try it instead of regular mayo!
- On burgers
- As a veggie tray dip
- Serve it with grilled fish
- Roast beef – it’s soo good with smoked beef.
- Fondue – this is an amazing fondue sauce!
- and so much more!
Step By Step Process
Spicy Garlic Aioli
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic finely grated or chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon Bold & Spicy mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch pepper
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients into a small bowl and blend well.
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- This Spicy Garlic Aioli recipe builds in flavor and intensity the longer it sits! Use it right away for a milder flavor, or make it a day or two in advance for the most potent garlic and spice flavor.
- Cayenne is where the heat comes from in this aioli dipping sauce, but you could use chipotle, hot sauce, jalapeno powder, or your favorite spice.
- Start with just a bit of cayenne and add more if you like it spicier.
- You don’t want big chunks of garlic in this aioli. Use a microplane to grate the garlic cloves or chop them very finely.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
