Homemade Chimichurri Sauce
Chimichurri is a tangy herb-based sauce traditionally served with grilled meat. Try this delicious and healthy condiment with our easy recipe to make it at home!
Homemade Chimichurri Sauce
Known for its bright green color and vibrant flavors, Chimicurri is a traditional South American accompaniment for grilled meat, specifically from Argentina and Uruguay.
It can be used as a marinade, dip, or topping and adds a zesty burst of flavor to any meat, poultry, and fish. Seriously, chimichurri goes on everything! (I think it tastes amazing with potatoes and yucca fries too!)
I love this fresh chimichurri sauce because it is the best of both worlds: loaded with flavor and it’s made of simple, natural, good-for-you ingredients.ย Low calorie, gluten-free, vegan, and practically no sugar! (It’s also gorgeous!)
What Does Chimichurri Taste Like?
Because it is made with a variety of fresh herbs, chimichurri tastes a bit like a garden in a bowl! Red pepper flakes and garlic add a bit of spiciness, but don’t worry, it’s not what I would actually describe as “hot” spicy, but rather more garlicky.
Smooth olive oil and tangy red wine vinegar bring everything together and provide a canvas for the herbs to shine. There is so much going on and it’s like nothing you’ll ever taste!
(Psst – Try it on our Garlic Butter Shrimp Skewers!)
The following recipe is my husband’s take on the classic fresh chimichurri sauce recipe. This stuff tastes fantastic on just about anything! Steak, seafood, chicken, potatoes, grilled veggies, rice…I could go on. Plus, it takes just minutes to make! It’sย so so so easy!
Pictured below: Our Farmer’s Market Chimichurri Steak Salad
Ingredients
- 1 small red onion
- 1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley or curly parsley leaves (remove stems)
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes (or red pepper flakes)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cupย olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
Free printable copy of this chimichurri sauce recipe available at bottom of post.
Kitchen Tools Used
Note: I’ve included ad links to products I use and love to make this recipe; read our disclosure policy here.
- Food Processor โ We have this one and it has lasted us for years!
Instructions
- Wash and dry the fresh herbs. Peel garlic.
- Add all ingredients to food processor and pulse until well chopped.
This should take about 1-2 minutes total, though you might want to pause a couple times to scrape the sides of the food processor with a spatula (to make sure all ingredients are fully incorporated.
That’s it!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Chimichurri Stay Good?
This fresh chimichurri sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. The flavorsย continue to develop, so it just gets better and better!
Over time, chimichurri will start to darken in color โ this is normal. As long as it is kept refrigerated and used within the first few days, it still will taste delicious!
If you notice that it starts to look brown or smell “off,” then it’s time to toss it and make a new batch.
What Do You Eat Chimichurri Sauce With?
Anything!
While traditionally served with proteins like grilled meats, chimichurri is delicious on so many things!
- A fresh oil & vinegar style salad dressing
- A healthier sandwich spread
- Mix it with mayonnaise to make a zippy new condiment
Can You Freeze Chimichurri?
If you’re like me and hate seeing any of this beautiful sauce go to waste, there is good news…you can freeze it!
One of the easiest ways to do so is to pour the freshly made chimichurri into ice cube trays and freeze. Then you can transfer the individual cubes to a large freezer bag (so you don’t monopolize an ice cube tray for too long).
To thaw, simply place as many cubes as needed in a bowl and allow to soften at room temperature.
Does Chimichurri Contain Oregano?
Many traditional chimichurri recipes contain dried oregano, but we didn’t have any on hand when we originally made this recipe. And you know what? It wasn’t missed!
Because we used fresh herbs and cilantro, there is so much flavor here already!
If you want, you could add a pinch of fresh oregano leaves to the recipe to give it that flavor, but it’s not really needed in my opinion.
Is Chimichurri Spicy?
Traditionally, no, chimichurri is not considered a spicy sauce. However, there is fresh garlic, which can be “spicy” to some. There are also red pepper flakes โ again, it’s not what I would call spicy, but rather just enough to add a little bit of flavor.
This is a garlicky and tangy sauce. If you are sensitive to garlic or vinegar, you may want to use sparingly at first just in case. I definitely do not use sparingly though LOL.
What is the Difference Between Green and Red Chimichurri?
Green and red chimichurri sauce are similar in that they are made with herbs and oil. However, they are different in flavor due to the fact that red chimichurri incorporates roasted red peppers and paprika. And of course, the color is different, as the names imply.
Grab a Printable Copy of this Chimichurri Recipe here:
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Homemade Chimichurri Sauce with Fresh Herbs
Equipment
- 1 Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1 red onion small
- 1 bunch parsley leaves remove stems
- 1 bunch cilantro leaves remove stems
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until well-chopped (about 1 minute total; you may need to pause to scrape the sides of the processor with a spatula).
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin this Chimichurri Verde Recipe on Pinterest:
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This sounds so amazing. Love to use fresh ingredients.
Thanks! It is such a simple and flavorful recipe ๐