Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Mary

4.55 from 51 votes

Sep 25, 2022, Updated Feb 23, 2024

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This super easy Chimichurri Sauce recipe is made in the food processor with fresh herbs and comes together in under 5 minutes. It’s fantastic over grilled meats and vegetables!

Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (2)

Recipe Highlights

  • We make it for catering events all the time and serve with grilled steak as an alternative to BBQ sauce and it’s always a HIT.
  • You can use Chimichurri sauce as a salad dressing or it makes a great marinade.
  • This green sauce can be made with any protein or you can modify ingredients, like our Jalapeño Chimichurri.

Growing up I remember my folks using A-1 or other similar steak sauce to douse over grilled steaks. Not my thing these days. A good steak doesn’t need much to jazz it up. That being said, I simply cannot resist a good authentic chimichurri sauce drizzled over some grilled or smoked meats!

And while steak can be great on its own, chimichurri sauce can do wonders for beef, chicken, pork, fish, and so much more! One of the most popular dishes we serve at Ember & Vine catering events is Smoked Tri Tip served with Chimichurri Sauce. It’s popular for a good reason. It’s damn delicious, that’s why!

Table of Contents

  • Recipe Highlights
  • What is Chimichurri Sauce made of?
  • What to Serve Chimichurri Sauce on
  • How to Store Chimichurri Sauce
  • Hand Chopping
  • Easy Chimichurri Sauce Recipe

What is Chimichurri Sauce made of?

Chimichurri sauce may look like an Argentinian version of pesto of sorts, but it’s quite different (and made without any nuts). It’s more of a salsa or sauce originating from South America, but without tomatoes.

Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (3)

The classic version is a mix of simple ingredients. The important part is making sure they are fresh ingredients.

  • fresh parsley – Use flat leaf parsley versus curly parsley for better texture and the best flavor. It’s the main herb and important to be fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves.
  • shallots (or red onion)
  • cloves of garlic
  • fresh oregano
  • red pepper flakes – You can adjust the heat level by increasing or decreasing the dried red chili peppers. This recipe is low heat.
  • red wine vinegar – You can substitute with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar depending on how much vinegar flavor you want.
  • olive oil
  • kosher salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: You can add fresh cilantro if you like the flavor. Simply sub out some of the parsley for cilantro based on your personal preference.

There are certainly variations, but this is its most basic form. Traditionally you would hand chop everything and layer it together.But you can also can take a little help from the food processor (like I do for large catering events) and toss everything in to let it do it’s thang!

Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (4)

Using the food processor you can make a big batch of chimichurri sauce in under 5 minutes. The difference in flavor between hand chopping and food processing is minimal. Nobody will ever know by taste! Boom.

Tip: If you want that classic hand chopped look, but still want a shortcut, pulse all of the dry ingredients in the food processor, then transfer to a bowl and slowly mix in the wet ingredients.

Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (5)

What to Serve Chimichurri Sauce on

  • Grilled steak of any kind
  • Picanha Steak
  • Smoked beef, especially Smoked Tri Tip
  • Grilled Chicken
  • Grilled Fish (great on Cod) or with shrimp skewers
  • Reverse Seared Pork Chops
  • And so much more (I’m not kidding, I even serve it on scrambled eggs)
Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (6)

How to Store Chimichurri Sauce

Place in a sealed glass container, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. When you pull it back out it may harden up due to the oil, but it will soften back when you leave it out for a few minutes at room temperature.

Hand Chopping

If you don’t have a food processor, or prefer a chunkier style of Chimichurri, here are the steps to follow:

  1. Prepare a medium bowl. Start by hand chopping the parsley, garlic, shallots, and oregano and add to the bowl. Then add the salt, pepper, and red chili pepper flakes.
  2. Add the lemon juice and red wine vinegar. Stir, and then add slowly stir in olive oil until you get your desired texture. You don’t want too much oil as it will become too wet. Stop adding oil when the consistency becomes paste-like.

For a variation on this chimichurri sauce recipe try our jalapeño chimichurri sauce as well.

*This recipe was updated from this post in 2014 with new pictures and content. The recipe remains the same.

If you like this recipe we’d truly appreciate it if you would give this recipe a star review! And if you share any of your pics on Instagram use the hashtag #vindulge. We LOVE to see it when you cook our recipes.

Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (7)

4.55 from 51 votes

Easy Chimichurri Sauce Recipe

By Mary Cressler | Vindulge

Super easy homemade chimichurri sauce recipe made in the food processor and comes together in under 5 minutes. Great on grilled meats and vegetables!

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 1 cup

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh Italian parsley, loosely packed
  • 5 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 2 tablespoons shallots, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • ½ lemon juiced (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped , (dry works okay too, but fresh is more fragrant)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
  • ½ – ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients except olive oil in the food processor and pulse a few times until everything starts to break up.

  • Start slowly adding the olive oil. Start with just ½ cup, and then slowly add more and pulse a few more times.Don't puree, just a few pulses will do. If it’s too thick add more olive oil until you get to your desired consistency.

    Serve over grilled or smoked beef, chicken, pork, fish, and even vegetables.

Video

Notes

Chef’s tip: If you want that classic hand chopped look, but still want a shortcut, pulse all of the dry ingredients in the food processor, then transfer to a bowl and slowly mix in the wet ingredients.

Hand Chopping – If you don’t have a food processor, or prefer a chunkier style of Chimichurri, here are the steps to follow:

  1. Prepare a large bowl. Start by hand chopping the parsley, garlic, shallots, and oregano and add to the bowl. Then add the salt, pepper, and red chili pepper flakes.
  2. Add the lemon juice and red wine vinegar. Stir, and then add slowly stir in olive oil until you get your desired texture. You don’t want too much oil as it will become too wet. Stop adding oil when the consistency becomes paste-like.

Nutrition

Calories: 1062kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 109g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 79g | Sodium: 2404mg | Potassium: 914mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 10227IU | Vitamin C: 179mg | Calcium: 291mg | Iron: 11mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American, Argentinian

Servings: 1 cup

Calories: 1062

Keyword: chimichurri, chimichurri ideas, Chimichurri Sauce in the Food Processor, chimichurri Sauce Recipe, Easy Chimichurri Sauce

Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Categorized as:

Barbecue Sauces, Food, Popular Posts, Recipes

Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (8)

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About Mary

I'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, founder of Vindulge, and author of Fire + Wine cookbook. Thanks for stopping by!

About Me

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Easy Homemade Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is chimichurri sauce made of? ›

Chimichurri sauce hails from Uruguay and Argentina. It's commonly made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, finely chopped parsley, and dried or fresh oregano.

How do you make Bobby Flay chimichurri sauce? ›

He starts by adding flat-leaf parsley to the processor and tops it with a bit of fresh oregano. He then adds fresh cilantro, red wine vinegar, lots of black pepper, fresh garlic and smoked paprika to the processor. He tops it off with salt and a healthy amount of olive oil and purees it.

What is a substitute for chimichurri sauce? ›

So, when I'm feeling like a light sauce to put on my steak, I use a persillade instead. The classic French sauce consists of fresh parsley, garlic, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. This combination is both refreshing and packed with flavor.

How do you get the bitterness out of chimichurri? ›

Chimichurri can become bitter if the ingredients aren't balanced properly. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to fix bitter-tasting chimichurri. Adding more acidity, like citrus or vinegar, can counteract bitter flavors. You can also add a touch of sweetness in the form of honey or sugar.

How long is homemade chimichurri good for? ›

Dried-herb chimichurri can last up to a week unrefrigerated and 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. For a shortcut, consider our dried Chimichurri Spice Blend, which needs just olive oil, salt and vinegar to make a long-lasting sauce.

How healthy is chimichurri? ›

And from a health standpoint, chimichurri is loaded with good-for-you benefits, including calcium, carotenes, iron, and vitamins A and C (from the parsley) and calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamins E and K (from the oregano), as well as heart-healthy garlic and the monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, which may help to ...

What is the difference between Mexican chimichurri and Argentinian chimichurri? ›

The Argentinian chimichurri uses parsley and cilantro. It has a slight tinge of spice, but nothing like the extremely spicy Mexican chimichurri. The Argentinian version also uses vinegar and is more like an infused oil than a “sauce”.

What are the ingredients in Gaucho Ranch chimichurri sauce? ›

Garlic, Parsley, Soybean Oil, Vinegar, Salt, Crushed Red Pepper, Spices, Oregano and Less Than 0.1% Xanthan Gum.

Why is my chimichurri brown? ›

The vinegar browns the herbs over time making the appearance of the chimichurri dull.

Can you buy chimichurri in a jar? ›

Chimi's Churri Sauce® as a marinade, dressing, or condiment and it will perfectly enhance any of your favorite meats, seafood, or vegetables. This package includes one 7-ounce glass jar.

What to use instead of coriander in chimichurri? ›

If you happen to be a cilantro hater, feel free to substitute the cilantro with more parsley, another mild herb like basil, or even another leafy green like arugula for flavor. Chimichurri is incredibly versatile and will impart its bold flavor on whatever it is drizzled, doused, or smothered on.

Does chimichurri have onion in it? ›

What is chimichurri made of? The ingredients for chimichurri sauce may typically include chopped parsley and/or coriander, garlic, onion, olive oil, red or white wine vinegar and chilli.

Does chimichurri need to rest? ›

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

It's important to let the chimichurri rest for at least 20 minutes before using it; this allows the garlic, fresh herbs, and crushed red pepper flakes meld with the oil so your chimichurri is extra flavorful.

What spice takes away bitterness? ›

Spices mask bitter flavors, so don't be shy. Add some spicy peppers or powders to your cooking, or sprinkle some onto your dishes for a little bit of extra heat. Black pepper in particular has compounds that counteract bitterness. Some other great spices include cayenne, red pepper, paprika, and chili powder.

Is chimichurri supposed to be sour? ›

This Chimichurri is a herbaceous, spicy, sour, garlicky fresh sauce you will want to put on EVERYTHING!

What does chimichurri taste like? ›

If we could only use one word to describe chimichurri sauce, it would be “bright.” The combination of fresh cilantro and parsley pack an herbaceous flavor, while the red pepper flakes bring a hint of spice. Add in the garlic's spicy, pungent flavor and the vinegar's acidic tang, and that's chimichurri.

Why do they call it chimichurri? ›

Others believe the name "chimichurri" came about in the early 1800s during the failed British invasion of Rio de la Plata, the estuary that separates Argentina from Uruguay, when captive British soldiers asked for condiments by saying, "give me the curry", which Argentines translated into "chimichurri".

How is chimichurri different from pesto? ›

Pesto is an Italian sauce made with basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil. Chimichurri is an Argentine sauce made with parsley, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and red chili peppers or flakes. Chimichurri doesn't contain nuts or cheese. Basil pesto is smooth, salty, and slightly nutty.

Why is chimichurri so popular in Argentina? ›

Chimichurri is a popular recipe in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay and, as mentioned above, is an excellent accompaniment of the meat cuts and vegetables, because it adapts perfectly to different plates and makes them even more delicious.

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