There’s not much I miss about living in south Florida, but maybe a handful of restaurants and Pollo Tropical is one of them. If you’ve ever eaten at Pollo Tropical, you already know the real star of the meal isn’t just the grilled chicken — it’s the famous creamy garlic cilantro sauce. This creamy, garlicky cilantro sauce is bright, tangy, and unbelievably addictive. Like can put it on a shoe and eat it addictive.
Drizzle it over grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, rice bowls, tacos, or even use it as a dipping sauce for fries. The best part? You can make this copycat Pollo Tropical garlic cilantro sauce at home in about 5 minutes with simple ingredients.
This version tastes just like the restaurant favorite: creamy, garlicky, citrusy, and packed with fresh cilantro flavor.
Copycat Pollo Tropical Garlic Cilantro Sauce
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tastes just like the famous Pollo Tropical sauce
- Ready in 5 minutes
- Perfect for chicken, rice bowls, tacos, and veggies
- Creamy, garlicky, and bright with lime
- Made with simple pantry ingredients
What is in The Sauce?
This sauce is a creamy garlic cilantro sauce served at Pollo Tropical restaurants. It’s similar to a Cuban-style mojo-inspired aioli but thicker and creamier.
The flavor combination includes:
- fresh cilantro
- garlic
- lime juice
- creamy mayo base
- tangy vinegar
The result is a sauce that is bold, zippy, and extremely addictive.
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, packed
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2–3 tablespoons olive oil (to thin)
Optional:
- 1 jalapeño for heat
- extra lime zest for brightness
How to Make the Garlic Cilantro Sauce
1. Blend the Ingredients
Add the following to a blender or food processor:
- mayonnaise
- cilantro
- garlic
- lime juice
- vinegar
- sugar
- salt
- pepper
Blend until smooth.
2. Adjust the Texture
While blending, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the sauce becomes smooth, creamy, and pourable.
3. Chill
Refrigerate the sauce for 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
What to Use This Sauce for
This sauce is incredibly versatile. Try it with:
It’s especially delicious drizzled over garlic rice and grilled chicken bowls.
Pro Tips for the Best Sauce
Use fresh cilantro.
Fresh herbs make a huge difference in flavor.
Don’t skip the lime.
The acidity balances the creamy base.
Blend until completely smooth.
A high-powered blender will give you the restaurant-style texture.
Let it rest in the fridge.
The flavor gets even better after chilling.
The Best Creamy Garlic Cilantro Sauce (Pollo Tropical Copycat)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1/2 CUPS 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This creamy garlic cilantro sauce is inspired by the famous sauce from Pollo Tropical. It’s bright, garlicky, and incredibly flavorful — perfect for grilled chicken, rice bowls, tacos, roasted vegetables, and dipping fries.
Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup fresh cilantro (packed)
4 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2–3 tablespoons olive oil (to thin)
Optional:
1 small jalapeño for heat
Instructions
-
Add the mayonnaise, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper to a blender or food processor.
-
Blend until smooth and creamy.
-
While blending, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the sauce becomes smooth and pourable.
-
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
-
Refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
Notes
This creamy garlic cilantro sauce is perfect for:
-
grilled chicken bowls
-
rice and beans
-
tacos or burritos
-
roasted potatoes
-
grilled shrimp
-
dipping fries or vegetables
For a lighter version, you can replace half of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Prep Time: 5 MINUTES
- Category: CONDIMENT, SAUCE
- Cuisine: American, CUBAN INSPIRED
Variations
Spicy Sauce
Add 1 jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Avocado Sauce
Blend in ½ ripe avocado for a creamy green sauce.
Greek Yogurt Version
Replace half the mayo with Greek yogurt for a lighter version.
Garlic Lover’s Version
Add 1–2 extra cloves of garlic.
Storage
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
It will stay fresh for 4–5 days.
Because it contains fresh herbs, the color may darken slightly but the flavor stays delicious.
If you love bold, garlicky sauces, this copycat Pollo Tropical garlic cilantro sauce is one you’ll want to keep in your refrigerator at all times. It takes just a few minutes to make, yet it adds incredible flavor to everything from grilled chicken and rice bowls to roasted potatoes and tacos.
The creamy base, fresh cilantro, bright lime juice, and punch of garlic create a sauce that tastes just like the restaurant favorite — maybe even better.
Once you make it at home, don’t be surprised if you start putting it on everything.
