Chimichurri Sauce is the kind of fresh, bold, herb-packed condiment that instantly makes grilled meats, chicken, fish, and even crostini taste brighter and more flavorful. Made with fresh parsley, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, cumin, garlic, hot sauce, and salt, this famous Argentinian sauce comes together in just 5 minutes.
What makes this recipe special? It has the perfect balance of fresh herbs, rich olive oil, tangy vinegar, warm spices, garlic, and a little heat. It is simple, fast, and incredibly versatile.
This sauce is perfect for grilled steak, chicken, fish, shrimp, vegetables, sandwiches, grain bowls, roasted potatoes, or garlic crostini topped with grilled flank steak slices.
Why You’ll Love This Chimichurri Sauce
Why are simple sauces always the ones that make the biggest difference? Because they can turn basic grilled food into something fresh, zesty, and restaurant-worthy in minutes.
This Chimichurri Sauce is bright, herbaceous, garlicky, tangy, and just a little spicy. The parsley gives it freshness, the olive oil makes it rich, and the red wine vinegar adds the perfect sharp bite.
I love how quickly it comes together. Everything goes into a blender or food processor, gets mixed for a few seconds, and the sauce is ready.
The secret weapon? Red wine vinegar. It cuts through the richness of grilled meat and olive oil, giving the sauce that bold, lively flavor chimichurri is known for.
Chimichurri Sauce Time and Servings
Prep Time
5 minutes
Total Time
5 minutes
Servings
12
What Ingredients Are in Chimichurri Sauce?
This recipe uses fresh herbs, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, spices, and hot sauce for a quick Argentinian-style condiment.
You’ll need:
1 cup fresh parsley
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
1 ½ teaspoons pepper sauce, such as Frank’s Red Hot
1 teaspoon salt
Ingredient Notes
Fresh parsley gives chimichurri its bright green color and fresh herbal flavor.
Extra virgin olive oil creates the rich base of the sauce and helps carry all the flavors.
Red wine vinegar adds tang and brightness.
Dried oregano brings earthy, savory flavor.
Ground cumin adds warmth and depth.
Minced garlic gives the sauce bold, sharp flavor.
Pepper sauce adds a little heat and extra zip.
Salt balances the herbs, vinegar, garlic, and oil.
How to Make Chimichurri Sauce
This sauce is quick, simple, and ready in minutes.
Add the Ingredients
Combine the fresh parsley, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, ground cumin, minced garlic, pepper sauce, and salt in a blender or food processor.
Blend the Sauce
Mix on medium speed until the ingredients are evenly blended, about 10 seconds.
The sauce should look combined but still fresh and slightly textured.
Taste and Adjust
Taste the sauce and adjust if needed.
Add more vinegar for tang, more hot sauce for heat, or more salt to bring out the flavor.
Serve and Enjoy
Spoon the chimichurri over grilled chicken, steak, fish, vegetables, or crostini.
Serve right away or let it sit briefly so the flavors can blend.
Why This Chimichurri Sauce Works
This sauce works because it balances fresh, rich, tangy, savory, and spicy flavors.
The parsley keeps it fresh, the olive oil makes it smooth, the vinegar brightens everything, and the garlic, oregano, cumin, and hot sauce add bold flavor.
It is simple, but it makes almost anything taste more exciting.
What Does Chimichurri Taste Like?
Chimichurri tastes fresh, tangy, garlicky, and herb-forward.
It has richness from olive oil, sharpness from vinegar, warmth from cumin and oregano, and a little heat from pepper sauce.
It is bold without being heavy, which is why it pairs so well with grilled foods.
What to Serve With Chimichurri Sauce
Chimichurri Sauce is delicious with grilled chicken, steak, flank steak, fish, shrimp, pork, lamb, roasted vegetables, potatoes, rice bowls, eggs, sandwiches, or garlic crostini.
It is especially good spooned over grilled meat right before serving.
You can also use it as a dipping sauce, drizzle, marinade-style flavor booster, or finishing sauce.
Can You Make Chimichurri Sauce Ahead of Time?
Yes, chimichurri can be made ahead.
In fact, letting it sit for a little while helps the flavors blend.
Make it a few hours before serving and store it covered in the refrigerator.
How to Store Chimichurri Sauce
Store Chimichurri Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Stir before serving, because the oil and herbs may separate as it sits.
For the freshest flavor, enjoy it within a few days.
Can You Freeze Chimichurri Sauce?
Yes, chimichurri can be frozen.
Spoon it into an ice cube tray, freeze until solid, then transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag.
This makes it easy to thaw small portions whenever you need a quick flavor boost.
How to Use Frozen Chimichurri
Thaw frozen chimichurri in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Stir well before serving.
The texture may be slightly different after freezing, but the flavor will still work well over grilled meats, vegetables, or potatoes.
Chimichurri Sauce Substitutions and Variations
One of the best things about chimichurri is how easy it is to adjust.
Add Cilantro
Use part parsley and part cilantro for a brighter, slightly different herb flavor.
Add More Garlic
Use extra garlic if you love a stronger, sharper sauce.
Make It Spicier
Add more hot sauce or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
Use Fresh Oregano
Fresh oregano can replace dried oregano for a more herbal flavor.
Add Lemon Juice
A squeeze of lemon juice adds extra brightness.
Use Less Oil
Reduce the olive oil slightly if you prefer a thicker, more herb-heavy sauce.
Make It Chunkier
Pulse the sauce instead of fully blending it for a more rustic texture.
Add Shallot
Finely chopped shallot adds mild onion flavor and texture.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories: 133
Fat: 14g
Carbs: 1g
Protein: 0g
Final Thoughts
Chimichurri Sauce is fresh, bold, tangy, and incredibly easy to make in just 5 minutes. With parsley, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, cumin, garlic, hot sauce, and salt, this Argentinian-style sauce brings big flavor to grilled chicken, meat, fish, vegetables, and crostini.
Keep a batch ready for quick dinners, summer grilling, steak nights, or simple meals that need a bright, herby finish. This is the kind of sauce that makes everything taste fresher, livelier, and more delicious.
