Name: Chimichurri Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup fresh parsley; 1/3 cup light olive oil; 1/8 cup fresh cilantro; 1/8 cup fresh basil; 2 garlic cloves; 1 tablespoon shallot, minced; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves; 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper; optional: 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Published on 06/27/22

by Erin Jensen

A traditional Chimichurri Sauce that has all of the classic flavors – parsley, garlic, oregano, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. You can easily whip this up in 10 minutes and it is the perfect topping for steak, poultry, salmon, or vegetables!

The Best Chimichurri Sauce

There is simply nothing better than a perfectly grilled marinated flank steak and if you are looking to level up that steak with a delicious sauce we highly recommend this homemade chimichurri sauce. We love making this every summer with all of the fresh herbs that we have growing in the garden. Plus, you can easily freeze this sauce so it is perfect to make in batches for enjoying all year long! We also love using it as a dressing in this Grilled Flank Steak Salad! Many people say that chimichurri sauce is similar to pesto, but chimichurri sauce uses parsley and red wine vinegar as the base. And if you are looking for another flavor packed sauce, try our Peruvian Green Sauce!

Looking for More Ways to Use this Sauce?

If you love it as much as we do, you definitely need to try our Summer Dense Bean Salad + Chimichurri!

What You Will Need

cilantro, parsley, & basil – a perfect blend of fresh herbs that bring the classic parsley flavor with a slight cilantro and basil spin.
olive oil – this sauce traditionally has an oil base that provides the moisture.
garlic cloves – everything is better with a little garlic and you can adjust to more or less depending on your taste.
dried oregano leaves – used for those great earthy tones.
shallot – brings a very mild flavor to this sauce.
lemon juice – just a little to help bring all the flavors to life.
red wine vinegar – traditional ingredient for a chimichurri sauce and gives the sauce a slightly tangy flavor.
kosher salt & pepper – a must for every homemade sauce.
optional: red pepper flakes – just depends on how spicy you like things!

How To Make Chimichurri Sauce

You can begin by gathering all of the basic ingredients.

Ingredients for chimichurri sauce in separate bowls.

Place all of those ingredients in a food processor.

Chimichurri sauce ingredients in a food processor.

Blend on high until smooth.

Best Ways To Serve Chimichurri Sauce

Traditionally this sauce is served over grilled meats, especially steak (Learn how to grill the perfect steaks). We always serve this with a perfectly grilled flank steak! Other great options would be some grilled chicken thighs, grilled salmon fillets, or simply with a variety of grilled vegetables or grilled potato wedges.

Traditional chicmichurri sauce in a bowl with a spoon.

Storage & Freezer

This sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you prefer to freeze it, option to either keep it all together in an airtight container for up to a month. Or freeze it in an ice cube tray, so that you can thaw small amounts at a time when you need it. When you are ready to use, you can easily thaw it in the fridge.

Recipe FAQs

What is chimichurri sauce? It is a simple sauce that is not cooked, it is simply blended together in a food processor. Usually, it is used as a table condiment for topping grilled meat. It is typically made with lots of fresh parsley, garlic, oregano, red wine vinegar, and olive oil.

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