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Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Sarah Pyle

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Are you a fan of enchiladas? If you normally prepare them with canned sauces, you will be happy to know you can skip the canned stuff and prepare this easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce from scratch. It’s easy enough to make this sauce with just a few ingredients and it’ll save you money!

enchilada sauce in jar with spoon

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Preparing enchilada sauce from scratch is much easier than you might think. If you never knew how to make it before and would often buy canned stuff for your homemade enchiladas, you no longer have to do that.

In fact, this recipe is so simple and stress-free that you will wonder what took you so long to try preparing this sauce from scratch in the first place!

Use your homemade enchilada sauce in a variety of ways including topped on baked eggs for breakfast or in these Beef Enchilada Taquitos.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It only takes six ingredients to make from scratch. You might even already have these ingredients at home and ready to use!
  • The Enchilada Sauce is bursting with flavor. It’s zesty and tasty, but not too spicy or overpowering.
  • Once you prepare this sauce, you can use it on your enchiladas, tacos, and other tasty foods.

Ingredients

Tomato Sauce – Grab a 15-ounce can of tomato sauce for this recipe.

Chicken Broth – Add a touch of flavor using chicken or vegetable broth as a primary ingredient. You may use water if you don’t have stock.

Taco Seasoning Packet – Use a packet of taco seasoning to enhance the flavor of your sauce.

All-Purpose Flour – The addition of flour helps thicken up the sauce, preventing it from being too thin and runny.

Vegetable Oil – Use roughly three tablespoons of vegetable oil for this recipe.

You will also need a dash of salt when preparing this sauce.

ingredients to make enchilada sauce

Equipment

How to Make Enchilada Sauce

Preparing Homemade Enchilada Sauce is such a simple process. Follow these steps to prepare this sauce at home in a matter of minutes:

  1. Heat your vegetable oil in a skillet and then toss your taco seasoning into the oil, mixing well.
  2. Next, add your flour to the skillet and whisk or stir well to create a roux. Cook for 1 minute to cook out the flour flavor.
  3. Pour your chicken broth into the skillet, followed by the tomato sauce, allowing these two ingredients to simmer.
  4. Toss in your salt for added flavor. You don’t need to add any salt if you don’t want to!
  5. Remove your enchilada sauce from the heat when the sauce thickens up, set it off to the side, and then pour over your enchiladas.

Recipe Notes

  • If you don’t want to use a taco seasoning packet, you can simply use a blend of spices that you already have, such as cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.
  • If you would like to make a spicy version of this sauce, you can add red chili peppers to it or a bit of your favorite hot sauce.
  • When trying to watch the sodium in your sauce, consider using reduced-sodium chicken broth, and don’t bother adding extra salt to it.

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Frequently asked questions

What kind of tomato sauce will I need to use for this sauce?

You can use any brand of regular tomato sauce for this recipe. It’s best to use traditional tomato sauce instead of ones with flavors like basil and oregano because you will be adding your own spice blend to the sauce.

Can I store the sauce and save it for later?

Absolutely. If you want to make the sauce ahead of time, allow it to cool down completely and then pour it into an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for up to a week, reheating it and pouring it over your enchiladas and other tasty foods.

What else can I eat with this?

Along with your enchiladas, you can add this sauce to tacos, tamales, burritos, and even nachos! It tastes great with chicken, beef, and even pork and is versatile enough to use in dozens of different meals.

If you love enchilada sauce, learn how to make it at home with just a handful of ingredients. This sauce tastes better than you can imagine and will go great on all kinds of foods.

enchilada sauce in skillet with wooden spoon

More Homemade Pantry Recipes

Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

Yield: 2 1/2 cups prepared sauce

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

enchilada sauce in jar with spoon

Make your own flavorful enchiladas with this incredible Homemade Enchilada Sauce that will easily enhance their flavor. Skip the canned stuff and enjoy a zesty, flavorful sauce that pairs well with enchiladas.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 15 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
  • 1 cup chicken broth or water
  • dash of salt

Instructions

    1. In a skillet, begin to heat vegetable oil over medium heat.
    2. Add the taco seasoning and stir well until it has dissolved into the oil. 
    3. Add flour and continue to stir until you have a roux consistency. Cook on medium for 1 minute. The roux will still be light in color, but it will smell like bread.
    4. Pour in the chicken broth and tomato sauce. Bring to a low simmer and continue to stir until the sauce has thickened slightly. 
    5. Add salt to taste (if desired).
    6. Remove from heat and use as desired, or store in an airtight container in your refrigerator.

    Notes

    Make your own taco seasoning by combining 2 Tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional), and 1 teaspoon salt. Store in a jar and 2 Tablespoons of homemade equals one (1 ounce) packet.

    This easy enchilada sauce will store in the fridge for up to 7 days. To reheat, microwave or heat in saucepan over medium heat until heated through.

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    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    8

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 83Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 664mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g

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    pin graphic for homemade enchilada sauce

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    By on May 15th, 2023

    About Sarah Pyle

    Hi, I'm Sarah. The voice behind Feast for a Fraction. I've been a penny-pincher all my life, but still have a taste for nice things. I'm here to show you that you can eat (and live) well on a budget. From recipes and DIY tips to ways to make extra money, we'll be in control of our budgets together!

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