Homemade Substitute for Enchilada Sauce is incredibly easy to make and full of flavor. And, it only takes 10 minutes to make! The deep, smoky flavor of this easy enchilada sauce recipe and the slightly thickened consistency make it perfect.
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.SAVE THIS RECIPE!
This Homemade Substitute for Enchilada Sauce is a scratch recipe that takes only about 10 minutes to make from start to finish.
If you love easy Mexican recipes, check for more inspiration.
MORE MEXICAN INSPIRED RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Simple Mexican Skillet | Veal Mexican Stuffed Shells | Mexican Burger
Get Our Free Meal Planning Bundle
With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
What We Love About This Enchilada Red Sauce Recipe
This easy recipe for authentic Enchilada Sauce takes about 10 minutes to make and uses some basic pantry items. The flavor is a blend of chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper. It’s blended with some tomato paste and vinegar to punch up the flavor and it’s thickened with a little purpose flour and stock.
- 10 Minute Sauce: Am amazing sauce that you can use on so many things.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge.
- Family Friendly: This sauce is great for all your mexican dishes.
- Adaptable: Can use it to make low-carb, meat free, dairy free, meals etc…
Ingredient Notes for Red Sauce Enchilada Sauce
- Chili Powder: Provides that heat to the sauce.
- House Seasoning Blend: The special blend will add a lot of flavor with black pepper.
- Tomato Paste
- Chicken Broth: Make your own broth or buy your favorite brand.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: It makes a tangy flavor.
Equipment Needed to make the Tomato Sauce
How to Make Best Enchilada Sauce
These are the basic steps for makingenchilada sauce from scratch.Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and nutrition information.
STEP 1: Mix
In a small bowl, add the flour, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and House Seasoning blend. Then in a medium pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
STEP 2: Cook
Then add the spice mixture to the hot oil and stir constantly for 1 minute. The color should get darker and then stir in the tomato paste.Slowly add the stock andwhiskuntil there are no lumps.
STEP 3: Boil
Bring to a slight boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Finally, remove from heat and stir in vinegar.
Prep and Storage Tips for the Best Enchilada Sauce
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
It is always good to prep your meals when you can. Homemade Substitute for Enchilada Sauce should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. When properly stored, it is good forup to 7 days. It will thicken in the refrigerator so just thin it out with some water or chicken broth or tomato sauce.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Always store in an airtight container. A mason jar is what we usually use.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
You can freeze this homemade Enchilada Sauce recipe.Freeze mine in a jar or a zip top bag.
HOW TO REHEAT THIS RECIPE
After you thaw it, you may need to heat it up for a few minutes to get the right consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE HEALTHIER?
Truly it is easy to make healthier by using a gluten-free flour blend for a good texture. Try a low sodium chicken broth too. Vegetable broth can be used for a vegetarian version.
CAN I SUBSTITUTE THIS SAUCE IN OTHER DISHES?
Really, this is a great dish for any of your mexican inspired dishes, uses on tacos as a taco sauce, in burritos or on eggs as a ranchero sauce.
CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?
Of course, I suggest making more to layer on tortilla chips for loaded nachos or for any dish that you want authentic mexican flavor.
HOW CAN I CUT BITTERNESS IN THIS ENCHILADA SAUCE?
A little baking soda, sugar or even agave syrup can cut the bitterness in the sauce. Only use as necessary and in moderation.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- Use good ingredients. Splurge for a good quality chili powder or cayenne pepper since that is the flavor base of this easy Enchilada Sauce.
- Mix it Up. You can always cut back on the chili powder to suit your family’s tastes. Remember you can always add more, but you can’t take it out or use things like adobo seasoning.
- Vinegar Substitute: If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute distilled white vinegar in its place.
- Add Chipotle Pepper: For a little kick and warmth add these or chiles.
- Warmth: A pinch of cinnamon or paprika give great warmth to the sauce and flavor for your casseroles.
- Cheese: Always add your favorite cheese.
- Green Enchilada Sauce: Check out the green salsa sauce instant pot recipe featuring a green sauce salsa verde.
What to Serve with Enchilada Sauce Substitute.
- Restaurant Style Black Beans
- Easy Mexican Rice
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
- INSTANT POT GREEN CHICKEN ENCHILADAS CASSEROLE
Did you try this recipe?
⭐ Click below to leave a review and rating! ⭐
4.78 from 66 votes
Red Enchilada Sauce Recipe
Yield: 6 servings
Prep: 2 minutes minutes
Cook: 8 minutes minutes
Total: 10 minutes minutes
This easy Red Enchilada Sauce recipe is ready in about 10 minutes. It’s perfect for all of your favorite Mexican inspired recipes.
Print Pin Rate Save
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon House Seasoning Blend
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
In a small bowl, add the flour, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and House Seasoning blend.
In a medium pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
Add the spice mixture to the hot oil and stir constantly for 1 minute. The color should get darker.
Stir in the tomato paste.
Slowly add the stock and whisk until there are no lumps.
Bring to a slight boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
Remove from heat and stir in vinegar.
Expert Tips
- Use good ingredients. Splurge for a good quality chili powder or cayenne pepper since that is the flavor base of this easy Enchilada Sauce.
- Mix it Up. You can always cut back on the chili powder to suit your family’s tastes. Remember you can always add more, but you can’t take it out or use things like adobo seasoning.
- Vinegar Substitute: If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute distilled white vinegar in its place.
- Add Chipotle Pepper: For a little kick and warmth add these.
- Warmth: A pinch of cinnamon or paprika give great warmth to the sauce and flavor for your casseroles.
Estimated Nutritional Information
Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 545mg | Potassium: 148mg | Vitamin A: 475IU | Vitamin C: 6.7mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!Follow Me: @ItsAKeeperBlog or tag #itisakeeper
Author: Christina Hitchco*ck
Course: Sauces, Seasonings, Dressings
Cuisine: Mexican
This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American.I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above.I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
Recipes You Might Have Missed
- Fish Baja Tacos
- Whipped Ricotta Dip with Honey
- 30 Easy Mexican Recipes
- Birdseed Ornaments
