This homemade Enchilada Sauce can be made in just 15 minutes. It has the perfect blend of simple spices to make the best enchiladas ever! It’s not a hot and spicy sauce unless you want it to be. And this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you are making a lot of enchiladas.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t really care for the enchilada sauce that you buy in the can. It always seems to have a bit of a metal taste to it. The flavor isn’t there. It’s just not good. My enchilada sauce recipe been a very popular recipe for a good number of years! Skip the canned stuff and make this homemade enchilada sauce (double the recipe, if you’d like). Use it in all of your recipes that call for canned enchilada sauce.
The best enchilada sauce recipe:
Here’s a quote from a reader (and if you read all of the comments below that people have left over the years, you’ll see similar sentiments!)
“I googled a recipe and this one popped up. After a quick check of the ingredients, I realized I had everything I needed, so I made it and OMG, I could not stop “sampling” it! I have now made it four times…so much flavor, but not too spicy OR mild. I will never buy enchilada sauce again – this is the BEST sauce!”
How to make Enchilada Sauce:
This recipe is super simple. First you’ll heat oil in a pan and then whisk in flour and chili powder until lightly browned. Next, you’ll whisk in chicken broth and tomato sauce. Ground cumin, garlic powder, onion salt and salt are mixed in too. All is simmered for about 10 minutes, and that’s it!
But how can it be homemade when you’re using canned?
This sauce is not made from fresh tomatoes, so you’ll see canned chicken broth and canned tomato sauce in the ingredient list. But it’s combined with the right amount of spices, and it turns out a delicious enchilada sauce! I don’t mind canned tomato sauce, but canned enchilada sauce is just awful. This sauce will have a much better flavor than canned enchilada sauce from the store.
How to freeze enchilada sauce:
Transfer the sauce to freezer-safe jars or containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Be sure to label so you know what you’ve got in there!
Substitution suggestions:
For a spicy sauce, add cayenne pepper or chipotle chile powder. If you want to make a vegetarian enchilada sauce, use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth. It’s okay to use whole wheat flour in place of all-purpose flour. And you can use olive oil in place of canola/vegetable oil.
If you’ve never been a fan of canned enchilada sauce, or if you are in a part of the world where it’s difficult to find… then this recipe is for you! It’s so easy to make, and I think you’ll be impressed with the results. Enjoy!
Here are a few recipes where you will need enchilada sauce:
- Easy Beef Enchiladas
- Beef and Cheese Enchiladas
- One Pan Enchilada Pasta
- Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas
- Zucchini Beef Enchiladas
Homemade Enchilada Sauce
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- One 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion salt
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet to medium heat. Whisk in the flour and chili powder. Reduce heat to medium and continue to whisk until lightly browned. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, tomato sauce, cumin, garlic powder, onion salt and salt. Stir until smooth, and continue simmering over medium heat about 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
- Serve immediately, or keep in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- If you are preparing this recipe as GLUTEN FREE- just be sure to substitute an alternative thickener in place of the all purpose flour. Some people use a good GF flour (like Bob's Redmill), and others like to use sweet rice flour. And make sure you are using a brand of chicken broth that is designated as GF (or use water instead).
Found myself without a can of enchilada sauce and searched for a homemade option. Suffice it to say that this recipe took my enchiladas to the next level…and I had all of the ingredients in my pantry. Who needs canned?! Absolutely wonderful flavor…will never use anything else. Thank you!
Loved this easy recipe with everything I had on hand. Served it over tamales, so tasty!
I love this recipe! It has a great flavor profile and I definitely will be making it again.
My husband said the best enchiladas ever.
Delicious! I used garden tomato 🍅 sauce and it turned out delicious!!! I also used roasted garlic olive oil a little red pepper 🌶 flakes and chipotle just to give it a little zing but not over the top spicy (medium) Tripled the recipe and froze in small freezer bags. Great for making Spanish rice too! Thank you 😊 for a great recipe!
Amazing every time!
Easy and delicious!
Just made this- OMGOSH! Delicious! I did add a couple shakes of ground red pepper because we love spicy foods. Thank you for sharing!
OMG! This sauce is the absolute BOMB! My husband won’t stay out of the saucepan and I still need to make the enchiladas. Made as written… cannot wait until dinner. Thank you!
Do you have a recipe for green enchilada sauce. if so, would love for you to share. Thank you.
Made this tonight. Totally forgot to add the chilli powder. It still turned out really well despite not having any heat to it. Live and learn
Love this sauce! Haven’t gone back to can enchilada sauce every since we tried it. Super easy to make, family loves it, and it’s a lot closer to home made enchiladas then using the can. I even use it for enchilada soup, taco hamburger soup, and Mexican rice dishes.
Great to hear!
This had been my go to sauce for years!
Love this sauce! So good and so easy to make!
This sauce sounds amazing!! I am excited to try this! We love enchiladas!
I’m so glad I stumbled across this recipe! I love enchilada sauce, but I find the canned stuff to be just a little bit too spicy for my taste. Definitely will be using this recipe!
This is sooooo good!
This is the best enchilada sauce ever!! Seriously sooo obsessed! Thanks for sharing!
Going to make this tomorrow but I don’t need this much, have you ever frozen this to use again later. Thank you.
I have not, but my guess is that it would probably be okay.
This is an excellent sauce. Due to stomach issues, I can not eat spicy foods. This sauce is not spicy at all. I never have liked a sauce that burned your face off, so this one works great for me. Will be looking over all your recipies. Keep up the good cooking.
I know you’re probably tired of answering questions, but I need to know if this recipe can be equally doubled ingredient for ingredient. When I make enchiladas I always make at least two large pans. One for dinner, and one for the freezer. I need at least a quart of sauce. Thanks so much.
yes!
Mmmmmmm I made this to go into the One Pot Cheesy Mexican Lentil, Black Beans and Rice Recipe…its very difficult in Nova Scotia, Canada to find anywhere that sells Enchilada Sauce….so glad I wasn’t able to find it in a store….this homemade version is so delicious! I was eating it by the spoonful….yummy and easy…my kind of recipe ! Thanks !
OH MY GOODNESS. OUTRAGOUS best sauce ever. So easy, so tasty. Not hot at all. We don’t like spicy and this was a home run. Thank you so much for sharing.
I made your easy enchiladas, also excellent. Next I’m going to do beef, bean & cheese, I know this sauce will be so good with them too.
Introducing New Englanders to “good” Mex. Food. Hard to find good ingrediants in this area so I order on-line from New Mex. Thought I was making a pretty good enchalada sauce (Mexican gravy), but this recipe certainly beats mine. I make two batches, one with mild chili powder (molida) and one batch with hot. Son-ln-law and I like a little kick. Last effort was flat beef,bean, and cheese enchalads with plenty of your sauce (gravy) and an over very easy egg on top. Boy! They cleaned their plates. ThanKS for recipe.
What kind of chili powder?
Chili powder is a regular spice that is found in the spice aisle of your market.
Use American style chili powder. McCormick Organic Chili powder.