If you want to up your enchilada game, make your own homemade enchilada sauce! This red sauce recipe is gluten free and healthy, but still tastes so good.
February 17, 2020…By Megan Byrd, RD – Enchilada Sauce From Scratch post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure page for details.
Man, have I been in an enchilada mood lately or what! Who doesn’t love filled tortillas covered in sauce and cheese? The key to good enchiladas is definitely in the sauce, and once you’ve tasted my enchilada sauce from scratch, canned just won’t cut it.
What I love about this recipe is that it’s so quick. Just dump everything in the saucepan, stir it around, simmer it, and voila! Enchilada sauce from scratch!
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You can make this ahead of time (which I almost always do). When you go to make your enchiladas, your homemade sauce is waiting for you in the fridge.
The way I make enchilada sauce is basic, and I don’t use any salt or soy sauce like some recipes I’ve seen. I find that it just doesn’t need any added salt, especially if you’re covering your enchiladas with cheese. And if you’re not, get out. You’re making them wrong.
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The secret to this sauce is the tomato paste. It adds a nice thickness without having to add cornstarch or flour like other enchilada sauce recipes. That also makes it gluten-free!
Another key ingredient is the vegetable broth. It cuts the acidity of the tomatoes and adds a nice flavor to the sauce. Without it, I’ve found that the sauce is too acidic and mostly tastes like tomato soup. No thanks.
This recipe makes about 20 oz of enchilada sauce, so if you don’t need all of it, freeze it for later in a wide mouthed jar!
Recipe
Enchilada Sauce From Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 can (14 oz) tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to medium sauce pan and whisk together until combined.
- Warm on medium heat for about 3-5 minutes, or until simmering, stirring occasionally.
- Store in fridge for up to 3 days, or use immediately!
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If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!
Try this enchilada sauce recipe out and let me know what you think!
xoxo Megan
We make this and freeze it so we can use it on everything! But our fave is to pair this with the enchilada recipe- instant quick family dinner.