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
