Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

Enchilada Sauce makes a staple ingredient to keep on hand for quick meals. This easy red enchilada sauce comes together quickly and keeps in the refrigerator for up to two weeks! 

My family absolutely adores enchiladas – whether it be my chicken enchiladas or my super simple enchilada casserole – it is something that I can always depend on them devouring. And don’t get me started on how quickly my beef enchilada dip disappears. Mercy! I think one of the secrets to why they love it so much is this incredibly easy homemade enchilada sauce that I make.

This enchilada sauce is so simple to make and uses ingredients that I always have on hand in my pantry. Since it comes together quickly, it is a recipe you can easily make as you need it, storing any remainder in the refrigerator for a later use. And since we use it so often around my house, I’ve learned to just make sure I keep a supply!

My recipe listed below makes 4 cups of enchilada sauce, but it can easily be divided if you need less or multiplied if you need more!

How to Make the BEST Enchilada Sauce

To make it, I simply add my vegetable oil and all-purpose flour to a medium sauce pan over medium heat. I use my whisk to make sure that it is well combined as it is cooking.

If you need a gluten-free option for making your enchilada sauce, you can substitute gluten-free flour in place of the flour listed or see my Blender Enchilada Sauce Recipe that is gluten-free and ready in minutes. It is a marvel!

Once the oil and flour are bubbly, I whisk in the chili powder and chicken stock, making sure that they are combined really well.

Then, I continue on adding in the crushed tomatoes, oregano, and other dried spices, brown sugar, salt and pepper.

Once you have added all of the ingredients, you can adjust to your preferences. For instance, you might want to increase the amount of chili powder if you are looking for a spicier enchilada sauce, etc.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce Options

• Gluten-free – Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour.
• Vegan – Use vegetable stock in place of the chicken stock or broth called for in the recipe.
• Sugar-free – Use 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar in place of the brown sugar in the recipe.

Can I Use Fresh Garlic and Onions?

In the past I’ve had questions about using fresh garlic and minced onion in place of garlic powder and onion powder in the recipe. You absolutely can do that! It is fabulous, but does not have the same storage ability as using dried spices in this recipe. 

I recommend only using fresh garlic and onion if you are making the sauce to use immediately and eaten within three days.

The recipe as listed will keep well in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

So, here’s my super easy homemade enchilada sauce recipe. I think you guys are going to absolutely love it!

5 from 22 votes

Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

Sauces — 20 mins

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Servings 4 cups

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Author Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch

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Enchilada Sauce Recipe – Enchilada Sauce makes a staple ingredient to keep on hand for quick meals. This easy red enchilada sauce comes together quickly and keeps in the refrigerator for up to two weeks!

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1/4 cup olive oil
• ▢ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ▢ 3 tablespoons chili powder
• ▢ 1 cup chicken stock or broth homemade or store-bought
• ▢ 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar optional, but recommended
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions 

• Add oil and flour to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk together to combine. Once the flour and oil mixture begin to bubble, whisk in the remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust spices based on your preferences.
• Use immediately or pour enchilada sauce into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Notes

To make gluten-free, use gluten-free flour.
To make vegan, replace chicken stock with vegetable stock.
To make sugar-free, replace brown sugar with 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally posted in 2013.