This versatile and simple enchilada sauce is made with everyday ingredients, and it’s ready in 15 minutes! It is also gluten free!
If my recipes could be symphonies, then this enchilada sauce is the overture to an amazing symphony. But you’ll have to hang in there until tomorrow before we get to the final masterpiece. I know, life can be cruel sometimes. For now, let’s revel in the magic of this sauce.
Why it has taken me so long to make my own enchilada sauce is beyond me. It is SO. DANG. EASY. to make, and it goes well with everything. I know because I managed to whittle away 2 batches of this enchilada sauce in 4 days. I’m not joking when I say that this sauce is good.
The best part is that the sauce is is ready in 15 minutes. It takes me longer than that to get ready in the morning. You can slap this on enchiladas, but it works wonders in a good breakfast dish, too. See, Chilaquiles with Fried Egg.
Let’s get saucy.
MASTER MY MISTAKES / COOKING NOTES
- Spice Level: To me, the sauce wasn’t all that spicy, even with the chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and chili powder. Feel free to use less adobo sauce or skip the chipotle pepper entirely.
- Sugar: I thought that adding a tablespoon of honey balanced out the flavors of this sauce very well. Feel free to skip the sugar, though. Use dark brown sugar or even maple syrup.
TOOLS + INGREDIENTS USED
MAKE IT A MEAL: RECIPES USING ENCHILADA SAUCE
- Easy Chicken Enchiladas
- Chilaquiles with Fried Eggs (replace the tomato sauce with the chilaquiles sauce)
Quick Enchilada Sauce
Adapted from Little Spice Jar.
The chili powder that I use in this recipe is not spicy. It’s a blend of paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, etc. that I buy from my local supermarket.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 28-ounce (800g) can of crushed or diced tomatoes (try to use cans with no sodium added)
- 2/3 cup (155ml) vegetable broth
- 1 chipotle pepper (from a can)
- 1/2 to 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (the sauce that comes with canned chipotle peppers)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour (use regular all-purpose flour if not gluten free)
- 4 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt, add more if necessary
- 1 tablespoon honey or dark brown sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Blend tomato sauce, broth, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce until smooth.
- In a pot or large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add flour and whisk immediately until well combined. Add about half of the blended tomato sauce and whisk everything, making sure to break any clumps of flour that may have formed. Add rest of the sauce and stir. Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Add chili powder, oregano, cumin, garlic, salt, and sugar (if using) and stir. Let sauce simmer for 8-10 minutes. You want the sauce to be at a low simmer, so if it’s bubbling frantically, reduce the heat to low.
- Enjoy with your enchiladas, chilaquiles, or use it as a sauce for your favorite dishes! Refrigerate any leftover sauce in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Amount for 1/4 of recipe: Calories: 175, Total Fat 11.2g, Saturated Fat: 1.6g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 1109mg, Total Carbohydrate: 19g, Dietary Fiber: 5.4g, Sugar: 10.2g, Protein 3g
Michelle @ Vitamin-Sunshine says
There is nothing better than homemade enchilada sauce in the fridge 🙂 I love putting it on everything– eggs, salads. I bought chilpolte chilis in adobo sauce long time ago because I saw them in a recipe, but then couldn’t find the recipe again, so I still have them… so making this this week! I’ll let you know how I end up using it 🙂
Lisa Lin says
Yes, please do! Thank you, Michelle!
Lisa Lin says
Thanks, Michelle! I hope you enjoyed it! By the way, your photos of the baby are so cute!
Alice says
Can I use tomato puree Passata instead of crushed tomatoes?
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Alice! Absolutely!
Mary Ann says
Amazing flavor. I used fire roasted diced tomatoes and 1 less T of the chili powder. Yes, why do always BUY enchilada sauce??
★★★★★
Lisa Lin says
Thank you very much for trying the recipe, Mary Ann! Glad you enjoyed it!
Kathy says
This is so good and so much better than any store bought brand. My trick was to use fire roasted tomatoes. That really gives such a great flavor. I will never buy canned sauce again.
★★★★★