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    Homemade Enchilada Sauce (It’s Easier Than You Think!)

    Published: May 10, 2016 · Modified: Jan 28, 2021 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 3 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    homemade enchilada sauce

    homemade Enchilada Sauce in a saucepan

    Make homemade enchilada sauce in 10 minutes using pantry staples that you probably have in your kitchen this very second. Even better than a store-bought version, this homemade sauce is gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and can be totally customized to your spice and flavor preferences. Yum!

    When Frank and I were living in Bangkok we learned to make all kinds of foods that we had previously only purchased. Things like bagels, pimento cheese and hamburger buns were hard to find in Thailand and became part of our semi-normal cooking routine.

    We were city-dwelling homesteaders, putting our tiny little oven to constant use on the weekends.

    meatballs in homemade Enchilada Sauce in a saucepan

    As you can imagine, life is much busier these days with two toddlers than six years ago when we were newlyweds with seemingly endless time.

    Seriously, what did we DO with all that time?

    Come to think of it….we did spend a fair portion of it at the beach.

    But these days, back in the U.S. with kids underfoot, I buy my bagels rather than spend 3 hours making them. But there are some homemade foods I still enthusiastically prefer to make myself. Especially those that take 10 minutes and taste much better than store-bought.

    Enchilada sauce is one of them. I realized I’d never shared my tried-and-true recipe here when we started offering a version in our meal plans over at Cook Smarts. Like the Cook Smarts version, my recipe is paleo and gluten-free and takes no time at all. It’s super freezer-friendly, so always worth making a big batch ahead of time for fast dinners.

    Homemade Enchilada Sauce in a saucepan

    No junk, only pantry staples, this is homemade enchilada sauce is a quick DIY kitchen task that you’ve got to try!

    More Tex Mex Favorites

    • Sheet Pan Tacos
    • Meatball Taco Bowls
    • Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce
    • Tex Mex Burgers with Guacamole
    • Slow Cooker Tex Mex Stuffed Peppers
    • Taco Soup with Ground Beef

    Favorite Tools

    • All Clad Saucepan 
    • Whisk

     

    enchilada sauce in a saucepan
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Homemade Enchilada Sauce

    Made with pantry staples and none of the junk that can sneak into store-bought versions, this quick recipe is one we always have on hand. Taco Tuesday - we're ready for you!
    Prep Time2 mins
    Cook Time8 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Tex Mex
    Keyword: homemade sauce, make ahead, taco topping
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 30kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $3.00

    Equipment

    • Saucepan

    Ingredients

    • 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
    • 1/4 cup Onion, finely chopped
    • 1 1/2 Tbsp Chili Powder (NOT cayenne; if you don't want any spice at all, substitute smoked paprika)
    • 1 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
    • 1 tsp Dried Ground Coriander
    • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
    • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (opt, adjust to your spice preference)
    • 2 6 oz cans Tomato Paste
    • 4 cups Stock, any low-sodium (or use water)

    Instructions

    • In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. When oil begins to shimmer, add onion and saute until onion softens, about 2 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Saute until the onions are evenly coated and the spices are fragrant.
    • Add tomato paste and stir to break up. Add stock and whisk to combine. Reduce heat to maintain a low simmer. Let the mixture simmer until it thickens and reduces to about 3 1/2 cups, about 10 minutes. Add salt to taste.
    • Use immediately, store in the refrigerator for a week or freeze for up to six months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 30kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 499mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 727IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

     

    Guess who got their first taste of the swimming pool for the season?

    To say they loved it would be….an understatement.

    Molly and Clara Swimming Pool

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Make homemade enchilada sauce in 10 minutes using pantry staples that you probably have in your kitchen this very second. Even better than a store-bought version, this homemade sauce is gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and can be totally customized to your spice and flavor preferences. Yum!

    Filed Under: Mexican, Recipes, Sauces and Dressings

    About Jess

    Hi, I'm Jess, an amateur cook turned professional recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer specializing in quick and easy meals that make weeknights a bit more fun. I love sharing my kitchen and my journey as a chef with other home cooks on this blog. Learn more about me here.

    Previous Post: « Molly and Clara – Two Years
    Next Post: Meatball Taco Bowls »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carey

      May 10, 2016 at 11:58 am

      Yum….Love a quick and easy dinner idea!

      Reply
    2. David Folstad

      May 10, 2016 at 12:01 pm

      I so enjoy your posts especially because of the photos and your format which is straight forward. I cook regularly since my retirement but still have questions. In this recipe, you include cups of stock. Stock what? Is this soup stock? My wife just made some homemade soup stock for me to make soup with, it is a vegetable stock.

      My compliments to your husband for staying slim despite your wonderful home cooking, it must be the chasing after the toddlers that beats any gym program. 🙂

      Reply
    3. Joy

      May 10, 2016 at 2:52 pm

      What a simple, great recipe. And what a cute picture of your adorable little girls in the pool.

      Reply

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    Hi there! We're Jess and Frank. We live in Kansas City with our three daughters. Our recipes are made with busy families in mind. We lived in Thailand which inspired us to cook flavorful, fun meals at home and we know you can too. We believe in your inner cook! More...

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