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    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Dinner / Homemade Enchilada Sauce

    Homemade Enchilada Sauce

    Published: Apr 6, 2016 · Modified: Oct 22, 2022 by Anna 45 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This easy Homemade enchilada sauce made with just 7 ingredients is my new favorite homemade recipe. It's made in a blender in seconds. You will never buy it in a can again!

    Use this sauce to make chicken enchiladas or enchilada soup.

    Red enchilada sauce in a glass jar on a white board with tomatoes and garlic next to it.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Method Works
    • Ingredients:
    • How to make Enchilada Sauce?
    • How much sauce does this recipe make?
    • Recipe FAQs:
    • How to use enchilada sauce?
    • More homemade sauce recipes:
    • Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

    Why This Method Works

    Necessity is the mother of invention. Isn't that what they say? In my kitchen, a lot of homemade recipes happen because I simply don't want to run to the store for just one thing. And then you do a happy dance because you just made the best enchilada sauce that is not only cheaper but took 5 minutes to whip up.

    Now, this sauce is simply a substitute for the store-bought kind. I'm sure a Mexican cook will tell me it needs dried ancho peppers, and dried chiles and would not have any tomatoes. This sauce is a simplified version with ingredients that I can easily find and usually have on hand.

    Ingredients:

    • onion and garlic - These aromatics add flavor to the sauce. I prefer using fresh vegetables but in a pinch, garlic and onion powder work too.
    • chili powder - Use the best quality you can get since this gives the sauce the flavor.
    • ground cumin - This spice is the signature of many Mexican dishes. I would not skip it in this recipe.
    • tomato sauce - This makes the base of the recipe.
    • chicken stock - Thins out the sauce and adds more flavor.

    How to make Enchilada Sauce?

    • Start by adding onion, garlic, tomato sauce, water, chili powder, ground cumin and salt to a blender.
    • Blend until smooth. The sauce should be thick.
    • Store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 1 week.
    Overhead shot of enchilada sauce ingredients: onion, chili powder, cumin, garlic and tomato sauce in blender.

    How much sauce does this recipe make?

    This recipe is really quick and easy. It makes 3 cups of sauce, which makes it way cheaper than buying the sauce in a can. Before I never had enough sauce from just one can. I like to dip the corn tortillas in a warmed-up sauce to soften them and make them more rollable. If you know what I mean. The rest of the sauce goes all over the enchiladas and is topped with cheese. Then all you need to do is bake them! So crazy good!

    Recipe FAQs:

    Can I freeze this sauce?

    Yes! This sauce can be easily frozen in freezer-safe containers or jars. Just make sure to cool it completely before placing it in the freezer. It will be good for up to 3 months.

    Is this authentic enchilada sauce?

    This recipe is a simplified version of a popular sauce. It's not 100% authentic. I used easy-to-find pantry ingredients so you can make it anytime!

    How to use enchilada sauce?

    While this sauce is a must for beef or chicken enchiladas, the fun doesn't stop there. You can add it to soups, casseroles, tacos, or burrito bowls. It's a great sauce to have on hand, ready when you are craving Mexican dishes!

    Overhead shot of enchilada sauce in glass jar with tomatoes and garlic in background.

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      Best Homemade BBQ Sauce

    If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!

    Blender Enchilada Sauce in a glass jar.

    Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

    Author: Anna
    This Homemade enchilada sauce made with just 7 ingredients is my new favorite homemade recipe. It's made in a blender in seconds. You will never buy it in a can again!
    4.88 from 25 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 7 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 3 cups
    Calories 81 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup yellow onion roughly chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic
    • 3 Tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 16 oz. tomato sauce
    • 1 cup water or chicken stock

    Instructions
     

    • Place all ingredients in a blender.
    • Blend until smooth. It will be thick. You can add more water or stock if you like thinner sauce.
    • Place in a jar with lid and store for up to a week.

    Video

    Notes

    • Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
    • Use this sauce to make these easy chicken enchiladas: https://www.crunchycreamysweet.com/easy-chicken-enchiladas-recipe/

    Nutrition

    Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Potassium: 743mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3050IU | Vitamin C: 13.5mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 4.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Katie says

      September 16, 2023 at 3:10 pm

      5 stars
      Instant gratification! Easy I love it. I added more salt and some fresh cilantro and oregano. Gonna use this to make quail enchiladas for the first time

      Reply
    2. Kristen says

      September 13, 2020 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      My husband and I went keto 2 years ago and this enchilada sauce is delicious and fits into our lifestyle perfectly as it contains none of the junk thickeners that canned sauces do.

      Reply
    3. Heather says

      December 11, 2019 at 12:46 pm

      I have used this recipe before a loved it! However, the recipe I need this sauce for only calls for a cup. Can I freeze the rest of this if I don’t need to use it within a week?

      Reply
    4. Mary says

      September 11, 2019 at 12:43 am

      Does your chili powder have salt in it? The kind I have does, so I’m wondering if I need the 1 tsp salt...?

      Reply
      • Anna says

        September 11, 2019 at 11:53 pm

        Hi Mary! Nope, no salt in my chili powder. If yours has it added, skip the salt and season to taste when the sauce is ready. Hope this helps!

        Reply
    5. Christy says

      March 23, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      I really like this sauce. The more I can make at home the better. I dehydrate tomatoes, from our garden, all last summer. Now I can use that tomato powder to make this recipe as well. Thank you for such an easy recipe!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        March 28, 2019 at 5:17 pm

        I agree! I stopped buying it since it's so easy to make. Thank you for trying my recipe, Christy!

        Reply
    6. Natalie says

      March 14, 2019 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      We just finished our enchiladas made with this sauce! OMG! So easy and so delicious. I will never buy it in a can again. Thank you so much for the recipe, Anna!

      Reply
    7. Arden says

      October 30, 2018 at 6:58 am

      5 stars
      This has been my go to recipe for awhile now and I thought I'd say thanks! Also I swap the tomato sauce for canned diced tomatoes frequently and it also works well, just takes some extra blending! 🙂

      Reply
    8. Jen says

      August 17, 2018 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this and it's really good! Now I can't wait for dinner. Made the beef 3 days ago for tacos and having the enchiladas tonight. I've made homemade enchilada sauce before but this is definitely the quickest, easiest and most delicious. Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        August 18, 2018 at 10:45 pm

        Hi Jen! That's fantastic! I am so happy to know you love the sauce! It's my go-to! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for the comment!

        Reply
    9. Karen Nicholl says

      July 19, 2018 at 8:51 am

      5 stars
      I am so happy that I gave this recipe a try, it is wonderful and easy. I have several recipes for enchilada sauce that I have tried that do not have any tomato product in them at all, they mentioned that it is the authentic way, I can only say that it is the tomatoes that gives it the taste that I enjoy. Thank you so much for sharing.

      Reply
    10. Margie says

      June 10, 2018 at 6:54 pm

      Could I replace the tomato sauce with tomato paste? If so, how much would you recommend? Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • LarryH says

        January 04, 2019 at 1:55 pm

        That's how my mother made it. One can tomato paste (6oz) and 3 cans of water.

        Reply
    11. MARY says

      June 10, 2018 at 6:27 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! This was great! I wanted enchiladas one night for dinner, but didn't have any enchilada sauce. I looked on Pinterest and saw your recipe and it was simple with few ingredients. I made it using my immersion blender instead of the standing blender. Easy, tasted great, my husband said never buy store bought again! Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
      • Rebecca Ramos says

        January 28, 2020 at 1:00 pm

        3 stars
        I tried this recipe today for the first enchiladas I've ever made. When I try new recipes, I use the exact measurements, and, depending on how they come our, I start altering quantities and/or ingredients. I found this recipe has too much chili powder, too much cumin and too much salt. I had to add more water at the end to try to dilute it a little. Also, you can taste the "rawness" of the onion and garlic. Next time I'll cook the onion and garlic before adding to the sauce, add less chili, less cumin and no salt.

        Reply
    12. Lindsay says

      January 15, 2018 at 5:33 pm

      I am making this tonight and the enchiladas smell delicious! I am wondering if the remainder of the sauce could be frozen.

      Reply
    13. Gabe says

      December 21, 2017 at 2:13 pm

      4 stars
      The sauce is realy good and easy to make, but 3 tbsp chili powder was way too much!
      Half the family couldn’t eat the enchilada casserole I made with the sauce because it was far too spicy. :/ So going to make it again, with less/no chili powder.

      Reply
    14. Marie Peterson says

      November 12, 2017 at 5:26 pm

      5 stars
      I made this and it was awesome. I have used it in another recipe as well. Great recipe.

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        November 16, 2017 at 1:38 pm

        Hi Marie! That's wonderful! Thank you so much!

        Reply
    15. Elaine says

      November 02, 2017 at 10:27 am

      5 stars
      I like all recipes that say 5 minutes because it is a very fast-pace world we are living it AND it is quite hard to make something really good in that amount of time. But looking at your recipe I can only say that the result is outstanding! You did a fantastic job and I am happy I found your blog!

      Reply
    16. Marla says

      September 26, 2017 at 8:27 am

      5 stars
      I wanted to make enchiladas for supper and realized I had no red sauce so jumped onto Pinterest and found this simple recipe, this recipe is so easy and delicious, I did add a can of diced tomatoes with green chilis and used water. I will no longer buy the canned sauce.

      Reply
    17. Maggie says

      August 26, 2017 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      Can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        August 30, 2017 at 10:27 pm

        Thanks, Maggie!

        Reply
    18. Eric says

      August 26, 2017 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      So easy, gotta try it 🙂

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        August 30, 2017 at 10:27 pm

        Absolutely! I hope you love it!

        Reply
    19. R says

      July 27, 2017 at 9:30 am

      5 stars
      Wow! Surprisingly good! I was a bit skeptical since the only enchilada sauce I've made was cooked (Emeril's) but this was great! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    20. Lynn says

      July 23, 2017 at 9:35 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for this recipe. My family loves enchiladas but I hardly ever make them because of the cost involved. I am usually making them for 10 or more people (several being teenagers who love to eat) who want a a lot of sauce on their enchiladas and it gets very expensive. Being able to make this inexpensive sauce will make this dish much more affordable and allow me to make my family's favorite dish much more often.

      Reply
    21. Melinda says

      June 03, 2017 at 12:55 pm

      How long would this keep for in the fridge? Was thinking about making this for a gift basket. It looks amazing!

      Reply
    22. Amanda says

      March 12, 2017 at 5:31 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is AMAZINGLY simple to make and absolutely delicious! I'm not a chef and generally if a recipe calls for my 5 ingredients... I pass it along to my husband who really enjoys cooking. My husband was out of town for the weekend so some weekly meal prep was on left to me. My daughter requested pulled chicken burritos. Usually simple easy enough however I live in Michigan & it's still snowing in March and I didn't have any red enchilada sauce... I was not about to venture out to the grocery store on a Sunday cold afternoon ! Thank you for this deliciousness of a recipe!!!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        March 12, 2017 at 5:38 pm

        Hi Amanda! THANK YOU so much for this comment. It made my day! That is exactly why I share recipes here on my blog. I am so happy to know you love this recipe! Have a beautiful week! -Anna

        Reply
    23. Carrie Gibney says

      January 18, 2017 at 9:27 pm

      5 stars
      I actually stopped making enchiladas and enchilada casserole for a while because of how much I disliked the store bought sauce. Then I found this. It's beyond easy, very tasty, and the perfect amount of sauce for a good casserole.
      Thank you!

      Reply
    24. Brittany says

      December 06, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is delicious and so easy to make. I love that it is minimal ingredients and only takes a few minutes to make. Having lil ones in the house i am always short on time.

      Reply
    25. Becky says

      September 08, 2016 at 7:12 pm

      Could I freeze this sauce?

      Reply
      • Marla says

        September 26, 2017 at 8:15 am

        5 stars
        I froze 1/2 of mine, since I only cook for 2 people now this made more sauce than I needed. I'm sure it will be just fine for the next time.

        Reply
    26. Titan Tyler says

      June 14, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      5 stars
      THIS RECIPE IS THE BOMB and so easy. I used dried miced onion cause it was all I had. I did cut back on the chili powder to 1 T. Then I heated it in the microwave, added about 1/4cup velveeta and 1T butter. I was looking for a light color like a mexican restaurant here. It Tastes identical and they charge 16- for a 3 enchilada dinner. I have spent years and lots of $$$ trying cream, milk, evap, sour cream standing over the stove for hours, trying to recreate their sauce. Thanks so much for this recipe

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        June 14, 2016 at 10:57 pm

        Hi Titan! THANK YOU so so much for this comment! I am so happy to know that you love this recipe! I totally want to try your additions - sounds crazy delicious! 😀

        Reply
    27. Maris Callahan says

      April 13, 2016 at 4:58 pm

      Mmm enchiladas! Love this idea

      Reply
    28. Jessica says

      April 11, 2016 at 10:11 am

      I love homemade enchilada sauce and I don't do it enough! Looks wonderful!

      Reply
    29. Nutmeg Nanny says

      April 08, 2016 at 6:38 am

      Love how easy this is to make! I love my high powered blender!

      Reply
    30. carrie says

      April 07, 2016 at 9:03 am

      I have never made my own enchilada sauce before, but now I totally want to try after seeing how easy your recipe is! 🙂

      Reply
    31. Kimberly says

      April 06, 2016 at 10:35 pm

      Enchilada sauce is one of the things I so often don't have when I need it. This homemade version is so quick and simple, I wouldn't even bother buying it again!

      Reply
    32. Erin says

      April 06, 2016 at 4:57 pm

      Haha. I love that that if it Aldi doesn't have it, you make it yourself. 😀 And thank goodness you did because this looks delicious! And so easy.

      Reply
    33. Krista says

      April 06, 2016 at 3:16 pm

      Well now I am going to have to make Enchiladas!

      Reply
    34. Medha says

      April 06, 2016 at 10:21 am

      This looks fabulous! I love the tomato and spice mix you used in this sauce 🙂

      Reply

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