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Home » Sauces & Seasonings » Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Published: April 21, 2021 Last Modified: April 21, 2021 By Sara 14 Comments

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

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This homemade enchilada sauce is a blend of chili powder, chicken broth, seasonings and tomato, all simmered together to create a rich and hearty sauce.

This homemade enchilada sauce is a blend of chili powder, chicken broth, seasonings and tomato, all simmered together to create a rich and hearty sauce. My red enchilada sauce is SO much better than anything you’d buy at the grocery store!

My family happens to love Mexican food, and I prepare it at least once a week. I like to make my own sauces and seasonings to go along with it such as pico de gallo, taco seasoning and this super easy enchilada sauce.

This homemade enchilada sauce is a blend of chili powder, chicken broth, seasonings and tomato, all simmered together to create a rich and hearty sauce. This homemade enchilada sauce is a blend of chili powder, chicken broth, seasonings and tomato, all simmered together to create a rich and hearty sauce.

A jar of homemade enchilada sauce with a spoon in it.

Enchiladas are a favorite in my house, and for good reason! Who doesn’t love tortillas and cheese drenched in flavorful sauce? This homemade enchilada sauce takes this classic dish to the next level and really turns it into something special.

What is enchilada sauce made of?

Enchilada sauce typically contains the following ingredients.

  • Flour: A few tablespoons of all purpose flour serve as the thickening agent for the sauce.
  • Oil: You’ll want to use a neutral flavored oil which is whisked together with the flour to create the roux, or thickener for the sauce.
  • Broth: The broth serves as the liquid base for the sauce. I typically use chicken broth for the best flavor.
  • Chili Powder: This seasoning is a blend of ground mild red chilies, garlic, onion and cumin, and sometimes contains other spices. You want to be sure you’re using an American chili powder, as chili powders in other countries can be quite spicy and often consist of ground hot chilies and nothing else.
  • Spices: Aside from the chili powder, this recipe contains small amounts of cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano and smoked paprika.
  • Sugar: I add a small pinch of sugar to my sauce just to round out the flavors and make sure there’s no bitter aftertaste from all the spices.
  • Tomato Sauce: The tomato sauce adds flavor and body to the sauce, along with a vibrant red color.

Small glass bowls of herbs and spices.

How do you make enchilada sauce?

Start by cooking the flour and oil together in a pan to create the roux. Stir in the chili powder, along with the other spices. Whisk in the chicken broth a little at a time until the sauce is smooth, then add the tomato sauce. Bring everything to a simmer, then cook until the sauce has just thickened.

Roux in a pan with an assortment of seasonings on top.

Tips for the perfect sauce

  • Gradually whisk the broth into the roux to avoid any lumps in your sauce. If you end up with a few lumps, simply pour the sauce through a strainer.
  • Homemade enchilada sauce will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 5-7 days and can be frozen for up to 4 months. I typically make a double batch so that I have extra for the freezer!
  • You can use this sauce in any way you’d use canned sauce. A standard 10 ounce can contains a little more than one cup of sauce.
  • If you prefer a thinner sauce, either cut the flour in half or add an extra 1/2 cup of broth. If you prefer a thicker sauce, let it simmer for longer until you reach your desired level of thickness.

Chicken broth, seasonings and tomato sauce in a pan.

Flavor Variations

This sauce is delicious as-is, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.

  • Spicy: If you prefer a hot and spicy sauce, add crushed red pepper flakes, pureed canned chipotle pepper or hot sauce to taste.
  • Creamy: Stir in 1/2 cup of either heavy cream or sour cream for a rich and indulgent take on the classic sauce.
  • Gluten Free: Swap out the all purpose flour for a gluten free flour and use gluten free broth.
  • Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of the chicken broth.

A tray of cheese enchiladas made with homemade enchilada sauce.

Once you see how easy it is to make your own enchilada sauce, you’ll never go back to the canned version again!

Ways to Use homemade enchilada sauce

  • Chicken Enchilada Casserole
  • Mexican Pizza
  • Beef Enchiladas
  • Tamale Pie
  • Chicken Enchilada Soup

Homemade Enchilada Sauce Video

A jar of homemade enchilada sauce with a spoon in it.
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5 from 11 votes

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

This homemade enchilada sauce is a blend of chili powder, chicken broth, seasonings and tomato, all simmered together to create a rich and hearty sauce. My red enchilada sauce is SO much better than anything you'd buy at the grocery store!
Course Sauce
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 79kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or other neutral flavored oil
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or more to taste
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 8 ounce can tomato sauce

Instructions

  • Place the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine.
  • Cook the flour mixture for 1 minute, whisking occasionally.
  • Add the chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, sugar and salt to the pan. Whisk to combine.
  • Cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly.
  • Slowly whisk in a little of the chicken broth at a time until you have a smooth mixture. Add the tomato sauce and stir to combine.
  • Bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the sauce has just thickened. Taste and add more salt if desired. Use immediately or cool and store in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.

Nutrition

Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 648mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1432IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
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Filed Under: Sauces & Seasonings

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    Comments

    1. Ellyn says

      April 6, 2022 at 11:34 am

      Haven’t tried this yet … how spicy is this?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        April 6, 2022 at 1:03 pm

        It’s a mild sauce so long as you use mild chili powder!

        Reply
    2. Cindy says

      September 30, 2021 at 10:22 am

      Is this sauce for chicken or beef enchiladas? Have you ever tried using beef broth instead of chicken?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 30, 2021 at 10:28 am

        You can use it for any type of enchiladas and beef broth is fine!

        Reply
    3. Rika says

      May 7, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      5 stars
      I don’t know that it would be that easy to make enchilada sauce. This is my new favorite sauce.

      Reply
    4. Mahy says

      May 7, 2021 at 1:01 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow – this enchilada sauce looks absolutely amazing! Fantastic consistency!

      Reply
    5. Sonal says

      May 7, 2021 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      I have been looking for a simple recipe for enchilada sauce. Your recipe is so easy and doable. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    6. Biana says

      May 7, 2021 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      This sauce looks perfect! Will be great to use to make some enchiladas.

      Reply
    7. Chrissie Baker says

      May 7, 2021 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      Never knew enchilada sauce was so easy! I’ll have to give it a try. 🙂

      Reply
    8. Mairead Geary says

      April 26, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      5 stars
      Enchiladas are a big hit in my house. Thanks for this great sauce recipe. I really like the combination of spices you used for this recipe.

      Reply
    9. Anjali says

      April 26, 2021 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      This enchilada sauce was so rich and flavorful!! I’ll never go back to store bought again!

      Reply
    10. Claudia Lamascolo says

      April 26, 2021 at 3:08 pm

      5 stars
      I have been looking for a new Cinco de Mayo recipe this is a great job on this delicious recipe what a fabulous flavor and on my list of must makes

      Reply
    11. Mahy says

      April 26, 2021 at 2:54 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for a good enchilada sauce recipe, and here it is. So glad that I’ve stumbled upon it!

      Reply
    12. Alison says

      April 26, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      This homemade enchilada recipe is perfectly spiced! I feel so much better about making my own, then buying store bought!

      Reply

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