• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Family Food on the Table
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Sauces, Dressings and Condiments

Easy Enchilada Sauce

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 5, 2025 | Published: Jan 13, 2020
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe
Pin

Easy enchilada sauce uses on-hand ingredients and is ready in about 10 minutes! This flavorful homemade enchilada sauce is perfect for all your enchilada needs.A glass jar filled with homemade enchilada sauce with tortillas and cilantro on the counter nearby

I haven't done a personal update in a blog post in a few weeks and thought I'd give you a short snapshot of what we've been up to:

  • We had a really amazing, long, relaxing holiday season. There were lots of movie nights, walk and bike rides, family visits, games, reading and relaxing. And we somehow didn't get completely sick of each other!
  • We had a low key New Year's with an early party for the kids at a neighbor's house -- complete with a milk and cookies toast and a balloon drop at 8:00 p.m. -- and welcomed 2020 with open arms.
  • The kids are now happily back at school, I'm back at work and it's kind of nice to have a schedule again. Last week was a bit tiring as a re-entry, but we've adjusted and I'm thinking we've got this.

But let's move on to the FOOD, cause that's why we're here, right?!

Homemade enchilada sauce is seriously flavorful and tastes just like what you get at your favorite local Mexican restaurant.

Plus, it uses on-hand ingredients and is ready in about 10 minutes. You can’t beat that for quick and easy!

It also means you can have more enchiladas in your life, which is definitely a good thing. (These chicken enchiladas are always a huge hit!)

And if it sounds complicated or intimidating, I promise it's not. Let's start with the basics...

Homemade red enchilada sauce in a glass jar with cilantro sprigs in front

What’s in red enchilada sauce?

This recipe uses chili powder, salt, cumin, oregano, garlic powder and onion powder as the seasonings, as well as tomato paste (or tomato sauce), and chicken or vegetable broth. A quick roux of oil and flour gets the recipe started off and helps thicken the sauce as it simmers.

Red enchilada sauce is classic in most recipes but there’s also green enchilada sauce. What you need will depend on the recipe but red sauce is more commonly used.

But let’s be clear, this is not an authentic enchilada sauce recipe.

Those typically call for toasting dried whole peppers, using onion and garlic (not onion powder and garlic powder) and flour is not part of the equation, a longer cooking time is. (They also aren’t tomato-based traditionally.)

That totally sounds intimidating. And it's not likely something I'd be willing to attempt in my kitchen on a regular basis. So I just cut myself some slack.

Instead, we’re making a quick and easy enchilada sauce that takes some shortcuts but delivers BIG on the flavor.

It’s way healthier than the canned varieties and is ready in just 10 minutes, so you can whip this up as you’re prepping your enchiladas.

It'll be ready to pour over your rolled enchiladas and pop in the oven. Dinner time has nothing on you!

(If you love green sauces instead, try this chimichurri recipe for a marinade or drizzle.)

Enchilada sauce in a small copper pot with a wooden spoon resting in it Overhead image of red enchilada sauce in a glass jar with some tortillas stacked nearby

Now, I’ve got some notes, tips and substitutions coming up below on how to make easy enchilada sauce. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Notes on easy homemade enchilada sauce:

  • The tomato paste in this recipe adds a great richness and depth of flavor, but you can substitute tomato sauce if needed.
  • Use an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce in place of the tomato paste and reduce the amount of broth you use to 1 cup.
  • Use chicken or vegetable broth, either works great.
  • The recipe calls for just regular chili powder, not a Mexican-style, spicy or dark variety of chili powder.
  • Also, I tried to call it out in the recipe card below, but wanted to note that you will need ¼ cup of chili powder for this recipe. That’s the same as 4 tablespoons and it sounds like a lot, but that’s what adds the great color and flavor.

A glass jar with homemade enchilada sauce with some stacked tortillas and a colorful blue towel nearby

Tip: Many grocery stores sell chili powder in a much larger container than just a regular spice jar, which can help save money if you use it a lot. Which I definitely do between this and my homemade taco seasoning.

(Sometimes they also have less expensive brands of seasonings in an international aisle so check that out too.)

Also, it’s worth mentioning that the chili powder flavor mellows as the sauce cooks and also when you use this in a recipe. (After all, we’re not dipping food into this sauce, it’s going on some enchiladas!)

As written, this recipe is vegan and dairy-free. You can also use a gluten-free flour for this recipe to make it gluten-free if needed.

A jar of enchilada sauce with a label on top and a rope tied into a bow around it

Finally, what to do if you’re making this ahead or have some extra sauce leftover after you use it.

Tips on storing homemade enchilada sauce:

- Cool the enchilada sauce once it’s cooked and then store in a jar or covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

- You can also freeze extra sauce in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Beyond enchiladas, there’s lots of other ways to use enchilada sauce: in casseroles, soups, Mexican-style lasagna, a quick chicken skillet, or to season chicken or pork in the crock pot or Instant Pot.

But of course, you know if I’m bringing you enchilada sauce, I’ve got some enchilada recipes to share too.

A jar of enchilada sauce with a label on top and a rope tied into a bow around it

I’ve got two healthy takes on enchiladas that are coming up later this week, so stay tuned! (Update: See sweet potato black bean enchiladas and chicken enchilada spaghetti squash boats.)

You can sign up for free e-newsletter to get all of my new recipes delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a thing. I’ll even send you my free e-cookbook, Healthy Weeknight Dinners, as a thank you!

Enjoy and happy cooking!

XO,

Kathryn

A glass jar with homemade enchilada sauce with some stacked tortillas and a colorful blue towel nearby
PRINT PIN SaveSaved!
4 from 2 votes

Easy Enchilada Sauce

Easy enchilada sauce uses on-hand ingredients and is ready in about 10 minutes! This flavorful homemade enchilada sauce is perfect for all your enchilada needs.
Prep Time2 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time12 minutes mins
Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste (see notes)
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the flour and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the spices and stir well. Add the tomato paste and then the broth and bring to a simmer (you an increase the heat to medium high to help this go faster), whisking to get the tomato paste well incorporated.
  • Reduce the heat to medium low, maintaining a simmer, and let cook for 10-12 minutes, until slightly thickened.
  • Use immediately or cool and store in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

The tomato paste in this recipe adds a great richness and depth of flavor, but you can substitute tomato sauce if needed. You can also use an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce in place of the tomato paste. Reduce the amount of chicken or vegetable broth to 1 cup.
The recipe calls for just regular chili powder, not a Mexican-style, spicy or dark variety.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 194mg | Sugar: 1g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!

A glass jar with a homemade enchilada sauce with tortillas in the background and a text overlay on the photo.

Pin

More Sauces, Dressings and Condiments

  • Close up of a chip scooping up some guacamole from a serving bowl.
    Easy Guacamole Recipe
  • Close up of a whisk resting in a bowl of homemade chimichurri sauce.
    Chimichurri Recipe
  • Close up of small glass mason jars with different pickled vegetables.
    Quick Pickled Vegetables
  • Close up of cream cheese and pepper jelly served on a white round plate with crackers.
    Homemade Pepper Jelly

Reader Interactions

4 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • A cream cheese chicken and mushroom mixture in a large pan with a wooden spoon resting in it.
    Easy Cream Cheese Chicken
  • Close up of honey garlic chicken served in a blue and white bowl with sliced green onions on top.
    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
  • Close up of a whole roasted chicken on a large white serving platter with veggies and fresh parsley to the side.
    Easy Whole Roasted Chicken
  • Close up of a fork resting in a bowl of rice and curried ground turkey with peas.
    Curry Ground Turkey with Rice and Peas
  • Close up of a wooden spoon drizzling pan gravy over seared pork chops.
    Easy Skillet Pork Chops with Gravy
  • Close up of a dark skillet with a saucy honey garlic chicken dish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions sprinkled on top.
    15-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken

Footer

↑back to top

About

  • Contact
  • Work With Me

Newsletter

  • Sign up for emails!

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Family Food on the Table

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.