Red Enchilada Sauce

Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce is an easy way to add flavor to your Mexican recipes. Use it for enchiladas, sliders, dips and more. It's made on the stove and comes together in less than 30 minutes!

Red Enchilada Sauce

If you want to have the best enchilada sauce, you've gotta make it homemade. And the best news is it's super easy! 

Homemade enchilada sauce is made from basic ingredients, like oil, flour, chili powder and onion, but the flavor is far from basic. You might be surprised to learn there is no tomato in enchilada sauce!

When I first started experimenting with making sauces instead of using store-bought, like homemade pesto, I remember being surprised by the idea of making enchilada sauce at home. (As if it grew from a plant or something!)

But once I found out the basic ingredients, I set out to make an enchilada sauce that was better than the enchilada sauce from the store. 

If you're out of enchilada sauce and need some for dinner tonight, you've come to the right place. This recipe is quick and easy — and oh-so-good.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This homemade enchilada sauce is 100% better than anything from a can. 

• Homemade enchilada sauce is easy to make at home. You can even make it in an emergency if you are out of regular sauce!
• It is made with simple, inexpensive pantry ingredients.
• This sauce is a great way to make a homemade enchiladas and other dishes so much more flavorful and fancier.

Not only do I really enjoy making sauces and basics from scratch, I really think it makes all the difference in feeling confident while you're cooking. 

There is something almost mystic about making something like enchilada sauce or ranch dressing or bread crumbs from scratch and doing so gives you this boost of confidence that you really CAN learn to cook. 

Ingredients

The base to enchilada sauce is quite simple and requires just a few ingredients.

Here is what to grab from the pantry (or the grocery store) to make this easy red enchilada sauce at home:

• avocado oil: You can also use any neutral-tasting oil, such as olive oil.
• all-purpose flour: For a gluten-free version, use your favorite gluten-free flour substitute.
• chili powder: This is usually a mild chili powder.
• onion powder: If you're out, you can purée an onion in the food processor and add it to the recipe just before adding the broth.
• salt: Kosher salt or sea salt is best for cooking.
• vegetable stock: This is what makes this a vegan enchilada sauce, but you can use chicken stock or beef stock instead.
• lime juice: Totally optional, but it adds so much flavor. Ideally, juice a fresh lime, but bottled concentrate also works.

If you prefer things spicy, add a pinch of cayenne powder or ground red pepper.

But if you prefer a mild enchilada sauce, you can stick to just chili powder.

Darker chili powder can be spicier, so just be aware of that and adjust your amounts of chili powder if you are sensitive to spice. 

How to Make Red Enchilada Sauce

All you need to make this recipe is a good heavy-bottomed saucepan, a whisk and a spatula.

Here's how to make this easy enchilada sauce.

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan on medium-low heat.
2. Add flour and whisk quickly.
3. Add the chili powder, onion powder and salt and continue whisking. The mixture will be dry and crumbly.
4. Reduce heat to low. Gradually add in the stock, whisking to combine liquid and spices.
5. Bring the liquid to a boil. Put on low heat and simmer sauce for 10-15 minutes until it coats a spatula and reaches your desired thickness.
6. Remove from heat. If desired, add a spritz of lime juice for flavor and freshness.

What to Make with Enchilada Sauce

If you make this red enchilada sauce, you can use it in more than just enchiladas!

It's great for seasoning shredded grilled chicken to enjoy in a wrap or burrito.

Add it to your favorite Mexican foods, like tacos or chicken fajitas.

We love these chicken enchilada sliders to serve at parties or a weeknight dinner. Or try it in chicken enchilada casserole!

FAQ

More Sauce Recipes

• Burger Sauce
• Easy Stir Fry Sauce
• Jalapeño Lime Ranch

If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.