Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Homemade Enchilada Sauce is an easy way to add tons of 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 20 minutes!

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.  

When I first started experimenting with making sauces and basic ingredients homemade instead of store bought, I remember being surprised by the idea of making enchilada sauce homemade. 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 enchilada sauce from the store. 

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

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 pesto or bread crumbs from scratch and doing so gives you this boost of confidence that you really CAN learn to cook. 

The base to enchilada sauce is quite simple.

If you prefer things spicy, add some 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 more spicy, so just be aware of that and adjust your amounts of chili powder if you are sensitive to spice. 

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How do you make homemade enchilada sauce?

1. Heat oil in a medium sauce pan on low to medium heat
2. Add flour and whisk.
3. Add chili powder and salt and continue whisking. The mixture will be dry crumbles. Put on low for next step.
4. In a food processor or using an immersion blender (affiliate), puree onion and water until it is mostly liquid. You can substitute ½ teaspoon of onion powder and garlic powder for the fresh onion. 
5. Add onion puree to saucepan and whisk to combine.
6. Gradually add in stock, whisking to combine liquid and spices. Bring liquid to a boil.
7. Reduce to low heat and simmer sauce for 10-15 minutes until it is at your desired thickness.

Need an idea for what to use this homemade sauce for? Make these Chicken Enchilada Sliders! 

Recommended Tools for Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce:

• Sauce Pan
• Wooden Spoon
• Food Processor

If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear how it goes! Leave a comment and rating below and let me know!

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Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Homemade Enchilada Sauce is an easy way to add tons of 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 20 minutes!

 

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Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 4 tablespoons chili powder
• ⅓ of an onion + 2 tablespoons water, pureed
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a medium sauce pan on low to medium heat
2. Add flour and whisk
3. Add chili powder and salt and continue whisking. The mixture will be dry crumbles. Put on low for next step.
4. In a food processor or using an immersion blender, puree onion and water until it is mostly liquid.
5. Add onion puree to saucepan and whisk to combine.
6. Gradually add in stock, whisking to combine liquid and spices. Bring liquid to a boil.
7. Put on low heat and simmer sauce for 10-15 minutes until it is at your desired thickness.

Notes

You can substitute ½ teaspoon of onion powder and garlic powder for the fresh onion.

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