Shortcut Enchilada Sauce

This Shortcut Enchilada Sauce is perfect for those days when you're short on time but still want a delicious enchilada sauce that doesn't come from a can. This easy enchilada sauce recipe is better than store-bought, made with basic pantry staples, and is ready in 10 minutes.

Unlike authentic enchilada sauce, which involves lots of dried chiles and can be time intensive, this recipe skips the long cooking process and uses a quick and easy method. First, you'll make a roux, add the spices and tomato paste, a splash of chicken broth, and simmer on the stovetop.

The result is a flavorful sauce that rivals even the best Mexican restaurant. It's packed with spices and perfect for pouring over Chicken Enchilada Casserole or Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas!

Before You Start

Here are a few things to note before you make this quick and easy enchilada sauce:

• Versatile: This is a basic enchilada sauce, but you can dress it up with some brown sugar for sweetness, cinnamon for warmth, or vinegar for a bit of tang. White vinegar or apple cider vinegar would be perfect!
• Diet-friendly: This sauce is vegan, dairy-free, and potentially gluten-free if you use gluten-free flour, so it's perfectfor anyone with dietary restrictions.
• Roux: The key to this recipe is the roux, which is a mix of oil and flour. This creates a thick paste to form the base of the sauce and helps it thicken as it cooks. Don't skip this step!

Key Ingredients

Here is a list of a few key ingredients to make this recipe. For the full list, scroll down to the recipe card:

• All-purpose flour: For thickening the sauce. You could also use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend!
• Chili powder: This is the main spice component and gives the sauce tons of authentic flavor! I like to use ancho chili powder if I have it, but I've also used more chili powder or blended canned chipotle pepper.
• Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano (ideally Mexican), and ground cumin create a complex flavor profile and round out the chili powder!
• Tomato paste: Adds a kick of umami and rich tomato flavor. If you don’t have tomato paste, an 8 oz can of tomato sauce will also work. Just reduce the amount of broth!
• Chicken broth: Thins out the sauce to the perfect consistency. If you want to keep things vegetarian, you can use vegetable broth instead!

How to Make This Easy Enchilada Sauce Recipe

This sauce couldn't be any easier to make! Here are some simplified steps for how to make it:

Step One: Prep the spices

Combine all the spices in a small bowl, so they’re ready to go when you start cooking.

Step Two: Make the roux

Warm up the oil in a pan, then whisk in the flour. Cook it just until it smells nutty and starts to darken slightly.

Step Three: Cook the spices

Stir in the spices and let them cook for a bit to bring out their flavors.

Step Four: Add the liquid

Whisk in the tomato paste, then slowly pour in the broth while whisking. Keep stirring to avoid lumps.

Step Five: Simmer and thicken

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and whisk often until it thickens enough to coat a spoon. You're done when it's smooth and rich.

Pro tip: If the sauce is still too thin, let it simmer a little longer to thicken up. If it's too thick, add a splash of chicken broth to thin it out.

Tips and Notes

Here are my top tips and notes for making the best enchilada sauce ever!

• Double batch: Make a double batch and freeze for later!
• Sweet it up: A teaspoon of brown sugar will help to cut down on the acidity of the sauce and balance it out.
• Add heat: kick up the heat with a dash or two of cayenne pepper.
• Adjust: You can adjust the ratio of spices depending on your taste preferences.

How to Use This Sauce

You don't have to use this sauce for enchiladas only! Here are some other fun ways to use it:

• Shredded chicken: Toss it with rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken for Shredded Chicken Tacos, burritos, Rotisserie Chicken Taco Bowls, etc.
• Tacos: Drizzle some over Easy Chicken Soft Tacos, Portobello Mushroom Tacos, and Ground Turkey Tacos for a little kick of flavor.
• Breakfast: Top Huevos Rancheros or Breakfast Burrito Bowl with a drizzle of this homemade enchilada sauce!
• Quesadillas: Use it as a dipping sauce for Healthy Chicken Quesadillas or Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas!