This is my go-to enchilada sauce for all my various enchilada dishes. I love red enchilada sauce, but I cannot stand the stuff you find in the tin cans in the ethnic section of your local grocery store. This sauce is delicious, easy, and doesn’t require any crazy specialty ingredients. You can adjust the heat to your family’s preference. The recipe included here is very slightly spicy, but not enough so that my little ones can’t eat it. How spicy yours is will depend on the specific brand of chile powder you use, so go sparingly, and test it often!
Saute the garlic in the vegetable oil for 1 minute over medium high heat. Add the rest of the ingredients. Reduce heat to low, and simmer stirring frequently for 15-20 minutes. Adjust chile powder as necessary.
- 1 TBSP Vegetable Oil
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp basil
- 1 TBSP chile powder
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cumin
- ¼ cup salsa
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- In a medium saucepan, saute garlic in the vegetable oil for 1 minute over medium heat. Add the rest of the enchilada sauce ingredients, stir well, and reduce heat to low. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, for about 10-15 minutes.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Denise Taylor-Dennis says
I was excited to see this recipe when you mentioned it in the things to come post. This does look easy and sounds delicious.
Rita says
It is very easy and tastes wonderfully.
Tammy S says
I am like you, the stuff in the cans is nasty! I really like your sauce recipe. It’s easy and it isn’t full of a bunch of junk that is hard to find. I will have to try this. Thanks!
Rita says
It is nasty and I really try not to use anything in a can often if I can help it.
Jean says
My husband loves enchiladas but I don’t make them, mostly because I’ve never had a decent sauce in my repertoire. I will have to try yours – my husband will be so surprised.
Rita says
Give it a try and let me know what he thinks.
saminder gumer says
this sounds delicious. i will try it out and make some killer vegetable enchiladas.
Rita says
I hope you enjoy and would love to see pictures of your enchiladas.
Nicole Dz says
YUM! I also don’t like the store bought stuff, much better to make. Love the pictures. I could even make extra to put in mason jars for later. This sauce looks so good. I like mine hot and spicy. My family loves the heat!
Rita says
Putting it into mason jars and storing for later is a great idea. The heat will get hotter as the flavors blend more through storage.
Christina A. says
I should try this one! I made some homemade enchiladas a while back but my sauce did turn out much too spicy as well! Homemade sauce is so much better than canned!!
Birdiebee says
I love that one can make their own enchilada sauce. I really hate to buy it in the store as I always have to look at the ingredients to make sure it does not have MSG in it. Thank you for sharing this.