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Red Enchilada Sauce

Easy homemade red enchilada sauce that's ready in just 15 minutes! Simple ingredients and it tastes SO much more flavorful than store-bought.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 3 1/2 cups
Calories: 11 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce use two individual peppers for a spicy sauce or one if you prefer medium heat; if you like mild, try omitting the peppers and adding just a few teaspoons of the adobo sauce to begin; you can always add more sauce later for additional heat
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from the can of chipotle peppers in adobo
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup water or low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together the tomato sauce, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, garlic powder, water or broth, salt, pepper, and brown sugar.
  2. Bring to a steady simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low. Cover the pan and let simmer gently until thickened, about 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. Transfer to a blender or food processor and blend until very smooth. Tip: Place a thick layer of paper towels over the top of your blender before you turn it on. Hot liquids in blenders love to splatter—don’t ask me how I know. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

Notes

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover red enchilada sauce in an airtight storage container or jar for up to 1 week.
  • TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm sauce in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
  • TO FREEZE: Portion the sauce into individual containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight or (if you are in a big hurry) reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove.
  • Because of the chipotle peppers, the flavor of this sauce is deep and smoky (deliciously so!). If you prefer a more classic, right-from-the-can taste, I'd suggest seeking a different recipe. (I don't have a specific one I recommend, as this is the recipe I always use.)

Nutrition Information

Serving 2tablespoons Calories 11kcal (1%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 0.4g (1%) Fat 0.2g (0%) Saturated Fat 0.03g (0%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g Potassium 93mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 133IU (3%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 5mg (1%) Iron 0.3mg (2%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 31/2 cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 11

% Daily Value*

Serving 2tablespoons
Calories 11kcal 1%
Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 0.4g 1%
Fat 0.2g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.03g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Potassium 93mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 133IU 3%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 5mg 1%
Iron 0.3mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.