Quick and Easy 5-Minute Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

Are you ready to make enchiladas but just realized you don't have any enchilada sauce? Don't worry! In this blog post, I will share a super quick and easy homemade enchilada sauce recipe that takes just five minutes to prepare. The best part? It uses pantry staples, so you likely have everything you need on hand.

Ingredients Needed

To make this delicious enchilada sauce, gather the following ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of avocado oil (or another neutral cooking oil)
• 1 clove of garlic (pressed or minced)
• 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons of chili powder
• 1 tablespoon of ancho chili powder (or an additional tablespoon of regular chili powder)
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon of light brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon of table salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
• A pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• Juice of half a lime (about 2 teaspoons)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Saucepan

Start by grabbing a saucepan and placing it on the stovetop. Turn your stove to medium heat and add the avocado oil. Allow the oil to shimmer, which indicates that it is hot enough.

2. Add Garlic

Once the oil is shimmering, press a clove of garlic directly into the oil. If you prefer, you can mince the garlic instead. Whisk the garlic into the oil and cook it until fragrant, which should take about 30 seconds.

3. Incorporate Flour

Next, add 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the saucepan. Whisk this into the oil and continue to cook while whisking for about another minute. This step lightly toasts the flour, enhancing the flavor of your sauce.

4. Add Spices

Now it's time to add the spices. Incorporate the following:

• 2 tablespoons of chili powder
• 1 tablespoon of ancho chili powder (or an additional tablespoon of regular chili powder)
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon of light brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon of table salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
• A pinch of cayenne pepper (if you like a bit of heat)

Whisk everything together thoroughly and cook for another 30 seconds. This will help to toast the spices, giving your sauce a rich and deep flavor. The mixture will be thick and dry, which is normal, so keep it moving to prevent burning. If necessary, reduce the heat.

5. Add Tomato Paste

Next, add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste to the mixture. Whisk it in well and continue to cook for a little longer, ensuring that nothing burns.

6. Incorporate Chicken Broth

While whisking, slowly drizzle in 2 cups of chicken broth. Keep cooking and stirring constantly until the sauce is slightly thickened. It won’t thicken a lot, but you should notice a change in consistency.

7. Finish with Lime Juice

For the final touch, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice—about 2 teaspoons. Fresh lime juice is best for this recipe, and you can adjust the amount to your taste. I usually squeeze half a lime when making it.

Taste Test

Before you finish, always taste your sauce. If you feel it needs a little more salt, go ahead and add it to your liking. This recipe yields a little more than two cups of sauce, which is typically enough for a batch of enchiladas.

Conclusion

Now that you have this quick and easy enchilada sauce recipe, you can whip it up in no time! Stay tuned for my next video, where I will demonstrate how to make easy chicken enchiladas using this exact sauce. Enjoy your cooking, and let me know if you found this recipe helpful!