Homemade Non-Spicy Enchilada Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Looking for a non-spicy enchilada sauce? This easy homemade enchilada sauce recipe won’t take you long to make, it full of amazing flavor, plus it’s very mild, so it’s great for those who prefer a less spicy enchilada sauce.

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I used to always make our enchiladas with canned enchilada sauce. Istill use canned enchilada sauce, but several years ago, I started making my ownhomemade enchilada sauce. That was a game changer for me. The sauce is SO good and it’s easy. Ok, maybe not as easy as opening a can, but it’s really not hard. Seriously.

This particular homemade enchilada sauce recipe got its start with our family several years ago, at Christmas time. For our family, enchilada sauce plays an important partof our holiday celebration.

Christmas Eve in our house meansa big Mexican feast. It wasa tradition that my mother started and eventually David and Iadopted it for our family too. Having this type of Christmas Eve dinner is actually a tradition in many Mexican-American homes and while my husband didn’t grow up with this tradition himself, I’ve always been fascinated with the whole ritual of family gathering together to cook tamales and other items for the dinner.

While I like the tamales and the tacos, myfavorite part of the whole Christmas Eve dinner is actually the cheese enchiladas that I make. They aren’t fancy— just shredded colby-jack cheese rolled up in corn tortillas. Butthe part that makes them truly irresistible is this enchilada sauce.

Today, I use this enchilada sauce off and on all throughout the year – from Christmas Eve to Cinco de Mayo and just regular dinners. It’s a non-spicy enchilada sauce, which makes it great for times when you’re serving those who don’t like spicy foods, or can’t tolerate them.

Sure, I still buy canned enchilada sauce for some of my recipes, but this recipe is a favorite in my house and I make it several times during the year.

Ingredients Needed for Homemade Non-Spicy Enchilada Sauce:

Cooking Equipment Needed for Homemade Non-Spicy Enchilada Sauce:

For this batch,I made it in Farberware Cookware,withTeflon® brand non-stick coating.I was happy with how evenly my sauce cookedandthis particular set isdishwasher-safe, so clean up was easy too.

Homemade Non-Spicy Enchilada Sauce Recipe (4)

Non-Spicy Enchilada Sauce Recipe Notes:

–As noted above, this is a non-spicy enchilada sauce. You’ll notice that it does include dried red chile flakes as an optional ingredient. You can leave this out or adjust to your preference.

–The complete recipe which will make approximately 32 ounces worth of enchilada sauce. I find this to be plenty for a large casserole pan of enchiladas, but if you have a smaller family, you might only need half.

–This sauce can be made in advance and keeps well in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I divide up the batch between two 16 ounce glassjars before placing in the refrigerator.

–I’ve tweaked this recipe over the past few years, but it was originally adapted from a Martha Stewart enchilada sauce recipe

Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

Here’s the full recipe, ready for you to print. Not ready to make this recipe yet? Be sure to save it to one of your Pinterest boards so you can find it easily next time.

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Homemade Non-Spicy Enchilada Sauce Recipe (5)

Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce Recipe

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  • Author: Brandie Valenzuela
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Description

Skip the canned enchilada sauce — thiseasy homemade enchilada sauce recipe won’t take you long to make and it’s full of amazing flavor!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons crushed Mexican oregano
  • 1/21 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 can tomato paste (6 ounces)
  • 32 ounces chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup water (more or less)
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine cumin, oregano and red pepper flakes. Mix flour into seasonings.
  2. In in a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Whisk the flour/seasoning mixture into the hot olive oil. Continue cooking the mixture, whisking constantly for about 1-2 minutes. Slowly add the broth to the mixture, whisking to combine both the cooked flour mixture and the both. Whisk in the tomato paste and continue stirring and whisking until the tomato paste is completely blended into the liquid.
  3. Continue cooking and stirring frequently. Mixture will thicken, so if necessary, you can add water to thin it out. I usually use about 1/2 cup of water. Add lime juice and salt. Use as desired in your favorite enchilada recipe.
  • Category: Sauces
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Recipe Card powered byHomemade Non-Spicy Enchilada Sauce Recipe (6)

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Homemade Non-Spicy Enchilada Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a non spicy substitute for enchilada sauce? ›

Tomato sauce is a good way to replace enchilada sauce if you're looking for a milder alternative. It's easy to take a pre-made tomato sauce and spice it and add other ingredients to get closer to a real enchilada sauce.

How do you make enchilada sauce less spicy? ›

Try adding a splash of these acidic ingredients to cool down the spiciness in your dishes:
  1. Lemon Juice.
  2. Lime Juice.
  3. Vinegar.
  4. Ketchup.
  5. Tomato Sauce.

Which enchilada sauce is the least spicy? ›

Use Las Palmas® Mild Green Enchilada Sauce to make delicious Mexican staples. Offering a mild level of spice to enhance but not overpower your enchiladas, this sauce is sure to make your meal a hit.

What is traditional enchilada sauce made of? ›

The Best Enchilada Sauce

It comes from a combination of dried spices, which are sautéed in oil to bring out their best, and umami-rich tomato paste. The cinnamon is optional since some people just don't like it in savory applications, but just a pinch adds some lovely warmth and complexity.

How do you make a non spicy sauce? ›

2. Tips For Making Sauce Less Spicy
  1. Add more of the non-spicy ingredients.
  2. Use sour flavors.
  3. Add a sweetener.
  4. Add alcohol.
  5. Add butter or olive oil.
  6. Add coconut milk.
  7. Add yogurt.
Feb 12, 2024

What can I use if I don't have enchilada sauce? ›

You can make a delicious enchilada sauce by hydrating dried mexican chilis, then adding beef stock to blender with onion, garlic, and re hydrated chilis. Liquify and add salt to taste. If dried chilis are not available, use canned chili powder.

How do you tone down spicy red sauce? ›

Cool Down Too-Spicy: Tomato Sauce

Drizzle in some heavy cream to cut back heat significantly, or try copious amounts of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to lighten the sauce a touch. Good backups that will also work include mascarpone, sour cream, yogurt (preferably Greek-style) and milk. Taste as you go.

Which is less spicy red or green enchilada sauce? ›

Red chilies make red enchiladas sweeter and milder than green sauce. However, you can adjust the spiciness. Additionally, you can prepare them with cooked peppers. On the other hand, enchiladas with green sauce are made with raw and fresh green ingredients, such as tomatillos or green chilies.

What neutralizes spicy sauce? ›

Balancing it with an acid can help neutralize the molecule's activity. This means drinking or eating something acidic — such as lemonade, limeade, orange juice or a tomato-based food item or drink — may also help cool your mouth down. (Milk is also acidic, by the way.)

How do you make Mexican sauce less spicy? ›

Sweet Defeats Heat

Adding something sweet to a too-spicy dish is another great way to reduce spiciness. A sprinkle of sugar or honey should do the trick. Or add a touch of sweet ketchup. If it's a tomato-based sauce, stir in a little more tomato sauce and maybe a touch of sugar.

Is all enchilada sauce spicy? ›

The heat of the enchilada sauces can range from mild to hot, depending on the type of chili used in the recipe. For example, Ancho chili base sauces can be mild, while the ones with serrano pepper will be hot.

Is there a difference between red enchilada sauce and enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference is that red sauce is made from dried red chile peppers instead of green peppers, and the spices used are sometimes slightly different. This sauce has vinegar, garlic, onions, and other spices like oregano, chili powder, and basil.

What is the secret to good enchiladas? ›

Fry each of your tortillas in hot oil before adding in your enchilada filling. This will help keep the tortillas from soaking up too much of your sauce too quickly, which can also cause them to break apart.

What is the difference between Mexican and New Mexican enchiladas? ›

In New Mexico, enchiladas are traditionally stacked, rather than rolled. They consist of a red chile sauce and cheese. Meat is not traditional- and there should never be any tomato in the sauce. A fried egg is served on top- it helps cut the heat.

What are the different types of enchilada sauce? ›

Most green enchilada sauces use green chilis, which includes jalapenos and serrano, tipping off the spicy scale. As with any color chili, green sauces range from mild to hot. Red enchilada sauce, on the other hand, is typically made from a variety of red chilies, vinegar, onions, garlic and spices.

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