Authentic Ancho Chili Sauce

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Mexican and Tex-Mex food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. Making an authentic sauce allows you to bring the flavors into your very own kitchen.

This sauce is very versatile, but our favorite way to use it is for an incredible enchilada sauce. Our cheese enchiladas would be nothing to write home about if it weren’t for this sauce. We make the full batch, and then freeze half of it for future use. It’s easy and so authentic in taste.

A white bowl filled a brown ancho chili sauce that is sitting next to dried ancho chilis and a festive colorful napkin.

How To Make Ancho Chili Sauce

Obviously, the star of the classic sauce is the ancho chili, which is a dried poblano pepper. You could certainly use a combination of dried peppers, just know some carry more heat than others. Anchos are mild and not overly spicy at all.

This recipe makes about 6 cups of sauce. You can easily cut the recipe in half, or do what we do, freeze half of it!

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The Ingredients You Will Need

The list of ingredients for the sauce isn’t terribly lengthy, or complicated, but they all blend together to make one of the most flavorful sauces you’ll ever make.

Here’s What You’ll Need to Have on Hand

Ancho chilies – Found in the Hispanic or produce section of many well-stocked supermarkets, at Hispanic food markets, or online
Whole tomatoes – Medium-sized (romas work well)
Onion – Whole and then quartered, no need to remove the skins
Garlic – Halved, lengthwise
Beef stockHomemade or store-bought
Tomato sauce – Canned is perfectly fine
Dried oregano – Mexican is great, but regular works just fine
Cumin – Dried
Salt – The sauce needs plenty of salt (see NOTES), we use Kosher

EXPERT TIP: Pull out your largest skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Toss in the prepared anchos (seeded), onions and garlic and cook, stirring often, until nicely charred and aromatic. This brings out the oils in the chiles and deepens the flavor profile of the onion and garlic.

About 12 dried ancho chilis and quartered whole onions that have been toasted and roasted in a large steel skillet.

Tips for Perfect Ancho Chili Sauce

Work in Batches (if Necessary) – This is more of a cautionary tip. Even if you can get all of the liquid and vegetables into your blender, it’s best to purée it in a couple of batches. If you are blending right after simmering, but extra careful as the ingredients are obviously quite hot. Be sure to cover the top of the blender with a kitchen towel and be sure to turn the blender off before pouring into the colander.

Strain the Sauce – This is probably the most important tip. Get a fine-mesh colander, or sieve, and use a wooden spatula to push the liquid through into a large, heat-proof bowl. The skins from the chilis will be left behind. If you don’t do this, the sauce will be grainy and not silky at all.

Season Liberally – If you are making the full amount called for in the recipe, you’ll need to season it liberally with salt. We recommend starting with 2 teaspoons, but you’ll most likely need to add another ½ to 1 tsp more. Taste as you go.

A view looking into the top of a blender that is half-full of puréed ancho chili sauce.

How To Serve

This sauce is so versatile and is great with many Mexican or Tex-Mex dishes.

We love to make breakfast enchiladas with it. Soften corn tortillas in the microwave, and then coat them with the sauce, and fill them with scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon, and cheese. Pour the sauce over the top, add more cheese, and bake until bubbly!

You can also simmer chopped rotisserie chicken with the sauce for the most amazing chicken quesadillas!

The sauce will keep covered in the fridge for a week and freezes beautifully for up to 2 months!

EXPERT TIP: After you’ve puréed the first batch, simply pour it directly into a fine colander and then purée the next batch. Then, press it all through the colander with a spatula. So easy!

A person pouring a brown chili sauce from a blender into a fine-mesh colander over a heat-proof bowl.

Classic Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes to Try

Tex-Mex Beef Tacos
Chicken Enchiladas with Verde Sauce
Chicken Molé
Roasted Chicken Tostadas
Roasted Chipotle Chicken
Cheese-Stuffed Chile Rellenos
Seafood-Stuffed Poblanos
Best-Ever Mexican Rice
Authentic Refried Beans

And once you make this sauce, you’ll find so many wonderful ways to work it into your favorite Mexican dishes!

A wooden spoon inserted into the middle of a stainless steel skillet filled with a smooth brown enchilada sauce.

This sauce is not difficult to make and can be made days in advance.

And the taste and texture are so authentic, you will be amazed at how much they elevate your dishes.

You will never want your enchiladas any other way! Just look at these incredible cheese enchiladas with ancho sauce!

A close-up view of a large white platter filled with Mexican rice on one side and refried beans on the other side and three cheese enchiladas with ancho sauce in the middle.

Are you ready to make the best chili sauce this side of the Rio Grande? Go for it!

And when you do, be sure to take a photo, post it on Instagram, and tag @howtofeedaloon and hashtag #howtofeedaloon!

A white bowl filled a brown ancho chili sauce that is sitting next to dried ancho chilils and a festive colorful napkin.

Ancho Chili Sauce

This sauce is perfect for Authentic TexMex enchiladas, and other amazing delicious Mexican dishes such as breakfast tacos!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Mexican / TexMex
Keyword: best enchilada sauce recipe, how to make ancho chili sauce
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Pressing through Sieve or Colander: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 36kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Blender
  • Colander or fine-mesh sieve

Ingredients

  • 12 ancho chilies dried
  • 1 medium onion quartered
  • 3 cloves garlic halved
  • 5 medium tomatoes Romas work well
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp Mexican oregano or dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried cumin
  • tsp Kosher salt or 3 tsp (see NOTES)

Instructions

  • Rinse the chiles in cold water and pat dry.
    12 ancho chilies
  • Tear open the chilies, and remove the seeds. It's okay if a few seeds remain.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chilies, onions, and garlic and roast them, stirring frequently, until the onions are charred in places and the chiles are aromatic, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
    1 medium onion, 3 cloves garlic
  • Meanwhile, in a separate pot, bring about 6 cups of water to a boil. Set up an ice bath by filling a large bowl with water and adding at least a cup of ice. Carefully drop the tomatoes into the boiling water and then remove with a slotted spoon after 30 seconds. Place in the ice bath.
    5 medium tomatoes
  • Remove the tomatoes into an ice bath and peel off the skin (you may need the end of a paring knife to help you start peeling the skin away). Cut out the top of the tomatoes where the stems were and then cut the tomatoes in half.
  • Discard the water used for the tomatoes, and add 4 cups of water, the beef stock, and the tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer.
    2 cups beef stock, 1 cup tomato sauce
  • Transfer the chilies, onions, garlic and tomatoes to the water/stock. Add in the oregano and cumin. Lower the heat to low/medium and simmer for about 15 minutes
    1 tsp Mexican oregano, 1 tsp dried cumin
  • Working in batches, carefully transfer the chili mixture to a blender or large food processor. Puree for about 1 minute, until very smooth.
  • Pass the puréed sauce through a fine colander or fine-mesh sieve into a heat-proof bowl.
  • Return the strained sauce to the stove and heat for about 15 minutes. Add 2½ tsp salt. Taste and add another ½ tsp, if desired.
    2½ tsp Kosher salt
  • Use at once, or store in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Keep in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months.

Video

Notes

See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
The recipe can be easily cut in half. However, we love making the full batch and freeze what we don't use. 
Take extra caution when transferring any of the hot liquid and vegetables from the pot to the blender. Cover with a kitchen towel.
We typically end up adding 3 full teaspoons of salt to the sauce. Taste after adding the initial 2½ and see if you think it could use a little more. 

Nutrition

Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 995mg | Potassium: 409mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 773IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

POST UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in January 2014, but was updated with improved tweaks to the recipe with new tips and photography and a fabulous new video in April 2023!

10 Comments

  • I’m in Colorado and know and appreciate good enchilada sauce! Your ancho chili sauce is spot on! I always make extra and freeze some- then very speedy to make enchiladas. Too few restaurants make good red/red enchilada sauce. Usually too salty, bitter or flour tasting. Encourage your readers to make your recipe to get the true taste. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

    • You just made our day!! (Sorry for the delayed response!) We truly appreciate this and we agree that finding a spot-on red sauce can be a challenge! We love making this sauce and we are thrilled you are enjoying it, too! Thank you so so much for sharing! Please stay in touch~ All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • Hi Kris….I would like to include ground beef in these yummy looking enchiladas. How would you suggest I prep the beef and with what seasonings? Look forward to your reply.

  • Thank you so much for the videos that go along with the recipes. It is so helpful to see exactly what to do. This is my favorite site. I email myself all my favorite recipes so that I can save them in a folder. You two are making me look like a good cook after all these years 🙂

    • Hi Cathy! That is so awesome to hear and thank you so so so much!! We are thrilled to hear that you’re enjoying our site and you’re cooking like a pro! Please stay in touch and don’t ever hesitate to reach out with a question or comment! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • where does one put the tomato sauce that you include in the ingredients but so nicely forget to add in the directions?????? I know how to adjust but other beginners don’t. It’s irritating!!!!

    • Hi Marcia! One puts the tomato sauce in with the water and stock. It IS irritating! Thank you so much for nicely pointing the oversight out to us. Have a wonderful day!

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