Enchiladas are a popular Mexican dish made with corn tortillas that are filled and rolled up, then covered in a flavorful sauce and cheese. The traditional enchilada sauce is made from dried chiles that are reconstituted and pureed into a rich, complex red sauce. However, some home cooks wonder if they can substitute a quicker and more readily available taco sauce when making enchiladas.
The short answer is yes, you can use taco sauce instead of traditional enchilada sauce when making enchiladas at home. Taco sauce will provide a quick and easy flavor base for your enchiladas. However, there are some important differences between enchilada sauce and taco sauce to keep in mind.
Key Differences Between Enchilada Sauce and Taco Sauce
While both sauces are tomato-based and spiced with chile peppers, there are some key differences between enchilada sauce and taco sauce:
Ingredients
Enchilada Sauce
– Dried chile peppers – Most recipes call for a blend of ancho, pasilla, guajillo chiles. These impart a rich, complex flavor.
– Spices and herbs – Onion, garlic, cumin, oregano add depth of flavor.
– Tomatoes – Tomato sauce or paste is used as a base.
Taco Sauce
– Hot sauce – Taco sauce gets most of its heat from vinegar-based hot sauces.
– Tomato sauce/paste – Tomatoes create the base along with seasonings.
– Onion and garlic – Usually minimal.
– Thickeners – Often contains thickeners like cornstarch or xanthan gum.
Flavor
Enchilada sauce has a much deeper, complex flavor from the dried chile peppers. It is also thicker from the natural thickening of the chile pulp.
Taco sauce has a brighter, tomato forward taste. It relies on hot sauce for spiciness rather than chiles. The flavor tends to be more one-dimensional.
Heat Level
Enchilada sauce can range from mildly spicy to very hot depending on the type and amount of chiles used. Ancho and guajillo peppers add mild heat while pasilla and arbol peppers make it quite spicy.
Taco sauce varies in heat but tends to be on the mild side. A lot of the perceived “heat” comes from vinegar rather than chiles. It can always be spiced up with extra hot sauce.
Uses
Enchilada sauce is typically only used for enchiladas or other Mexican dishes. Its distinctive flavor doesn’t work as well in other cuisines.
Taco sauce is much more versatile. It can be used on tacos, burritos, nachos, etc. The simpler tomato-vinegar flavor profile works well in a variety of dishes.
Pros and Cons of Using Taco Sauce
Here is a summary of the main pros and cons when substituting taco sauce for enchilada sauce:
Pros:
– Easily found in any grocery store
– Quick and convenient – no prep needed
– Consistent flavor since it’s commercially made
– Versatile – good for tacos, tostadas, burritos too
Cons:
– Lacks the complex flavor of real enchilada sauce
– Chile flavor can be one-dimensional
– Milder heat level
– May need extra spices and seasonings to boost flavor
– Not as thick as enchilada sauce made from chile pulp
How to Improve Taco Sauce for Enchiladas
While taco sauce won’t mimic the flavor of homemade enchilada sauce, there are some easy ways to tweak store-bought taco sauce to make it better suited for enchiladas:
– Add a splash of vinegar for brightness
– Mix in puréed chipotle peppers in adobo for smoky heat
– Sauté onions, garlic, cumin, and oregano and stir into the sauce
– Thicken with a slurry of cornstarch and water if too thin
– Season with extra cumin, oregano, salt and pepper to taste
– Mix in a small amount of tomato paste for richness
– Stir in chopped cilantro for freshness right before serving
– Top with extra shredded cheese to make up for less flavorful sauce
Best Taco Sauces for Enchiladas
If using taco sauce for enchiladas, look for options that will be closest to a traditional enchilada sauce. Here are some good varieties to try:
Old El Paso Red Chili Taco Sauce – Contains ground chiles like ancho and guajillo for deeper flavor. Also includes garlic and spices. One of the closest readily available substitutes.
Ortega Red Taco Sauce – Features a blend of chile peppers, spices, onion, and garlic. Thicker texture than regular taco sauce.
Taco Bell Mild Sauce – Good basic tomato-based taco sauce flavor. Boost heat with your own spices.
Valentina Salsa Picante – Popular Mexican hot sauce made from a blend of chile peppers. Has nice vinegary kick.
Frontera Ancho Chili Salsa – Rick Bayless’ sauce uses roasted poblano, ancho, and guajillo peppers. Leans closer to an enchilada sauce.
Recipe for Enchiladas with Taco Sauce
This easy recipe for Chicken Enchiladas with Taco Sauce shows how to doctor up store-bought taco sauce for use in enchiladas:
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce or taco sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
8 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
Chopped cilantro, crema, shredded lettuce for serving
Instructions:
1. In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Sauté the chicken, onion and garlic until chicken is cooked through.
2. To the skillet, add the enchilada or taco sauce, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Pour 1⁄2 cup of the sauce into bottom of 8×8 baking dish. Dip tortillas into sauce to soften. Fill with chicken mixture and roll up. Place seam side down in baking dish.
4. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas and top with cheese. Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
5. Serve enchiladas topped with cilantro, crema, and shredded lettuce. Enjoy!
FAQs
Is enchilada sauce the same as taco sauce?
No, enchilada sauce and taco sauce are not the same. Enchilada sauce is made from reconstituted dried chile peppers, while taco sauce is a tomato-based sauce flavored with vinegary hot sauces. Enchilada sauce has a richer, deeper chile flavor.
Why does my enchilada sauce taste like taco sauce?
If your homemade enchilada sauce tastes too bright and vinegary like taco sauce, you may need to add more dried chiles for richer flavor. Guajillo, ancho, and pasilla chiles are good options. Reduce the amount of tomatoes to let the chile flavor come through.
Do you need to cook taco sauce before using on enchiladas?
It’s not strictly necessary to cook taco sauce before using it on enchiladas, but heating it up allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken. Cook for 5-10 minutes adding seasonings like cumin and garlic to taste.
How can I make canned enchilada sauce taste better?
To improve canned enchilada sauce, try adding extra garlic, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, chopped chipotle peppers, vinegar, or tomato paste. Sautéing onions and garlic and adding it also boosts flavor. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Should enchilada sauce be thick or thin?
Authentic enchilada sauce made from dried chiles tends to be on the thick side from the natural starch and pulp of the peppers. But thinner sauce works too. For rolled enchiladas, you want it thin enough to dip the tortillas. For stacked enchiladas, thicker sauce is ideal to evenly coat them.
The Bottom Line
While taco sauce won’t provide the same authentic flavor as homemade enchilada sauce, it can work nicely in a pinch when making enchiladas at home. Look for options made with real chile peppers and Mexican seasonings. Boost the flavor with extra spices and herbs to complement the tomatoes and vinegar taste profile. With a few minor tweaks, taco sauce can become a tasty stand-in for enchilada sauce when needed.