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    Home » Sauces, Dressings & Condiments » How to make Homemade Tex-Mex Style Red Enchilada Sauce

    How to make Homemade Tex-Mex Style Red Enchilada Sauce

    Published: Mar 3, 2013 · Modified: May 28, 2022 by Linda Baker · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Gail's Enchilada Sauce or Gravy is an easy delicious Tex-Mex style sauce to put over enchilada's. Delicious with any filling beef, cheese, chicken, or pork.

    Homemade Red Enchilada sauce with a corn tortilla.
    This is such an easy homemade red sauce to make for your next enchiladas.

    The story behind Gail's Homemade Tex-Mex Style Red Enchilada Sauce ( Gravy)

    My husband's mother was raised in Texas and was an excellent Tex-Mex cook. When she made enchiladas, always with a combination of mild cheddar and jack cheese, this is the "gravy" she would make to put over them. Generally, when I make enchilada sauce, I make it with dried chilies, but this recipe for Gail's Enchilada Sauce or Gravy is certainly easier and still very tasty.

    Chili powder is different from ground chilies

    Chili powder is different from using ground chilies. Ground chilies are the pure form of chili, chili powder is a combination of chilies with added spices, usually cumin, oregano, and garlic powder. While you could use a combination of pure chili powders, adding your own spices,  pre-made is very convenient when you don't have a lot of time to put it together yourself.

    My Tex-Mex mother-in-law used only Gebhardt's "original" Eagle brand chili powder. Gebhardt, since 1896. Must be doing something right.

    Homemade Red Enchilada sauce with a corn tortilla.

    Homemade Tex-Mex Style Red Enchilada Sauce

    LindySez
    Gail’s Enchilada Sauce or Gravy is an easy delicious Tex-Mex style sauce to put over enchilada’s. Use with cheese or beef enchiladas.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Sauces, Dressings & Condiments
    Cuisine Tex-Mex
    Servings 2 cups
    Calories 98 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 tablespoons oil I use grapeseed
    • 3 tablespoons flour
    • 3 tablespoons chili powder or to desired taste (Gail used Gebhardt)
    • ½ teaspoon cumin or to taste
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano or to taste (crush between your fingers)
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic salt or to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder or to taste
    • 1 cup water or more as needed
    • 1 cup beef broth or more as needed

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a sauté pan, add the flour and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the flour is just beginning to brown. Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic, onion, and regular salt, stir well. Add the water and beef stock, stir well; bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer, stirring and adding more water and beef broth (in equal portions) until you have the sauce consistency you desire. Simmer for 20 minutes; taste and adjust seasonings. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 516mgFiber: 2g
    Keyword enchilada sauce, homemade enchilada sauce, red enchilada sauce, Tex-Mex enchilada gravy
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. larry geigle says

      November 03, 2016 at 5:47 pm

      If the Gebhardt already has the cumin, oregano, and garlic in it, do I still need to add it separately? Thanks.

      Reply
      • LindySez says

        November 04, 2016 at 7:48 am

        Hi Larry, Yes...the amounts of those ingredients is small, while it does add some flavor it's not enough...so you do have to supplement it. Cheers!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lindy.

    Welcome to LindySez! I'm Lindy, a self-taught home chef with a passion for helping others feel confident in the kitchen. I believe cooking should be approachable, fun, and above all, delicious!

    My mission is to guide anyone—whether you grew up on fast food or rarely cooked at home—to create amazing meals with ease. Through simple recipes and practical tips, I’ll show you how to turn everyday ingredients into flavorful dishes.

    Cooking doesn’t have to be intimidating—let’s make it enjoyable together!

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