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    Home » Dips, Dressings, and Sauces » Keto Enchilada Sauce - Gluten Free and Low Carb

    Keto Enchilada Sauce - Gluten Free and Low Carb

    Published: May 1, 2021 by Wendy Polisi Modified: May 1, 2021 · 969 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

    • 37
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    You are going to want to keep this tangy Keto Enchilada Sauce on hand! It packs all the flavors of traditional enchilada sauce while remaining perfectly suited for your low-carb diet.

    Best of all, it tastes. so much better than store bought. I like to double the recipe and keep a couple of jars in the freezer so that throwing together a delicious meal is a snap.

    Photo of Keto Enchilada Sauce in a small glass jar with a red and white string tied around it.
    Make this Keto Enchilada Sauce on the weekend when you meal prep, and freeze it for up to two months!

    I have always been a big fan of Mexican food.

    (Rather, I should say Americanized Mexican food since I am pretty sure 99% of what I eat isn't authentic.)

    When I went I got serious about being gluten-free after I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, I was shocked to learn that a lot of commercial enchilada sauces have gluten in them. (And many are not sugar free!)

    After I started reading labels more carefully, I also learned that a lot of them have things in them that don't exactly qualify as real food. (I try to stick to the if you can't pronounce an ingredient, you probably shouldn't be eating it rule.)

    Since then, I've always made most of my own condiments, starting with gluten free enchilada sauce.

    This Keto Enchilada Sauce is my latest creation.

    The good news is that there is absolutely no sacrifice here. Although you won't find anything other than clean ingredients, this homemade keto enchilada sauce is flavor-packed, with just the right amount of kick to it.

    Preparation couldn't be less complicated, and it is the perfect task to add to your weekend meal prep.

    I frequently double this recipe and then portion it out into glass jars to freeze. (Tip for those new to freezing in glass jars - make sure you leave a little headroom because the sauce will expand.)

    That way when the urge to make Zucchini Enchiladas or Chicken Enchilada Casserole strikes, I can just grab a jar easily.

    Photo of a keto quickstart guide with the description of the guide on the right.

    Ingredients for Keto Friendly Enchilada Sauce

    Photo of the ingredients needed for Keto Enchilada Sauce measured out.
    • Butter:  I used unsalted butter. If you choose to use salted butter, make sure you adjust the seasonings to taste.
    • Onion: White or yellow onion works well here.
    • Garlic: I like fresh garlic, but you could use garlic powder here too. I recommend using ½ teaspoon.
    • Chipotle Chili Pepper: You can find these in small cans, typically in the ethnic section of the grocer store.
    • Chicken Broth:  If you would like to make your own, check out my Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth recipe.
    • Tomato Sauce:  Use the best quality you can.
    • Xanthan Gum:   This is a thickener. Since a little goes a long way, I recommend storing in the freezer.
    • Chili Powder:  I recommend using fresh chili powder for the best flavor.
    • Ground Cumin:  For an extra kick of flavor, buy cumin seeds, toast them and then grind them in a spice grinder.
    • Sea Salt: Adjust to your taste.

    Storing Red Enchilada Sauce

    This recipe will keep in the refrigerator for about four days, or it can be frozen for two months.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Enchilada Sauce Made Of?


    Authentic enchilada sauce involves rehydrating dried chili peppers and is a process that takes about 45 minutes.

    For this easy low carb enchilada sauce, you will need: butter, onion, garlic, chipotle chili pepper, chicken broth, tomato sauce, suntan gum, chili powder, cumin, and sea salt.

    Is There a Difference Between Taco and Enchilada Sauce?


    Enchilada Sauce typically has more kick than taco sauce. It usually also has a thinner consistency

    How Many Carbs are in Low Carb Enchilada Sauce?


    This recipe has three net carbs per serving.

    Tools Needed to Make This Recipe

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn From Qualifying Sales

    • Saucepan
    • Knife

    How to Make this Keto Enchilada Sauce Recipe

    First, heat butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. 

    Add onion and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and chipotle chili pepper and cook for another minute.

    • Chopped onions cooking in a skillet.
    • Photo enchilada sauce cooking in a saucepan.
    • Enchilada sauce that is cooked and steaming in the sauce pan.

    Add chicken stock, tomato sauce, xanthan gum, chili powder, cumin, and sea salt. 

    Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened.

    Photo of Keto Enchilada Sauce in a glass jar with a spoon in it sitting on a red and white napkin.

    More Easy Keto Recipes to Try:

    • Keto Ranch Dressing is a recipe that I make most every week. It is fabulous on salads, and also a great dip for meat.
    • When you are looking for an easy appetizer, this Marinated Cheese is perfect. It comes together in a flash, and everyone loves it.
    • Low Carb Ketchup is easy to make and much more economical than buying a keto-friendly ketchup with clean ingredients.
    • Keto Marinara freezes beautifully and is perfect for meal prep.
    • I am absolutely obsessed with this Keto BBQ Sauce. It is great on chicken or with meatballs.
    Photo of a keto quickstart guide with the description of the guide on the right.
    If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
    Photo of Keto Enchilada Sauce in a small glass jar with a red and white string tied around it.
    Print Recipe

    Keto Enchilada Sauce

    You are going to want to keep this tangy Keto Enchilada Sauce on hand! I like to double the recipe and keep a couple of jars in the freezer so that throwing together a delicious meal is a snap.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time18 mins
    Total Time23 mins
    Course: condiment
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: spicy
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 42kcal
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified sales.

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • ½ cup finely chopped onion
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 1 chipotle chili pepper finely diced - more or less to taste
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 14.5 ounces tomato sauce
    • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
    • 3 tablespoons chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt more or less to taste

    Instructions

    • Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and cook, occasionally stirring for 6 minutes.
    • Add garlic and chipotle chili pepper, and cook, stirring constantly for 1 more minute.
    • Stir in chicken broth, tomato sauce, xanthan gum, chili powder, and cumin. Bring to a boil.
    • Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes.
    • May be made up to 2 days ahead of time or frozen for up to 2 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 183mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 810IU | Vitamin C: 4.4mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

    Other Great Low Carb Recipes To Try:

    • This Avocado Sauce from Diet Doctor is quick to make and even quicker to disappear.
    • Thousand Island Dressing will have you getting excited by salads.

    This post was originally published in March 2019. It was updated in April 2021.

    « Keto Chili Cheese Dog Casserole
    Keto Guacamole with Bacon »
    • 37

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lynn

      October 22, 2019 at 3:51 pm

      Question: what does the addition of Xanthan Gum do for this recipe? Is it a thickener? Here in New Mexico I’ve long used a different recipe to make our much-loved chile sauce (BTW, out here we spell it with an “E”, like the chile pods we make it from). But, my recipe does use 2 tablespoons of flour as a thickener. I would love to find a substitute for the flour.

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        October 22, 2019 at 7:14 pm

        You got it! It is a keto-friendly thickener. It doesn't take much, and can be used in sauces, ice cream, and baking.

        Reply

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    Welcome

    I'm Wendy and I'm here to show you just how delicious a low carb, gluten free and keto diet can be! You are just as likely to find me obsessing over all things cheesy as you are getting excited by a full produce drawer. I'm a mom to three, obsessive planner and roller coasters are my happy place. Let's dig deeper →

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