7 Best Canned Enchilada Sauces Of 2023
Enchiladas are seriously one of our favorite foods. They have such flavorful aspects and you can make them in so many different ways! A big pan of enchiladas can often make more than one meal because they are so filling.
You can make enchilada sauce from scratch or you can simply open up a can. In fact, some people like to use more than one flavor or can and mix them up just to perfect the flavor for their preferences.
The beauty of canned enchilada sauce is that it makes it so simple and the flavors are still really great.
What is the best canned enchilada sauce? The best option will have an authentic flavor that is bold and daring without being overstated. It won’t be grainy and it also won’t be extra high in sodium. There are a lot of great options out there to choose from.
In this guide, we will share with you the 7 best canned enchilada sauces. We’ve scoured the market to narrow it down to the options that truly deserve your attention and we’re here to share each of them with you.
Stick with us to learn the 7 best canned enchilada sauces.
How to Choose the Best Canned Enchilada Sauce
Before we dive into our top picks, we thought it might be helpful to share with you a little bit of a buying guide. We’ve picked out some specific features that make a difference when you’re choosing your sauce.
Just keep these notes in your mind so that you can make an informed decision when you’re ready.
Flavor
When you’re choosing enchilada sauce, one of the most important considerations is the flavor. Every brand you find will have its own unique twist when it comes to flavor.
You might want something a little spicy or maybe you prefer something that is light and slightly more mellow.
We all have our own flavor preferences when it comes to enchilada sauce. Keep in mind that there is both red sauce and green sauce and they are uniquely different in their own ways.
Are you looking for a sauce with an authentic flavor or do you prefer a Tex-Mex style?
Which Sauce: Red or Green?
You may always use red sauce or you may always use green sauce. There are also people who like to mix the red and green sauce to have a unique and full flavor that really takes the best of both flavors.
If you’re not familiar with either sauce or know which sauce you want, we have some helpful hints.
Primarily, the differences boil down to the ingredients used in each sauce. Red enchilada sauce has a tomato base. Tomato is the primary ingredient and then it has some added spices.
Green enchilada sauce is usually made with various green peppers and jalapenos. The green sauce often has a bit of a kick and even a zesty flavor.
Knowing the base of the sauce may just make a difference in your decision. Remember, it’s ok to mix the sauce as well!
Another factor may also depend on the type of enchilada you are making. For example, chicken enchiladas as more likely to have a green sauce while beef or cheese enchiladas are more traditionally made with red sauce.
The 7 Best Canned Enchilada Sauces
Now that we’ve discussed some important features and factors, it’s time to get down to the heart of the matter and talk about the sauces that are truly the best.
We’ve done our best to really try to find the very best out there, no matter what type of flavor it is you are looking for!
Below, you will find our top picks for the 7 best canned enchilada sauces.
| Rank | Canned Enchilada Sauce | Best Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rosarita Enchilada Sauce | Mild spice, versatile flavors, Keto-friendly |
| 2. | Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce | Hatch green chili sauce with mild flavor |
| 3. | Las Palmas Red Enchilada Sauce | Medium spice with authentic flavors |
| 4. | Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce | Sweet and flavorful, medium spice |
| 5. | La Victoria Traditional Red Enchilada Sauce | Certified Kosher, mild flavor and spice |
| 6. | Tio Pelon’s Salsita | Homemade style sauces with hearty flavors |
| 7. | Simply Organic Green Enchilada Simmer Sauce | Organic, delicious poblano pepper and jalapeno flavors |
1. Rosarita Enchilada Sauce
Our first and top pick comes to you from the brand Rosarita. This is a popular brand for Mexican food needs because it has really authentic flavor without a bunch of additives and other junk.
The flavor of this red enchilada sauce is absolutely delicious and you get a 12-pack so you can stock up your pantry and not have to worry about running out of sauce when you need it.
This is a traditional red sauce with robust flavor and just a tiny bit of heat that makes it a mild sauce.
This sauce works great for every kind of enchilada and it can also work really well for things like a 7-layer dip as well.
What’s better is that the ingredients are fresh and healthy and are even Keto-friendly if you need, with absolutely no added sugars to the sauce.
Pros:
- Mild heat level
- Bold and versatile flavor
- Authentic sauce for authentic food
- Keto-friendly with no added sugars
- Pack of 12 cans
Cons:
- Many purchasers had issues receiving dented cans that were hard to open due to the damage
2. Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
Hatch is another very popular brand and this green chile enchilada sauce is one you are not going to want to miss out on.
This is a green sauce and it is absolutely delicious. It’s another authentic option with a lot of flavor. It’s also not overly hot or spicy with a medium rating.
This comes in a pack of 6 and it also mixes well with red sauce if you need it to. This particular brand has a gluten-free option as well if that is more fitting to your needs.
These cans have easy-open tops so you don’t even have to fight a can opener to use them!
The ingredient list is short and sweet. It has mostly healthy ingredients in it and really no additives or preservatives to be concerned about.
It has things like hatch green chiles, soybean oil, and garlic as the primary ingredients. What really sets this one apart is the flavor.
Pros:
- Outstanding flavor
- Mostly healthy ingredients
- Comes in a pack of 6
- Green sauce with mild flavor
- Easy-open top can
Cons:
- The flavor is slightly more mild than some prefer in a green sauce
3. Las Palmas Red Enchilada Sauce
Las Palmas is known for a zesty flavor. These cans are large cans that measure 19 ounces and comes in a pack of 12.
You will have plenty of sauce to go around without worries about running out when you really need some sauce available!
This sauce is so flavorful with an authentic blend that is zesty and even a bit spicy.
It’s rated as medium in terms of heat and it works really well with every single flavor of enchiladas. It has authentic Mexican spices and ingredients.
There are not really any concerning ingredients involved in this can. It contains things like water, red chiles, salt, cottonseed oil, cider vinegar, garlic powder, spice, and more.
The ingredients are always high-quality and reliable overall. Many purchasers call this one of the best sauces ever.
Pros:
- Flavorful enchilada sauce
- Authentic flavor and ingredients
- Great for any flavor of enchiladas
- Medium spice with a slight kick
- Pack of 12, 19-ounce cans
Cons:
- Some purchasers noticed a slight metallic flavor from the can
4. Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce
Old El Paso is a classic winner. This enchilada sauce meets up with Tex-Mex flavor to present a flavorful and bold sauce that is a household favorite every single time.
It’s a classic and the brand is well-known for their quality options available.
This particular sauce is medium, which gives you just the right amount of flavor and spice to really make delicious enchiladas of any kind.
You get a 12-pack of regular cans so you have plenty to stock away in your pantry and this is a pretty good price for the quantity as well.
This can of ingredients is not as health-conscious as some of the others. It has the main things like salt, chili pepper, and some other seasonings.
This one also has sugar as well as color added and hydrolyzed corn protein. This may not matter to some but there are some it makes a difference to.
Pros:
- Flavorful sauce
- Comes in a pack of 12
- Medium spice for flavor
- Reliable name brand
- Great for any type of enchilada
Cons:
- Includes added sugar and some processed ingredients
5. La Victoria Traditional Red Enchilada Sauce
If you like a sauce that has flavor but falls low on the spice scale, this could be a really great option for you!
This is a mild sauce but it is rich and flavorful at the same time. It gives you a lighter option if you are at all sensitive to flavors and spices. The ingredients are wholesome for the most part as well.
This is high-quality sauce made with the very best ingredients that you can find. It’s a gluten-free mixture, which could be helpful for some.
This is a red sauce that is hearty without being overwhelming. It’s certified as Kosher as well.
We love that this is a mild sauce that still has delightful flavor. It’s nutritious and healthy and yet works well for any type of enchilada.
Some of the ingredients you might find include red chile peppers, dehydrated chile peppers, soybean oil, a smidge of salt, garlic, and spice.
Pros:
- Healthy but flavorful
- Great for any type of enchilada
- Mild flavor and spice
- Gluten-free and Kosher certified
- Comes in a pack of 12 cans
Cons:
- The chile peppers may make the overall spice seem more than mild in nature
6. Tio Pelon’s Salsita
This particular sauce is a bit more expensive than most of the canned sauces, it also comes in a jar instead of a can.
This sauce is unique and more like a homemade enchilada sauce than any other option here.
This comes in a set of 3 that gives you a red jalapeno sauce, a green jalapeno sauce, and a Verde-style sauce as well.
The jars are 16 oz. each so they are pretty large. You can mix sauces to really integrate the flavors. These do not disappoint.
They are designed for hearty spice and flavor. These are versatile and can be used for other things as well but you won’t be sorry if you try them for enchilada sauce.
These are fairly spicy on the scale so that is something to be aware of. They are bold and full of flavor. They do have varying levels of spice so mixing them could help tone down the hottest ones (the green jalapeno).
These are made in San Antonio, TX in the USA.
Pros:
- Homemade style sauces
- Varying levels of heat
- Unique and versatile
- Packed with flavor
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- These come bottled in glass jars
- The ingredients used in the sauces are a bit unclear
7. Simply Organic Green Enchilada Simmer Sauce
To close out our top picks, we leave you with an option that isn’t really canned but it’s prepared for you and requires just a tiny effort to turn it into a glorious sauce that is even better than canned.
This was an option we just couldn’t pass up on our top pick list.
This particular option is organic and it comes in a sealed package.
In fact, you get 6 of these 8 oz. packages so your pantry will be stocked and ready. This is another green sauce option and it’s pretty great.
This is made with rich poblano peppers and delicious jalapenos to give you just the right mixture of flavor and spice. The combination is perfect for a slight kick and perfect flavor. It’s really easy to prepare.
It’s called a simmer sauce but it can actually be simmered in the cooking process for your enchiladas.
Pros:
- Organic sauce option
- Perfect flavor for a green sauce
- Combination of peppers for spice and flavor
- Comes in a sealed package that is easy to use
- Reliable, pure, and potent ingredients
Cons:
- Some users say it is missing something in flavor but still good
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope that you find this guide to the 7 best canned enchilada sauces to be a valuable resource. There are some awesome options out there and it’s just a matter of choosing which is best for you.
We’ve put together a brief question and answer section. We hope there might be something here that could be helpful for you.
Can I Add My Own Seasoning to Canned Sauce to Make It Like Homemade?
Canned enchilada sauce is very similar to what you might come up with if you did make homemade sauce.
There are some steps you can take if you really want to add to your sauce. Try these steps:
- Use a skillet and heat some butter over medium heat. It doesn’t need to melt completely, just start turning foamy.
- Add a little bit of flour and whisk together.
- Add in your canned enchilada sauce, a bit of chicken broth, and some black pepper and Kosher salt to taste.
- Turn up the heat and bring to a boil. Stir the sauce on occasion.
- When it starts boiling, reduce to a simmer and let simmer about 15 minutes.
This is a great way to thicken the sauce, add a little flavor, and make it your own!
Is Green Sauce Spicier than Red?
It really depends. It can vary by brand and how it is made. True enchilada sauce is made to be a little bit spicy.
The best way to know which is spicier is to check the spice rating: mild, medium, or hot.
Up Next: How To Reheat Enchiladas
I like Saucy Lips enchilada sauce as well. Also, Frontera is good.