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Homemade Taco Sauce

We all love a good scoop of taco sauce on our tacos, and this homemade taco sauce recipe lets you make your own in minutes at a fraction of the cost of the store-bought version.

And, it tastes just as delicious, I guarantee it! You just mix everything together and simmer it in a pot. Yes, it’s really that simple. Let’s dive in.

Taco sauce is obviously delicious on tacos, but did you know it’s also great on Chicken Taco Salad? Not in the mood for Mexican-inspired cuisine? Give this Roasted Stuffed Eggplant Salad a try for a light and fresh summer meal.

Why You’ll Love Homemade Taco Sauce

Taco sauce has that zesty flavor that’s easy to enjoy on all kinds of Tex-Mex foods, and making it from scratch lets you skip all the preservatives and chemicals. It takes just a few minutes to make this and it can be frozen to use in plenty of meals to come!

Helpful Equipment To Make 

These tools will help make this recipe even easier!

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Saucepan
• Whisk or Wooden spoon
• Storage jar with lid

Homemade Taco Sauce Ingredients

• 600grams of Passata or tomato purée
• 3/4 cup of water (place in tomato purée jar and shake)
• 1 tablespoon of cumin
• 2 teaspoons of onion powder
• 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (you can add more if you want it to be spicer)
• 2 teaspoons of oregano
• Pinch of salt and pepper

How To Make Homemade Taco Sauce

Making this recipe is simple! First, get a small stockpot and pour in your tomato purée. Measure out ¾ cup of water and pour it into your tomato puree jar. Give it a few good shakes and pour the water into the pot.

Turn heat to medium, and add in all of your spices. Stir while it heats. Allow it to simmer for 10-15 minutes. The mixture doesn’t need to boil.

Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool. 

How to Store Homemade Taco Sauce

Once your sauce has cooled, place it in a storage jar with a lid, or an airtight container. It can stay in the fridge for up to five days. 

You can also freeze your sauce (for up to 3 months) so it lasts longer than just a few days. The easiest way to freeze portions is to use an ice cube tray. Here’s how:

1. Place a few tablespoons of sauce in each ice cube tray and allow them to freeze for 6-8 hours. 
2. Once frozen, pop them out of the tray and place them single-file in a Ziploc bag. Place the bag back in the freezer.
3. When you need taco sauce, take the desired number out of the freezer and put them in a small bowl or container. Allow the sauce to thaw in the fridge for 3-4 hours or overnight.
4. Place on the table with a spoon and you’re all ready for Taco Night!

Prep Time

This recipe takes just 5 minutes to prepare.

All About Homemade Taco Sauce

Homemade taco sauce is vegan gluten-free, and is really quick to make. Taco sauce probably originated in the 40s and wasn’t even made for tacos!

That’s what makes taco sauce so awesome. It’s delicious on everything from french fries to fajitas!

What Else is Taco Sauce Good On?

I’m a pretty equal-opportunity Tex-Mex lover, and taco sauce gets dumped on almost anything! Here are some ways to enjoy this homemade taco sauce recipe (besides the obvious – on tacos!):

• Fajitas
• Burritos
• Nachos
• Pizza
• Taco salads
• Eggs
• Roasted veggies
• Baked potatoes
• Anything that could use a bit of zesty flavor!

Tips & Tricks and Recipe Notes

• If you want your taco sauce to have a bit more of a bite, add a few tablespoons of white vinegar. This will offset the sweetness of the tomatoes.
• Stir this often as it’s simmering. Tomatoes can burn quickly and stick to the pan!
• If your sauce gets too thick or dries out, as water, just a few tablespoons at a time, and gently reheat.

FAQs

Is taco sauce like enchilada sauce?

Yes, and no. Taco sauce and enchilada sauce are both red and have a tomato puree base. However, the difference is in the primary spice that gives each sauce its heat.

Taco sauce uses cayenne pepper, while enchilada sauce will use more chili powder. A good enchilada sauce may even use more than one type of chili powder to give the flavor depth.

Is taco sauce the same as salsa?

No, taco sauce and salsa aren’t the same thing, but it’s good to remember that salsa comes in all varieties of thickness, color, and heat.

Usually, salsa is made from fresh vegetables like tomatoes and onion as well as herbs. It may be ‘dry’ where the ingredients aren’t pureed, it may be partially pureed, or it may be completely pureed.

Taco sauce, on the other hand, begins with a base of tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes and uses seasonings to give it flavor.

What’s a good substitute for taco sauce?

If taco sauce isn’t your thing or you just don’t have the ingredients on hand, you can add other things to your tacos. Try enchilada sauce, salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, spicy ranch dressing, or chipotle ranch dressing.

Conclusion

Homemade taco sauce is way too yummy and inexpensive to not try at some point! This recipe is easy to make and easy to store for future taco nights, so keep it on hand.

Next time you see the jar of taco sauce on the shelf, grab a jar of tomato puree for a fraction of the price and try this instead.

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