Green Chile Enchilada Sauce

$1.87 recipe / $0.31 serving

Budget Bytes » Recipes » Sauce Recipes » Green Chile Enchilada Sauce

Canned green enchilada sauce is just kind of sad. It’s watery and usually not very flavorful. Authentic green enchilada sauce is a little bit of a project, involving roasting fresh tomatillos, onions, garlic, and peppers—not something I necessarily want to be doing in addition to making the rest of dinner on a busy weeknight. I needed something in between. A rich and flavorful green enchilada sauce that was still super fast and easy. So I crafted this super easy Green Chile Enchilada Sauce, based on my Easy Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce, but with a green chile base and a slightly different mix of spices. If you love my red enchilada sauce, I think you’re going to enjoy this one just as much!

A bowl of green chile enchilada sauce with a wooden spoon next to a can of green chiles

What is in Green Enchilada Sauce?

Green enchilada sauce is a mix of roasted peppers, onions, garlic, tomatillos, and spices. If you want to try an authentic recipe, give this Green Enchilada Sauce from Isabel Eats a shot. But as I mentioned in the intro, I was looking for convenience without sacrificing a lot of flavor. So I swapped out the fresh roasted peppers, onions, and garlic for canned green chiles and dried spices. I also add a little oil and flour for thickening power. On days when I have time to cook for fun, I’ll probably make my enchilada sauce the real way, but this quick version will be my go-to most of the time!

Is This Sauce Spicy?

It can be. Canned green chiles can vary in heat level. The canned diced green chiles I purchased from Kroger were completely mild, but depending on the brand, they may have a little heat. If you want to make your green enchilada sauce spicy, you can always add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper.

How Do You Use Green Chile Enchilada Sauce?

Enchilada is great for so much more than just enchiladas! It’s also great for:

Combining with eggs, tortilla chips, and cheese for chilaquiles or migas
Drizzled over tacos
Stirred into sour cream for a creamy-tangy chip dip
Smothering burritos
Mixed into mayo to use as a green chile coleslaw dressing

Can I Skip the Flour?

Yes, if you need to make this sauce gluten-free, you can skip the flour. The flour-oil combo does help thicken the sauce, but you’ll still have a wonderfully flavorful sauce without it, just slightly less viscous.

Green Chile Enchilada Sauce being poured from a jar onto a pan of rolled enchiladas

Easy Green Chile Enchilada Sauce

A rich and flavorful green chile enchilada sauce that only takes minutes to make. The perfect compromise between flavor and convenience for busy weeknights.

Total Cost: $1.87 recipe / $0.31 serving

Author: Beth – Budget Bytes

Prep Time: 3 mins

Cook Time: 7 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Servings: 6 ¼ cup each

2 4oz. cans diced green chiles ($1.58)
2 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.08)
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour ($0.02)
1 tsp ground cumin ($0.10)
1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.05)
1/4 tsp onion powder ($0.02)
1 cup water ($0.00)
1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)

Add the canned green chiles (with any liquid in the can) to a blender and purée until smooth. Set the puréed chiles aside.
Add the cooking oil, flour, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder to a small sauce pot. Stir and cook over medium heat until it begins to simmer and bubble up. Continue cooking and stirring for about 1 minute to toast the flour and spices.
Carefully add the water and puréed green chiles to the oil, flour, and spices in the sauce pot. Whisk the mixture until everything is evenly combined.
Allow the sauce to come back up to a simmer, then add 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste.
Use the green chile enchilada sauce immediately, or refrigerate up to four days.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Serving: 0.25cup ・ Calories: 67.35kcal ・ Carbohydrates: 5.47g ・ Protein: 0.4g ・ Fat: 4.78g ・ Sodium: 404.52mg ・ Fiber: 1.67g

Nutritional values are estimates only. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

The equipment section above contains affiliate links to products we use and love. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Scroll down for the step by step photos!

A spoon drizzling some green chile enchilada sauce into a jar of the sauce

How to Make Green Chile Enchilada Sauce – Step by Step Photos

Canned green chiles in the can and in a bowl

These are the canned green chiles that I used as the base for this sauce. Some brands are spicy, some are mild (the kind I used are mild).

Pureed green chiles in the blender

Add two 4oz. cans of green chiles to a blender (with all the liquid in the can) and purée them until smooth.

Oil, flour, and spices in a sauce pot

Add 2 Tbsp cooking oil, 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp onion powder to a small sauce pot.

Oil, flour, and spices being cooked in the sauce pot

Cook and stir the oil, flour, and spices over medium heat until they begin to simmer and bubble. Continue to cook and stir for about one minute to toast the flour and spices.

Water being poured into the sauce pot

Carefully add 1 cup water…

pureed green chiles being poured into the sauce pot

Also add the puréed green chiles.

A spoon dipping into the finished green enchilada sauce in the sauce pot

Whisk the ingredients together until smooth, then allow it to come back up to a simmer, stirring occasionally. This should only take a few minutes. Finally, season the finished sauce with 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste.

Green Chile Enchilada Sauce being poured from a jar onto a pan of rolled enchiladas from above