Green Chili Enchilada Sauce boasts a unique flavor profile that’s both tangy and bright. A balanced of earthy warmth of peppers and seasoning.
It is so easy to make and is bursting with flavor. This sauce will quickly become a family staple.
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Why this Green Enchilada Sauce Recipe is a Keeper
What makes this recipe great? Create a list of items: Link to other relevant IAK content and/or affiliate products when possible. The list below has some ideas, but you don’t have to use all of them, and you can include others that aren’t listed.
- 30 Minute Meal: Give a kick to any meal with this enchilada sauce made from scratch.
- Easy Ingredients Green and Red: All found in pantry, you can freeze for later use. Make my red enchilada sauce recipe too.
- Family Friendly: Make it the way they like it add green peppers, tomatillos, green tomatoes or cans of green chiles.
- Adaptable: Can use this favorite green enchilada sauce on so many things or roast green chiles. You may find you prefer green sauce or green salsa.
- Makes Great Leftovers: Use this excellent enchilada sauce immediately or freeze for later to make green chile chicken enchiladas. So double the recipe. The sauce freezes very well.
If you’re looking for more enchilada recipes, try these Shredded Chicken Enchiladas, Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole and Chicken Enchilada Skillet {One Pan Meal}.
What can I use this Verde sauce for?
Green chili sauce is a versatile condiment that can be used in a variety of ways beyond your favorite enchilada. Use it to make Mexican chili verde or here are some ideas after you make the recipe for homemade green enchilada sauce:
- Dipping Sauce: Thin your green enchilada sauce with a little chicken broth and sour cream and use green enchilada sauce as a dip for tortilla chips or vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, or bell peppers.
- Marinade Magic: I have used this recipe to marinate chicken, fish, or tofu in green sauce for a flavorful twist. The acidity in the sauce helps tenderize the protein, while the chiles and spices add depth of flavor.
- Simmering Sauce: Use finished sauce as a simmering sauce for chicken, pork, or beans. The sauce will infuse the protein with flavor and create a delicious broth for spooning over rice.
- Burger Topping: For a unique and flavorful burger, add a dollop of green chili sauce alongside your usual cheese and lettuce. It adds a surprising and delicious kick.
- Pizzazz for Pasta: Thin your green enchilada sauce with a little pasta water and toss it with cooked pasta, shredded cheese, and chopped vegetables for a quick and flavorful weeknight meal. So much better than jarred sauce.
With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
Ingredient Notes to Make Green Enchilada Sauce
Enchilada sauce is so easy. Make this flavorful sauce and use it right away or store for later. This versatile sauce is delicious
- Canned Green Chiles: You can use canned diced green chiles or fresh chili peppers for this recipe.
- Minced Garlic: You can also you garlic powder, but fresh minced garlic will give a more complex flavor to the easy homemade sauce.
- Chicken Broth: You will need chicken broth for this recipe, vegetable stock works just as well too for great enchilada sauce.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Easy Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
With a little creativity and these variations, you can create a sauce for enchiladas that’s uniquely your own! Make this instead of canned green enchilada sauce. You will love to make this sauce.
- Smoked Chipotle: Add a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce to your blender for a smoky, complex depth of flavor. Chipotle peppers are jalapeños that have been smoked and dried, resulting in a rich, earthy taste.
- Herb Heaven: For a brighter, fresher flavor profile, add fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley to your sauce.
- Creamy Dream: For a richer, creamier sauce, add a dollop of sour cream or crema mexicana after blending.
Special Equipment Needed for Homemade Green Enchilada Sauce
- Food processor or Immersion Blender. Either will word to blend the sauce.
Pro Tip
Heat the sauce up and whisk in a little flour and sugar to taste. The flour will neutralize some of the bitterness and thicken the sauce a bit in the process.
How to Make Easy Green Enchilada Sauce Recipe
These are the basic steps for making green chili sauce for enchiladas. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions, recipe yield, etc. to make the sauce. Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope that you love this recipe. Have you tried this recipe yet? Use this authentic green enchilada sauce recipe.
1. Saute the Onions and Garlic to Make this Sauce
First, clean and chop your onions and mince your garlic. Then in a saucepan, saute the onion with olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes, then add the garlic saute for an additional 1 minute.
2. Simmer the Great Recipe
Next, add your remaining ingredients to the saucepan, including diced green chiles, chicken broth, and seasonings. You will want to bring to a simmer for 10 minutes and it will reduce by about 20%.
STEP 3: Blend the Green Chile Sauce
Finally, use a food processor or immersion blender to blend sauce under it reaches a smooth consistency, this should take about 1 minute. Serve right away in green chile chicken enchiladas or store in an airtight container.
Homemade Green Enchilada Sauce Recipe FAQs
Expert Tips for Making This Fresh Green Sauce Enchilada Recipe
If you like red enchilada sauce but are looking for a change, try this green chili sauce. Roast the Peppers for an even deeper flavor Or make both the green sauce and red sauce.
- Enchilada Alternatives: Dress up your huevos rancheros with a vibrant green sauce or use it as a base for a flavorful chile verde.
- Soup Starter: Give your chicken tortilla soup a verdant makeover with green enchilada sauce. It adds depth of flavor and beautiful color.
- Dip It Good: Thin your green enchilada sauce with a little chicken stock and sour cream and serve it as a dip for tortilla chips or vegetables.
- Beef Enchiladas with Green Sauce: Make enchiladas with beef.
- Extra Spicy: For an extra spicy green hatch chile enchilada sauce, add jalapeños and cayenne pepper. Or simple salt and pepper.
- Enchilada Toppings: Top Enchiladas with sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, guacamole, and pico de gallo.
More Sauce Recipes
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Green Chili Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Garlic, minced
- 1 cup Green chiles, canned
- 1 cup Onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 2 cups Chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
Instructions
- In a saucepan, sauté the onion in the olive oil for 5 minutes over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes. This will reduce the sauce by 20%.
- Add the reduction to a food processor or blender and process the sauce for 60 seconds until the color lightens and is smooth.
- Use right away or store in an airtight container.
Expert Tips
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This homemade green enchilada sauce recipe is so easy to double, just proportionally increase ingredients.
- Beef Enchiladas with Green Sauce: Normally green enchilada sauce is served with chicken enchiladas, but is just as tasty with beef.
- Extra Spicy: For an extra spicy green chile enchilada sauce, add jalapeños and cayenne pepper.
- Easy Chicken Enchiladas Recipe: For super easy chicken enchiladas, use shredded rotisserie chicken to fill corn tortillas or flour tortillas. Fill and roll tortillas with chicken then place seam-side down in baking dish then top with green sauce, monterey jack cheese and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees f. Take the pan out of the oven and serve.
- Enchilada Toppings: Top Enchiladas with sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, guacamole, and pico de gallo.
- Side Dishes: Enjoy Green chicken enchiladas served with black beans or refried beans and Mexican rice.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic-inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients, and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible to the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.