Enchilada sauce comes in a range of tastes and colors, from spicy yet tangy green chile-based versions to crimson and chestnut-hued red sauces. The most common use for this stuff of course, is making a tray of enchiladas, but it can actually be used in a range of Mexican inspired dishes, casseroles, soups, and snacks!
To help ease your shopping for this versatile sauce, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to taste, evaluate, and rank as many of the best canned enchilada sauces as possible. We’re covering all of our top picks, from green to red, mild to spicy, and beyond!
Table of Contents
Products We Tested
We taste tested the following 12 brands and varieties:
- 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Medium Red Enchilada Sauce
- Aplenty Medium Spice Green Enchilada Sauce
- Hatch Medium Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
- Hatch Organic Mild Red Enchilada Sauce
- La Victoria Mild Red Enchilada Sauce
- Las Palmas Medium Red Enchilada Sauce
- Old El Paso Mild Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
- Ortega Mild Red Enchilada Sauce
- Pace Medium Red Enchilada Sauce
- Simply Organic Red Enchilada Simmer Sauce
- Somos Mild Green Enchilada Sauce
- Trader Joe's Enchilada Sauce
How We Tested
Our aim for this taste test and review was to select a best canned enchilada sauce in each of the following categories:
- Best Red
- Best Green
- Best Mild
- Best Spicy
- Best Chunky
- Best Organic
We gently warmed each store bought enchilada sauce and tasted it straight up, considering the base flavor profile as well as the heat level of each. We started with the most mild versions before moving on to medium, spicy, and more heavily seasoned options.
After all evaluations were complete, we graded each canned enchilada sauce according to the following 4 criteria:
- Taste & Texture: looking at flavor notes and overall consistency of each product.
- Value: price per ounce.
- Ingredients: considering the quantity and quality of ingredients in each product as well as nutrition content.
- Production: taking into account factors of manufacture, distribution, availability, sustainability, and packaging.
Best Red
Hatch Organic Mild Red Enchilada Sauce
Overall Rank: 4.8 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.7 / 5.0
This mild red enchilada sauce from Hatch is decidedly sweeter and smokier than many of the other canned enchilada sauces we tested. And, unlike options such as Las Palmas enchilada sauce which had an incredibly bitter taste, Hatch’s version has a perfectly clean, tomato and chili pepper forward taste.
The texture is ideally middle-of-the road, as it is pleasantly viscous but by no means thick like some of the other picks. Heat wise, this option is labeled as mild but it does build a fair amount of heat as you work your way through it, so it may be a bit too punchy if you’re looking for a truly mild pick.
Value: 4.7 / 5.0
At $4.80 for the 10-ounce can, the price point is above average but still reasonable.
Ingredients: 4.8 / 5.0
This sauce features a nice and clean ingredients list which is free from major food allergens. Also, it provides a bit of micronutrient content in the form of potassium and iron! We do wish it would specifically indicate which types of spices and chilies are included in the mix though, instead of generically reading as “organic spices”.
Production: 5.0 / 5.0
This product is USDA certified organic, certified gluten free, vegan, and packed in a can that has a BPA-free lining. The label features a recipe for tasty sounding shredded beef enchiladas and we found this sauce to be widely available in most stores and online retailers.
Why We Picked It:
The overall flavor of this red enchilada sauce was a top favorite of our tasting panel, notably for its sweet and smoky balance punctuated by chile heat. It is reasonably priced, widely available, and is made from a limited list of clean, allergen free ingredients.
What We Didn’t Like:
In our opinion, the spice level of this sauce is too high to be considered mild, so bear in mind it may be too hot for some tastes.
Where to Buy: Whole Foods, Amazon, Thrive Market, Target, Kroger, and more
Best Green
Somos Mild Green Enchilada Sauce
Overall Rank: 4.6 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.6 / 5.0
Somos’ green enchilada sauce is bright, tangy, spicy, and just a little savory--everything a green chile sauce should be--and we found ourselves really enjoying the combination of both fresh and fire roasted tomatillos here. We love its bright chartreuse coloring and nicely blended texture, a feat not always easily accomplished thanks to the seedy, fibrous nature of tomatillos.
We did find the texture of this option to be rather watery though, so you may want to thicken this one up depending on your preferences.
Value: 4.5 / 5.0
This enchilada sauce is the second most expensive of all we tested, coming in at $0.37 per ounce.
Ingredients: 5.0 / 5.0
This option bears the best looking ingredients list of all the enchilada sauces we evaluated, containing just 10 ingredients! In addition to tomatillos, it evokes flavor from fresh onions, poblano, anaheim, and jalapeño peppers before being seasoned and blended with salt, olive oil, and garlic. Also, it has the lowest across the board sodium content of just 220mg per serving!
Production: 4.5 / 5.0
This enchilada sauce option is entirely plant based, gluten free, and non-GMO project verified. The label on the jar has a scannable QR code which delivers you to a trove of recipes, stories, and product background. However, we noticed that the lid on our jar doesn’t screw back on super tightly and is prone to leakage once opened. Also, this option seems to be the most difficult to find of all of the green enchilada sauces we tried.
Why We Picked It:
Our tasting panel gave the bright yet mildly spiced flavor profile of this green chile enchilada sauce super high marks, and also raved about its nicely blended texture and appearance. It is made from just 10 whole food ingredients and is the lowest sodium option we found, plus it is free from animal products, gluten, and GMOs.
What We Didn’t Like:
The texture is thinner than most other enchilada sauces we tried and would most likely benefit from thickening before adding to your enchilada dish. Also, the lid on our jar would not reseal properly!
Where to Buy: Whole Foods, select markets and grocery stores
Best Mild
Ortega Mild Red Enchilada Sauce
Overall Rank: 4.5 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.5 / 5.0
This mild red enchilada sauce from Ortega is much more subtle in the spice department as compared to most of the others. We were pleasantly surprised however, at the super savory, almost meat-like flavor it gives off. It has plenty of umami which is extra appreciated here as the lack of spice here could otherwise easily result in a sauce that is too bland.
The texture is spot on too, almost barbecue sauce like, but unfortunately the flavor does come across a bit overly salty.
Value: 4.7 / 5.0
This option has a middle of the road value. The 10-ounce can cost us $3.00, which is just about average.
Ingredients: 4.3 / 5.0
There are a few more highly processed ingredients in this option, as compared to the cleaner versions. We have modified corn starch, hydrolyzed corn, and soy and wheat gluten proteins in the mix, in addition to the more typical ingredients like tomato paste, chili pepper powder, and garlic. Allergen wise, this is one of the least friendly picks, as it contains both soy and wheat components.
Production: 4.6 / 5.0
This brand has widespread distribution so you’re likely to find this option in most major grocery stores and supermarkets. At just 10-ounces, this is one of the smallest cans we found--which could either be a good thing (no leftovers!) or a bad thing, depending on the size of the dish you are planning to make with it--and, it is a product of bioengineering.
Why We Picked It:
Though this canned enchilada sauce is light on the spice, it still packs plenty of flavor in the form of umami rich yeast extract and soy and wheat proteins. It has a smooth velvety texture with excellent thickness and is reasonably priced and readily available. If you’re looking to make a smaller batch of enchiladas, the smaller size of this can is a much better option as compared to La Victoria’s version which we could only find in a massive 28-ounce can.
What We Didn’t Like:
The ingredients list has some highly processed and GMO ingredients, and contains both soy and wheat gluten--making it problematic for folks with food allergies.
Where to Buy: Amazon, Walmart, ShopRite, Kroger, Ralph’s, and more
Best Spicy
365 Whole Foods Market Organic Medium Red Enchilada Sauce
Overall Rank: 4.8 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.6 / 5.0
Whole Foods’ store brand red enchilada sauce has a more tomato-forward taste and appearance than other sauces we compared, but oh boy the heat on this one! It is a bit sharper and more acidic, not as savory, and far spicier than any other sauce we tried.
The texture is rather runny though so like Somos’ green enchilada sauce, this one may need some thickening power.
Value: 5.0 / 5.0
This sauce is one of the least expensive we found, costing just $0.22 per ounce, an especially good buy when you consider that this option is organic too!
Ingredients: 5.0 / 5.0
Chipotle chili powder, fresh chile peppers, and ancho chili powder come together to create the serious dose of spice in this sauce. Other complementary flavors come in the form of red bell pepper puree, onion powder, garlic, cumin, coriander, and paprika.
All of the ingredients in this sauce are USDA certified organic and free from the major food allergens.
Production: 4.7 / 5.0
We love that this pick comes in a glass jar as opposed to a can for the simple fact that it is easier to store leftovers and keep them fresher longer! This is a non-GMO project verified and certified vegan product, however, it is only available at Whole Foods locations or via their website.
Why We Picked It:
The spicy-hot flavor of this enchilada sauce is top notch, drawing its power from a potent mix of three different chile ingredients. It is one of the most economical options we found, is organic as well as non-GMO, and comes in a resealable glass jar.
What We Didn’t Like:
The texture of this sauce is too thin for our tastes, and if you don’t have a Whole Foods in your neighborhood or surrounding area, you may have trouble scoring a jar of this stuff.
Where to Buy: Whole Foods
Best Chunky
Aplenty Medium Spice Green Enchilada Sauce
Overall Rank: 4.7 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 4.5 / 5.0
Unlike the other super smooth sauces, this green enchilada sauce from Amazon’s private brand Aplenty is thick and chunky like a homemade enchilada sauce! It has a wonderfully smoky, fire-roasted flavor, with a much deeper, more savory flavor instead of the usually tart flavor profile we’d come to expect from green sauces.
The uneven consistency of this sauce does give it a fun rustic appeal, but the presence of tomato skins and pepper seeds here adds an unpleasant texture that we weren’t huge fans of.
Value: 5.0 / 5.0
This is one of the most affordable sauces we tested, coming in at just $0.21 per ounce.
Ingredients: 4.5 / 5.0
In addition to roasted green chiles, roasted green tomatoes, and roasted jalapeños, this sauce contains just a few other ingredients like vinegar, cornstarch, garlic, onion, and lime juice.
Unfortunately it is the least healthy enchilada sauce we tested, with the highest quantities of calories (40), fats (3g), and sodium (600mg!) of all.
Good news though: this product is free from any major allergens and contains some micronutrient benefits in the form of calcium, iron, and potassium.
Production: 4.8 / 5.0
Like other jarred enchilada sauces we tested, we like that this option is easy to reseal and save leftovers for later. The label on the jar has a recipe for some delicious sounding green chile chicken enchiladas too! As an Amazon-branded product however, this sauce is only available directly from them.
Why We Picked It:
This enchilada sauce hits like a homemade version, with lots of texture and a umami rich, fire-roasted flavor. It contains high quality ingredients for a low price point, a few vitamins and minerals, and even comes with a recipe!
What We Didn’t Like:
The tomato skins and seeds mixed into the sauce make for some tough and unpleasant bites and the nutrition panel on this one is the worst of the bunch. Also, you can only get this sauce on Amazon, which may limit availability to some folks.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best Organic
Simply Organic Red Enchilada Simmer Sauce
Overall Rank: 4.7 / 5.0
Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
This organic sauce has a rich, complex flavor with several different spicy, smoky, and savory elements going on. It has a chocolatey rich appearance (yes, there is cocoa powder in it!) and a thick yet smooth consistency, sort of like tomato sauce or puree.
The heat level is assertive, in fact, this option was our second top pick for the “Best Spicy” category as well so look out for this one!
Value: 4.3 / 5.0
This 8-ounce pouch was a full $10.00, the most expensive by a mile. Though it is organic and high quality, the $1.25 per ounce price point may be tough to swallow.
Ingredients: 4.8 / 5.0
Top notch ingredients such as organic tomatoes, organic ancho chilies, organic cocoa powder, organic lime juice, and organic spices (smoked paprika, chipotle pepper, cumin, and cayenne) come together to create a high quality, deeply flavorful enchilada sauce.
Production: 4.8 / 5.0
This enchilada sauce is USDA certified organic and vegan and the package provides some helpful tips and cooking instructions on the back. It also makes note of the fact that this brand, Simply Organic, offers ongoing support and contributions to help organic and sustainable farming.
As for the packaging, the pouch concept here is neat but is actually a bit messier to work with than a simple can or jar, not to mention, not recyclable in most municipalities.
Why We Picked It:
Simply Organic’s red enchilada sauce scored high marks with our tasting panel for its savory, spicy taste with notes of chocolate and smoke in the background. The thick yet evenly blended consistency is rather nice as is the ingredients panel of fully organic, high quality veggies and spices.
What We Didn’t Like:
This option was off the charts expensive at $10.00 per pouch and as for the pouch itself, it’s a bit awkward to work with and non-recyclable.
Where to Buy: Amazon, Walmart, Safeway, Target, and more
FAQs
Which is Hotter, Red or Green Enchilada Sauce?
There is actually no hard and fast rule as to which color enchilada sauce is hotter, it all depends on the types and concentration of chilies used in each one. Red sauces are made with red chiles and green sauces are made with green chiles, however no matter the color, both sauces can be plenty spicy.
The best way to gauge the heat level of a sauce before buying is by considering the “mild”, “medium”, or “hot” which is typically included on the front label.
How Do You Make Canned Enchilada Sauce Taste Better?
If your canned enchilada sauce isn’t tasting all that great, try stirring in a handful of chopped fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, fresh garlic, or additional spices of your choosing. To add richness, you could also try adding a bit of melted butter, savory chicken or vegetable stock, or olive oil.
How Do You Thicken Canned Enchilada Sauce?
If your enchilada sauce is too runny for your preference, there are a number of ways you can thicken it up. The easiest method is to simply simmer it in a saucepan, stirring often, until some of the water content has evaporated and the sauce thickens.
You could also thicken it with a roux (cooked butter and flour mixture) or a cornstarch slurry, just be sure to simmer the sauce for a few minutes after adding your thickener of choice in order to fully activate it.
What is the Least Spicy Enchilada Sauce?
From the enchilada sauces we tried, our tasting panel ranked Old El Paso Mild Green Chile Enchilada Sauce and La Victoria Mild Red Enchilada Sauce as the least spicy.
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