Best Canned Enchilada Sauces of 2022

Enchilada sauce is the foundation of Mexican cuisine. As a result, it’s no surprise that when you go to a restaurant that offers real Mexican food, this hot sauce is constantly on the table. Given the importance of the recipe, getting it properly is critical.

If you don’t have time to make the ideal enchilada sauce, you may go for the canned varieties that are all over the market. There are several brands that have perfected the formula.

Choosing the finest canned enchilada sauce for your needs from a plethora of possibilities may be a daunting endeavor that will leave you perplexed about the best option for you. Fortunately, you’ve arrived at the correct spot.

We combed the market and selected the seven top solutions that worth your money and attention. Furthermore, we’ve highlighted a key purchasing variables that will guarantee your next canned enchilada sauce purchase is free of regrets. Continue reading!

1. Rosarita

 

Rosarita Enchilada Sauce has a gently spicy tomato basis and is good for youngsters and anyone who are sensitive to spices. Because each serving has just 20 calories, it is suitable for the Keto diet. It is also free of added sugars and trans fat. Rosarita is a guilt-free alternative with just 2 grams of sugar per serving and 430mg of salt.

This sauce contains carob bean gum, Xanthan gum, yeast extract, and guar gum in addition to canola oil, garlic puree, spices, tomato puree, dried onion salt, and red chili puree. The gums are useful for thickening the sauce. Furthermore, yeast extract is a kind of MSG.

Pros

• Mildly spicy option suitable for smaller children
• Easy to use
• Low in calories
• Ideal for a Keto diet
• Lacks trans-fat
• No added sugars

Cons

• Contains MSG
• Not as delicious for those with refined taste buds.

2. Old El Paso

Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce, which comes in medium, green, and mild variations, is made from a diverse set of ingredients. Chili powder, tomato puree, vinegar, water, modified corn starch, added colors, onion powder, salt, citric acid, hydrolyzed corn protein, sugar, and soybean oil are among the ingredients.

Each cup serving has 20 calories, 290mg sodium, 4 grams of carbs, and 1 gram of sugar. The good news is that they are on the lower end of the range and will not harm your health or waistline if consumed in moderation.

Aside from enchiladas, this sauce stands out from the crowd since it is utilized in a variety of Mexican-inspired recipes. It’s excellent if you’re feeling experimental in the kitchen or if you often prepare Mexican recipes for yourself and your loved ones.

Pros

• Low in carbohydrates, calories, sugar, and sodium
• Green and red sauces are available in a variety of spice intensities.
• Each can has 4 servings
• Versatile enough to be used on a myriad of dishes
• Offers a moderate level of spices

Cons

• Must remain refrigerated after opening
• Has soy that is harmful to anyone with allergies
• It has added coloring

3. Las Palmas

You may enjoy the heat of the Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce with its rich and spicy taste that is not too harsh or overbearing. Monosodium, green chili peppers, corn syrup solids, garlic powder, salt, glutamate, soybean oil, and sugar are used to make it.

Las Palmas is distinguished for its zesty taste. Because of its adaptability, this sauce goes great with lasagna, casseroles, as a topping for macaroni and cheese, and soups. Each cup serving has 3g of carbs, 25 calories, and 340mg of salt.

Pros

• Unique zesty flavor
• Low in sodium, calories, carbohydrates, and sugar
• Versatile as it pairs well with various foods
• Made with jalapeño peppers for a fiery Mexican taste.

Cons

• It contains corn syrup solids, which, if ingested in high numbers, may promote fast weight gain and diabetes.

4. La Victoria

If you’re Jewish, the La Victoria Enchilada Sauce is a great choice since it’s Kosher-certified. It is also suitable for persons with celiac disease or gluten intolerance since it is gluten-free.

La Victoria has just 3g of carbs, 460mg sodium, and 25 calories per serving and is made from California Chile peppers, salt, water, distilled vinegar, red chili peppers, and soybean oil, to mention a few ingredients.

Pros

• Its mild flavor makes it excellent for individuals who dislike harsh spices.
• Perfect for people on a Kosher diet
• Gluten-free
• Low in sugar, sodium, and carbohydrates

Cons

• Slightly problematic and insufficient packaging
• It contains soy that can cause allergies

5. Hatch Red

If you’re not very good with spices or prefer milder tastes and sauces, Hatch Red Enchilada Sauce is for you. Furthermore, it is a good option for individuals who are unable to consume spicy dishes owing to medical reasons. Hatch Red is made from ground chili peppers and may be used to make enchiladas as well as a marinade for a variety of other foods.

This delectable sauce is made up of citric acid, which serves as both a flavour and a preservative, tomato puree, soybean oil, modified corn starch, yeast extract, garlic powder, sugar, salt, and a few other components. Each can has about seven servings, each of which contains 3g carbs, 25 calories, and 260mg sodium.

Pros

Low in calories, sodium, and carbs
Ideal for people who have health problems that restrict them from eating spicy foods.
Excellent as a marinade
Unique and adaptable

Cons

Contains soy products and preservatives

6. La Preferida Green Chile

It’s no secret that jalapenos are an excellent method to add spice to any dish, which is why they’re linked with the most delectable Mexican meals. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that La Preferida’s particular blast of flavor comes from jalapenos combined with a secret blend of spices.

This sauce is a terrific alternative to offer when you have visitors around for lunch or supper since it is a perfect in-between level when it comes to the degree of spice in meals.La Preferida includes caramel coloring as well as other artificial colors that may cause health issues. Furthermore, each serving of this delectable sauce has 80 calories.

Pros

• Despite its modest degree of spiciness, this dish is bursting with flavor.
• Cans are lined with materials free of BPA
• It’s versatile enough to use on burritos, burgers, tacos, and other dishes.

Cons

• Contains more than three times the quantity of calories as comparable brands.
• It must be heated before use, which might be troublesome at times.

7. La Preferida Red Chile

The La Preferida Red Chile, like its green version, is a product you should keep an eye out for. This milder yet flavorful canned enchilada sauce is made from spices, Chile paste, and tomato paste.

The La Preferida Red Chile sauce, like the green variant, contains 80 calories per serving. It also contains 2g of protein and 5g of fiber. You may relax knowing that the cans are BPA-free.

Pros

• Flavorful despite the mild level of spice
• Versatile use
• Cans are BPA-free

Cons

• Higher calorie content

Things to Consider Before Buying Canned Enchilada Sauce

Red or Green

Before purchasing enchilada sauce, consider whether you should choose the green or red variety.

• For a spicier taste, green enchilada sauce is often made with jalapenos and green peppers.
• The red variant is usually made with water and tomatoes, which produce a puree basis in the sauce.

Consider the sauce base you like to make the picking process simpler. You may choose for a tangier taste or a sweeter tomato flavor. Depending on your preferences, try the sauce with the greatest appeal. Nonetheless, both kinds of sauces are ideal for entertaining visitors. For more diversity, you might consider investing in both choices.

While red and green sauces complement various sorts of fillings, enchilada sauce is adaptable and combines nicely with other Mexican-style foods. In such case, consider about what other dishes and dinners you’ll use the sauce for outside enchiladas.

Ingredients

This will determine two things:

1. How the sauce will taste
2. If there are any particular substances that conflict with dietary restrictions, create allergies, or may cause health problems, they should be avoided.

When purchasing canned enchilada sauce, read the ingredients attentively to verify that it is acceptable for you and your family’s requirements (check to see whether it is vegetarian, vegan, Kosher, Halal, or gluten-free).

In general, Mexican cuisine is known for its varying degrees of heat, so if you can’t manage it or have particular health concerns that need you to avoid high levels of spice, seek for goods with lower spice levels. This is usually determined by the kind of chilies or chili powder used. Another excellent rule of thumb is that the less ingredients you use, the better! Keep an eye out for additional preservatives like MSG.

Although each sauce is unique and the components may vary, the following are some of the essential elements in enchilada sauce that you should always include:

• All-purpose flour
• Chiles or chili powder
• Salt
• Cumin
• Garlic or garlic powder
• Tomato paste
• Broth (usually chicken)

Kosher and Gluten-Free Sauce

Most enchilada sauces are vegetarian and gluten-free, as well as Kosher or Halal compliant. However, some do include wheat, so if you are gluten-free, be sure to check for that item. Many sauces on the market now include meat, such as pulled pork, but this is generally labeled directly on the top of the can so you can tell the difference.

The majority of canned enchilada sauces include soy in the form of hydrolyzed soy or soybean oil. If you are sensitive to soy, make sure to carefully read the ingredients since they are not always listed on the front of the container.

Versatility

Although enchiladas are the most apparent combination for enchilada sauce, its taste enables you to use it on a range of other Mexican cuisine. It goes nicely with tacos, grilled sandwiches, wraps, and as a nacho dipping sauce. It may be used virtually anyplace to give a dish a good boost of heat and flavor.

Enchilada sauce enables you to enjoy genuine Mexican tastes in the comfort of your own home without breaking the bank or endangering your health. Depending on the kind and brand of sauce, you may use it as a dipping sauce or topping on different types of soup, American-style pizzas, gluten-free pizza, or vegan pumpkin pizza, and macaroni and cheese.

It also makes an excellent party snack or sauce fondue. Consider if you can eat the sauce directly from the can, the consistency, the amount of heat, and the taste before deciding on the best choice.

Level of Spice

To be sure, spicy foods have a plethora of health advantages, such as increasing immunity, increasing metabolism, lessening symptoms of sadness, and controlling sugar cravings.

However, you should avoid eating hot meals on a regular basis. After all, too much of anything may be dangerous. Spicy meals are bad for your stomach, particularly if you have dyspepsia, which causes abdominal discomfort and irritable bowel syndrome.

As a general rule, if you have a stomachache after eating spicy food, you should avoid ingesting enchilada sauce on a regular basis. The amount of spiciness of the sauce will be specified on the can.

Fortunately, a plethora of sauce selections and brands provide a variety of spice degrees, ranging from extremely hot and moderate to medium. If you notice that a can of enchilada sauce is on the milder side of the range, add some spicy sauce or a couple chilies.

Calories and Nutritional Value

Depending on how health-conscious you are, you may want to check the calories, salt, fat, and carbs before buying. Enchilada sauces are often minimal in calories, sugars, salt, and carbs, making them an excellent choice for a nutritious snack or a sauce to add flavor to a bland meal. A typical serving size contains 25-30 calories, 200-500 mg of salt, 2-3 grams of sugar, and 3-5 grams of carbohydrates. Overall, these ratios are modest, therefore you shouldn’t be concerned about your macronutrients while eating enchilada sauce.

The crucial thing to watch out for in canned enchilada sauce are extra additives and preservatives, such as hydrolyzed soy or MSG, which may unintentionally add more calories to your meal.

Canned enchilada sauce includes antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, and fiber, among other nutrients. Beta-carotene and lycopene are two antioxdants that have been demonstrated to prevent some forms of cancer (including breast and prostate cancer).

Closing Remarks

If you adore Mexican cuisine but don’t have time to prepare it, the finest canned enchilada sauce is here to rescue the day.

You may skip the sauce preparation and go directly to the corn tortilla to prepare Mexico’s famed mouth-watering enchiladas at home, with a flavor that is quite similar to handmade versions. You may also change the flavor till your taste buds are happy.