Taco Sauce Recipe (Easy!)

This homemade Taco Sauce recipe instantly upgrades taco night! It's tangy, savory, and easy to make with simple pantry staples. Keep it mild or make it smoky or spicy! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

This easy homemade Taco Sauce instantly elevates taco night!

It's packed with bold Tex-Mex flavor, and is savory and tangy with a hint of sweetness. The taste is similar to bottled store-bought taco sauce, but way fresher using simple pantry ingredients! (And it's more budget-friendly as well.)

Best of all, it's incredibly easy to make from scratch. Just toss everything in a pot and simmer it up to zesty, saucy goodness. That's it! The result is flavorful, smooth, lightly thickened, yet pourable.

I intentionally designed this recipe to be super flexible so you can adjust it however you see fit. Keep it mild, add smokiness, make it spicy, or stir in lime juice for a bright, citrus twist. Then drizzle it over your tacos, burritos, nachos, or other Tex-Mex dishes for the perfect finish!

Ingredients for Taco Sauce

For this recipe, you'll simmer in a small saucepan:

• Tomato sauce: You'll need an 8-ounce can of tomato sauce. (This is plain tomato purée, not marinara.)
• Vegetable broth: Or swap in water.
• White vinegar: A tablespoon of distilled white vinegar adds just the right amount of tangy flavor and acidity.
• Pure maple syrup: This natural sweetener helps balance the flavors. Add more or less as you wish.
• Chili powder: American-style chili powder blends can vary, and most grocery blends are mild. Depending on the brand you use, feel free to add more (up to a teaspoon or so) if the sauce tastes a bit "flat". You could also use ancho chili powder which is sweeter.
• Onion powder: Be sure your pantry spices are fresh (not expired) for best flavor.
• Garlic powder
• Ground cumin
• Smoked paprika: Reduce the amount to a quarter teaspoon if you prefer yours less smoky. I like the flavor of smoked paprika, but you can substitute sweet paprika.
• Dried oregano
• Salt: You can also add black pepper to taste. Be sure to add enough salt to bring out all the flavors. I find somewhere between 1/4 teaspoon and 1/2 teaspoon is just right for my taste.

Customizing

Make it spicy: Stir in cayenne pepper for some heat, or a pinch of chipotle powder for smoky spice. Or add hot sauce or jalapeño brine.

Make it sweeter: The sweetness amount is fairly conservative, so if it tastes too sharp or acidic for your preference, add up to another teaspoon of maple syrup (or other sweetener like cane sugar or white sugar).

Add fresh lime: After it simmers, stir in a bit of lime juice (1-2 tablespoons) for a fresh twist and bright flavor. I love this delicious citrus variation!

Seasonings: Adjust the seasonings however you see fit. Decrease the cumin and smoked paprika if desired. Or you could even add a pinch of cocoa powder. (It won't taste chocolatey, it'll just help enhance the chili flavor.) For more zing, stir in an extra half teaspoon vinegar after simmering.

Serving

Condiment: Drizzle it as a finishing sauce over your tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, nachos, black beans, vegan eggs, or other Mexican cuisine. You can even mix it with cooked rice for quick flavor. (Or thin it out with broth or water to pour it over your enchiladas.)

Dipping: Serve it as a dipping sauce for tortilla chips, roasted potatoes, quesadillas, taquitos, etc. (You could also create a creamy taco sauce by mixing it with some dairy-free sour cream.)

Marinade: You could also experiment with it as a marinade for proteins, but I haven't tested this yet.

Storing

Allow the sauce to cool completely, then transfer to a sealed jar or other airtight container. Store in the refrigerator. I find it keeps well for about 7 days in the fridge.

For more inspiration, also browse all vegan sauce & seasoning recipes.

If you're enjoying this easy taco sauce recipe, also check out:

• Chickpea-Walnut Taco Crumbles

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