Homemade Taco Sauce

If taco night happens a lot at your house, this sauce is going to earn a permanent spot in your fridge. As much as I love that salty, vinegary Taco Bell-style taco sauce, I always wish it were just a little spicier. Making your own means you can control everything, so it turns out as spicy, vinegary, or sweet as you like every single time.

Honestly, most store-bought and restaurant taco sauces are full of preservatives and ingredients I can't even pronounce. This version is made with simple pantry staples you already know and trust, but still gives you that familiar taco night flavor.

And if you are anything like me and never seem to have taco sauce on hand when you need it, this recipe is a lifesaver. You can throw it together with canned tomato sauce, a splash of vinegar, water, and a few spices, let it simmer for 20 minutes, and you're set for tacos, bowls, and leftovers all week.

Before You Get Started

Here are a few helpful things to know before you start simmering your taco sauce so it turns out just the way you like it.

• Choose plain tomato sauce: Grab canned tomato sauce or tomato puree made only from tomatoes without added herbs or seasonings, so you control the flavor completely. Blended canned tomatoes will work in a pinch, but the sauce will be a bit thinner.
• Pick your vinegar: Classic taco sauce usually uses white vinegar for a sharp, clean tang. Apple cider vinegar works too and adds a slightly sweeter, fruitier note, while lime juice will change the flavor and make it taste more like salsa.
• Decide on heat level: Most of the spice comes from cayenne and chili powder. If you like things mild, plan to reduce or skip the cayenne. If you like heat, you can always add more cayenne or even stir in a spoonful of hot sauce later.
• Balance the sweetness: A little sugar rounds out the acidity from the vinegar and tomatoes. Use regular sugar, brown sugar, honey, or another sweetener you like, but start small and add more only after tasting.
• Use low, gentle heat: This sauce needs a low simmer for about 20 minutes so the flavors deepen without burning. Plan to stir it occasionally and keep the heat low, especially toward the end as it thickens.

How to Make Homemade Taco Sauce

Here's a simple step-by-step so you know exactly how to make this sauce at home.

1. Combine Everything in a Saucepan

Add the tomato sauce, water or broth, vinegar, all the spices, and sugar to a small saucepan. Stir well so the spices are fully dissolved into the liquid and there are no clumps.

2. Simmer Until Thick and Flavorful

Set the pan over low heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so the bottom doesn't scorch. If the sauce thickens more than you like, add a small splash of water or broth to loosen it.

3. Taste and Adjust the Seasoning

Turn off the heat and taste the sauce. Add salt if needed, remembering that some canned tomato sauces already contain salt. You can also adjust the vinegar, sugar, or cayenne at this stage to get the exact balance of tang, sweetness, and heat you like.

4. Cool and Store

Let the sauce cool completely in the pan, then transfer it to a clean jar or airtight container. Store it in the fridge and use it for tacos, bowls, quesadillas, and anything else that needs a flavor boost. The flavor usually gets even better after resting overnight.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Here are the best tips and tricks to make this taco sauce come out perfectly every single time.

• Adjust the base thickness: If you want a thicker sauce like bottled brands, simmer it a bit longer, uncovered, so some liquid evaporates. For a thinner, drizzle-style sauce, stir in extra water or broth a tablespoon at a time until it reaches your ideal consistency.
• Make it mild: For a kid-friendly or mild version, leave out the cayenne completely and use a slightly lighter hand with the chili powder. If it still tastes too intense, add a touch more sugar to soften the bite.
• Go smoky: Swap regular chili powder for ancho chili powder and use smoked paprika in place of sweet paprika to give the sauce a deeper, smoky flavor that's amazing on grilled meats.
• Turn up the heat: For a spicier sauce, add extra cayenne or stir in your favorite hot sauce. Another great option is to blend in 1-2 tablespoons of chipotle peppers in adobo for smoky heat and more depth.
• Make it green: For a fun twist, use blended tomatillos instead of tomato sauce to create a green taco sauce. Keep the seasonings similar and adjust the sweetness and vinegar to balance the extra tang from the tomatillos.
• Whip up a creamy version: Stir a few spoonfuls of mayonnaise, sour cream, Mexican crema, or Greek yogurt into the cooled sauce for a creamy taco sauce that's perfect for drizzling over tacos, burritos, and bowls.
• Flavor boosters to try: If you want more complexity, add a pinch of dried oregano or coriander, or toss in a small amount of tomato paste for a richer tomato flavor. Just add slowly and taste as you go, so nothing overwhelms the sauce.

Way to Use Taco Sauce

Obviously, the number one way to use this sauce is for tacos, but it is also so good in so many other recipes. Here are some favorites:

• Crispy Tacos: Taco sauce is a classic for Tex-Mex tacos like ground turkey tacos, ground beef tacos, and easy ground chicken tacos. Load on the lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, and homemade sauce.
• Tostadas: Make your crispy tacos open-faced with classic tostadas piled high with refried beans, protein, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, onions, and taco sauce. Try it with turkey tostadas, beef tostadas, or even shrimp tostadas.
• Burritos and quesadillas: Swap in this homemade taco sauce for hot sauce or salsa in a bean burrito, chicken quesadilla, or even a breakfast burrito.
• Enchiladas: This homemade taco sauce is pretty similar to enchilada sauce. Use it in this Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole or Enchilada Soup.

Storage & Reheating

Here's how to store your taco sauce so it is ready whenever taco night hits.

• Store (fridge): Let the sauce cool completely, then transfer it to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate for 4–5 days.
• Store (freezer): Freeze the sauce in small containers or ice cube trays, then transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. It will keep well for up to 3 months, and you can defrost just what you need.
• Reheat: Warm the sauce gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until just heated through. If it thickens in the fridge or freezer, stir in a splash of water or broth to loosen it to your preferred consistency.
• Leftovers: Use leftover taco sauce for quick taco nights, drizzle it over grain bowls, mix it into scrambled eggs, spoon it over roasted vegetables, or stir it into soups and casseroles for extra flavor.