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Finding a clean, Whole30 approved enchilada sauce isn’t very easy but you know what is easy? Making your own!! Here is a fun, smokier and spicier take on traditional enchilada sauce. If you love the flavor and heat of chipotle, you’re going to LOVE this Easy Chipotle Enchilada Sauce.
I love making this and pouring half of it in a mason jar and storing it in the freezer. That way, I can pull it out whenever I want to make something using enchilada sauce, like my Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas!! Try drizzling this Easy Chipotle Enchilada Sauce over a baked sweet potato that is stuffed with browned ground beef! Yummo!


- 1-2 tbsp. chipotle chili powder
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- 3/4 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3 tbsp. ghee
- 3 tbsp. arrowroot starch/flour
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 6oz. can tomato paste
- heat a saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add ghee and melt, then add the arrowroot, whisk until combined.
- Add in all of the spices and saute for about 1 minute (use only 1 tbsp of chipotle chili powder for medium spice. If you like it spicier, go for 2. I suggest making it with 1 first, tasting it then adding from there.)
- Now, pour in the broth and the tomato paste, and reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk until combined and thickened, about 3-5 minutes, and remove from heat.
I just made this and tripled the recipe. It is delicious and so easy to make.
Glad you love this one, paige!
Just made this sauce tonight and it turned out great! So yummy! Thanks for a clean enchilada sauce recipe!
Hey so I know you put that you store half in the freezer for later use, I would love on your recipes for you to put how long you would feel good about leaving stuff in the freezer! Cooking for one so I usually end having to freeze my leftovers
This looks SO yummy!! What are your thoughts about substituting the arrowroot flour with tapioca flour? Would it work?
Hi Monica, I am leaning towards no; however I’ve never tried using tapioca in it before… i find tapioca to make things taste kinda grainy. If you can find arrowroot definitely go for that in this sauce.
I am so excited to try this! LOVE anything Mexican (or Tex-Mex)!
I have your Ancho-Chili Caesar Salad on the menu for the week so I will have left over canned chipotle peppers. This may be a silly question, but what are your thoughts on using a whole pepper instead of chiptole chili powder? If so, I’m thinking 1 whole pepper (or more to taste).
I think that will work great in there!! I just didn’t use it only because its tricky to find the canned chipotle chilis that are whole30 compliant so I wanted to keep it easy for all the whole30ers. 🙂