How to Make Red Chile Sauce from Powder

Red chile sauce is sweet and spicy and delicious on many Mexican and Southwestern foods. You can make it out of dried peppers or red chile powder. This recipe shows you How to Make Red Chile Sauce from Powder, so you’ll have the perfect sauce for any meal.
Enchiladas, tamales, huevos rancheros, and chile rellenos – these are just a few meals that are perfected by red chile sauce. Traditionally, this sauce is made by baking dried chiles and then soaking them in water before placing them in a blender, but not everyone has dried peppers in their pantry. Luckily, I have the answer – red chile powder!
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What You Need to Make Red Chile Sauce from Powder
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup red chile powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon vinegar
- salt, to taste
- 1 3/4 cups broth (vegetable or chicken)
How to Make Red Chile Sauce from Powder
- In a 2-quart saucepan, heat the vegetable oil on medium heat. Once hot, saute the garlic until fragrant.
- Mix the cumin, onion powder, salt, oregano, and flour in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture into the pan and stir for 2-3 minutes, until a roux forms. Turn the heat to low.
- In a separate bowl, mix the red chile powder and broth. Pour the mixture into the pan, stirring vigorously with a whisk. Make sure to remove all lumps.
- Whisk in the sugar, then simmer for 12-16 minutes, stirring often until the mixture turns into a sauce consistency.
- Remove the red chile sauce from the heat and let it cool before transferring to an airtight jar. Refrigerate the chile sauce until ready to eat. ENJOY!

What Does Red Chile Sauce Taste Like?
This red chile sauce is sweet and spicy with rich, earthy undertones. Its flavor is robust yet sugary. It has a subtle taste that is great on chicken, beef, pork, and many other types of protein.
Depending on how much chile is added to the sauce, it can be extra spicy or mild.
What to Eat with Red Chile Sauce
Red chile sauce can take any meal to the next level, but it’s particularly good on Mexican, New Mexican, and South Western food.
Pour this tasty red chile sauce on tamales, enchiladas, burritos, chile rellenos, huevos rancheros, or chilaquiles. You can also put this spicy sauce on some grilled chicken or fajitas, and it will feel as if you’re in the south.
In conclusion…
You don’t need actual chiles to make red chile sauce – all you need is the chile powder!
With this recipe, it takes just steps to create a show-stopping sauce. Whether you’re going for a Mexican or Southwestern dish, or maybe something all your own, this is the perfect sauce for you!

Looking for More Mexican-Inspired Dinner Recipes?
- Qdoba Grilled Chicken Copycat Recipe
- Vegan Tacos: Lobster Mushroom
- How To Make Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists (Copycat Recipe)
- The Most Delicious Hatch Green Chile Chilaquiles
- Fresh Mexican Tomato Salad
- Copycat Chuy’s Boom Boom Sauce Recipe
- Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas
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If you make this Red Chile Sauce from Powder recipe, please drop a comment below! I’d LOVE to know what you think! Or take a picture and share it on Instagram by tagging @dwellbymichelle so I can repost it on my stories!
Copyright © All Rights Reserved. Content is written by Michelle Schmidt of dwellbymichelle.com.

How to Make Red Chile Sauce from Powder
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup red chile powder
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 clove garlic , finely chopped
- ¼ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp vinegar
- salt , to taste
- 1¾ cups broth (vegetable or chicken)
Instructions
- In a 2-quart saucepan, heat the vegetable oil on medium heat. Once hot, saute the garlic until fragrant.
- Mix the cumin, onion powder, salt, oregano, and flour in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture into the pan and stir for 2-3 minutes, until a roux forms. Turn the heat to low.
- In a separate bowl, mix the red chile powder and broth. Pour the mixture into the pan, stirring vigorously with a whisk. Make sure to remove all lumps.
- Whisk in the sugar, then simmer for 12-16 minutes, stirring often until the mixture turns into a sauce consistency.
- Remove the red chile sauce from the heat and let it cool before transferring to an airtight jar. Refrigerate the chile sauce until ready to eat. ENJOY!
What is red chile powder–?? Is it regular chili powder??
How much sugar?
How much sugar?
Super spicy, in a good way! I enjoyed this recipe.