Name: Taco Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 23 min
Yield: 15
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups strained tomatoes ((tomato sauce)); 1/2 cup water; 2 tablespoons vinegar; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1 pinch salt (optional)

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This Taco Sauce recipe is a must make! Add more flavor with our homemade recipe that tastes better than Taco Bell Sauce packets.

Storebought taco sauce can contain corn syrup, modified ingredients, citric acid, and other ingredients that you don’t really need. This is a quick and easy recipe that you can feel good about serving to your family and friends.

What is taco sauce used for?

You can use it top tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, drizzling over nachos or salads, it’s even a great sauce for your favorite breakfast.

Is this taco sauce recipe mild or spicy?

This is a mild sauce recipe, you can add some heat by adding in some cayenne pepper to taste.

What is the difference between salsa and taco sauce?

Salsa is made up blended and cooked tomatoes, onions and spices. Whereas this recipe is something we like to refer to as Mexican ketchup. It’s the perfect topping for all your favorite Mexican recipes. There’s also Pico De Gallo which is a staple Mexican Food. You’ll notice that most Mexican restaurants serve fresh pico or salsa with tortilla chips as you are seated.

What’s in taco sauce?

Our sauce base is strained tomatoes mixed with water, vinegar, and spices. The spices we use are salt, paprika, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder. If you like it sweeter you can add in your favorite sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, or cane sugar.

The reason we use strained tomatoes instead of tomato sauce is we want a thicker sauce, this way it’s not too runny and stays put on the taco a bit better. Strained tomato sauce is a bit drier than regular tomato sauce.

How long does it take to cook taco sauce?

This taco sauce recipe takes about 20 minutes to make and you can make a regular batch or easily double it. We like to make a big batch on the weekend and store in the fridge for 4-5 days.

How to make Taco Sauce

In a skillet combine the strained tomatoes and seasonings and cook on high heat until boiling.

Once the mixture is boiling reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes for a thinner sauce. We go for a thicker sauce simmer for 20 minutes.

Let the sauce cool before serving and store any leftovers in a container in the refrigerator.

We like storing in a mason jar and using it whenever we need it. We have used up to a week without any issues, but we typically use it up within 4-5 days.

You can serve warm or chilled, we prefer making it ahead of time and storing in the refrigerator so it’s cold.

how to use taco sauce

We use this recipe for tacos, over breakfast hash browns, burritos, as a salad dressing, as a dip, drizzled over nachos, and even burrito bowls. Try it with these delicious recipes!

Roasted Peppers and Onions
Mexican Black Beans
Scrambled Eggs (have you tried Just Egg yet?)
Vegan Chorizo Burrito Bowl

tips for the best taco sauce recipe

We suggest using homemade tomato sauce or tomato sauce that is in a glass bottle for the best taste. Tomato sauce in cans can have a tin taste, but if you know a brand without that tin taste go ahead and use your preferred brand. We use Bionature Strained Tomatoes, it’s organic and packaged in glass bottles.

taco sauce in a mason jar with cut tomato garnish

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5 from 4 votes

Taco Sauce Recipe

This Taco Sauce recipe is a must make! Add more flavor with our homemade taco sauce that tastes better than Taco Bell Sauce packets.

Prep Time: 3 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 23 mins

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: taco sauce

Servings:

Calories: 12kcal

Author: Courtney

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups strained tomatoes (tomato sauce)
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 pinch salt optional

Instructions

Combine the strained tomatoes and seasonings in a saucepan or skillet and cook on high heat until boiling.
Once the sauce is boiling reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer for 10 minutes for a thin sauce or 20 minutes for a thicker sauce.
Allow the sauce cool before serving and store any leftovers in a container in the refrigerator.