Homemade Ranchero Sauce - Savory Experiments

Perfect for topping your favorite Mexican dishes like burritos and enchiladas, this Homemade Ranchero Sauce recipe is packed full of flavor!

What's In This Article

Toggle

• What is Ranchero Sauce?
• Gather This
• Perfect Pairings
• Homemade Ranchero Sauce
• Storage, Make Ahead and Freezing
• More Homemade Condiments

What is Ranchero Sauce?

So first thing is first, what exactly is ranchero sauce? If you’ve ever had Huevos Rancheros, you’ve already had ranchero sauce! It’s that delightfully delicious red sauce on top.

It is basically a tomato based sauce that is used to top many Tex Mex dishes. The tomato sauce is combined with chipotle peppers and lots of spices to add lots of flavor to your favorite recipes.

It is slightly reminiscent of a tomato salsa, just served warm. The texture is a little smoother than traditional salsa, and packs a little bit more of a smoky flavor.

Gather This

The list of ingredients may look a little long, but they are simple and you probably already have most of them in your pantry or spice cabinet! A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – Roughly chop the chipotle peppers for a bit of texture. You can find these down the international aisle of your local grocery store.

• Vegetable oil
• White onion
• Plain tomato sauce
• Chicken broth
• Kosher salt

• Paprika
• Dried oregano
• Chili powder
• Fresh lime juice

Perfect Pairings

Of course this ranchero sauce is known for being the star of the show on huevos rancheros but you can use it on a variety of dishes other than those as well.

• Other egg dishes – Outside of the traditional huevos rancheros (or breakfast tacos), you can use this sauce to drizzle over any omelet, mix it into eggs before you scramble them, or even use it as a spicy swap for hollandaise over your poached eggs for a riff on an eggs Benedict.
• Tacos, burritos, and fajitas – Use this sauce in place of others that you may typically pour onto your favorite Mexican dishes.
• Potatoes – Toss roasted potatoes in the sauce or dip french fries in it. Make a loaded baked potato and pour this over top for a spicier version.
• Veggies – Take basic roasted or steamed vegetables and toss them in this delicious sauce.
• Meats – Spoon this over chicken or pork chops to spice up a weeknight meal.
• Dip – Dip tortilla chips, veggies, or even chicken wings in this spicy sauce.
• Beans – Toss beans like pintos or black beans in this sauce before serving.
• Rice – Spice up your rice by adding this sauce in the final part of the cooking process.
• Cocktails – If you like savory cocktails, add a dash of this sauce (especially to Bloody Marys). You can also use it on the top edge of the glass before garnishing — just dip the rim in the ranchero sauce and then into your favorite rim garnish (eg, salt, cayenne, or Old Bay).

5S Philosophy 👩‍🍳

• Salt – I like to use low sodium broth to be able to control the salt content of this sauce a little better. Kosher salt is my preferred salt to add a little more flavor!
• Seasonings – Experiment with different spices — cumin, especially, is a good option because of its earthiness. Swap out the regular paprika for smoked paprika to achieve more smoky flavor.
• Swaps – For a vegetarian version, try using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. If you want a different flavor profile, you can try beef stock. Swap out the citrus. Lime is most traditional but you can always try lemon or orange. In addition to the juice, try adding the zest of the lime to add more brightness.
• Senses – Ranchero sauce is smoky, tangy, and mildly spicy, with the scent of roasted chilies and garlic and a zesty kick that lingers on the tongue.

Homemade Ranchero Sauce

4.64 from 68 votesPerfect for topping your favorite Mexican dishes like burritos and enchiladas, this Homemade Ranchero Sauce recipe is packed full of flavor!Prep Time: 5 minutes minsCook Time: 15 minutes minsTotal Time: 20 minutes minsCook ModePrevent your screen from going darkServings: 2 cups Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved! Rate this Recipe

Equipment

• Immersion Blender (Stick Blender)
• Mini Food Processor
• Lime juicer
• Garlic press

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ cup white onion , chopped
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce , roughly chopped
• 1 garlic clove , minced
• 1 ½ cups plain tomato sauce
• ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
• ½ teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Instructions

• Heat the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in the chopped ½ cup white onion, 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and minced 1 garlic clove. Cook until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the 1 ½ cups plain tomato sauce, ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth, ½ teaspoon coarse Kosher salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon chili powder and 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, stirring to combine. Simmer on low for 5 minutes.
• Using an immersion blender, or transferring the whole mixture to a stand blender or food processor, blend until smooth.
• Set aside until ready to use.
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings!

Video

Notes

To adjust heat, use more or less chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. They are pretty spicy and also smoky.

Nutrition

Calories: 139 kcal, Carbohydrates: 18 g, Protein: 4 g, Fat: 8 g, Saturated Fat: 6 g, Sodium: 2021 mg, Potassium: 743 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 10 g, Vitamin A: 1445 IU, Vitamin C: 26 mg, Calcium: 49 mg, Iron: 3 mgAuthor: Jessica FormicolaCalories: 139Course: SauceCuisine: MexicanKeyword: ranchero sauce Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Storage, Make Ahead and Freezing

Can I make this sauce ahead of time?

Yes, ranchero sauce can be made ahead of time. Reheat over a low temperature on the stovetop.

How to store?

You can store this sauce in an airtight container or a ziploc bag for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Can I freeze ranchero sauce?

Pour into a freezer-safe container or a ziploc bag and freeze for up to 2 months. You can also first freeze it in an ice cube tray, then portion it out into ziploc bags.

More Homemade Condiments

If you know me, you know how much I like a homemade sauce! Here are some of my favorites.

• Roasted Garlic Aioli
• Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
• Homemade Ranch Dressing

• Salsa Macha
• Yum Yum Sauce
• Nashville Hot Sauce

Sauces

Easy Chimichurri Sauce

5 from 6 votes Sauces

Creamy Horseradish Sauce Recipe

4.38 from 137 votes Dips

Chipotle Aioli (Chipotle Mayo)

4.61 from 128 votes

• Facebook
• X
• Pinterest
• Email