By Becky Hardin
Updated Apr 18, 2025
Are you ready to add some zing to your Mexican night with my Homemade Taco Sauce? This tomato based sauce is a bit spicy, sweet, smokey and simple to make. I enjoy making it from scratch because I know the ingredients and have full control over spice level. I absolutely enjoy Mexican foods with my family, knowing this taco sauce is without preservatives. Whip up this easy sauce with a few pantry staples and elevate everything from tacos to grilled veggies in no time!
Easy Taco Sauce
If you love Mexican food as much as I do, a good taco sauce is a must! It is a smooth and thick sauce, made with spices that are commonly used in Mexican cooking. Doesn’t matter how I use it (as a cooking sauce, dipping sauce, or drizzled on top), taco sauce simply adds amazing flavor to any meal. You’ll love how fresh it is. Once you make taco sauce at home, you aren’t going back to store-bought sauce!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 24 ounces tomato sauce or tomato passata sauce
- ▢ ½ cup water
- ▢ ½ cup white vinegar
- ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons corn syrup
- ▢ 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ▢ ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
- ▢ ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Video
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together in a large saucepan set over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer. 24 ounces tomato sauce, ½ cup water, ½ cup white vinegar, 1 ½ tablespoons corn syrup, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ¾ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, ½ teaspoon sweet paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon table salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring often, until desired consistency. Serve and enjoy!
Becky’s Tips
- This sauce has about medium heat. Adjust the spices for a milder or hotter sauce as needed.
- If your taco sauce is too thin, let it simmer for another 5-10 minutes. It will also thicken as it cools.
- To make this taco sauce spicier, add more chili powder or a pinch of cayenne.
- The smoked paprika adds smoky flavor to this sauce. To increase this flavor profile, try adding a little liquid smoke to the sauce while it simmers.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Homemade Taco Sauce Step by Step
Combine all ingredients and cook : Set a large saucepan set over medium-low heat and add 24 ounces of tomato sauce, ½ cup of water, ½ cup of white vinegar, 1 ½ tablespoons corn syrup, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ¾ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, ½ teaspoon sweet paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon table salt and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder. Bring this to a simmer.
Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes. Stir often and cook until desired consistency. Serve and enjoy!
How to Store
Store cooked taco sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Serving Suggestions
I use this taco sauce to finish so many recipes, from Steak Tacos to Taco Spaghetti ! I’ve also used it as the base of Mexican Pizza and drizzle it on top of my Taco Salad or when I make Walking Tacos for my kids .
Feel free to layer it in 7-Layer Dip or stir i into Cooked Shredded Chicken for easy tacos. The list is infinite, you’ll find so many ways to use this flavor-packed sauce!
More delicious mexican recipes to try
Beer Battered Fish Tacos
Mexican Hot Dogs
Taco Ring
Mexican Tostadas
Homemade Taco Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 ounces tomato sauce or tomato passata sauce
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together in a large saucepan set over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer. 24 ounces tomato sauce, ½ cup water, ½ cup white vinegar, 1 ½ tablespoons corn syrup, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ¾ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, ½ teaspoon sweet paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon table salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring often, until desired consistency. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- This sauce has about medium heat. Adjust the spices for a milder or hotter sauce as needed.
- If your taco sauce is too thin, let it simmer for another 5-10 minutes. It will also thicken as it cools.
- To make this taco sauce spicier, add more chili powder or a pinch of cayenne.
- The smoked paprika adds smoky flavor to this sauce. To increase this flavor profile, try adding a little liquid smoke to the sauce while it simmers.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
