Green Chile Sauce Recipe

You will love our Homemade Green Chile Sauce recipe. It is a zesty blend of fire-roasted chiles, tomatillos, and perfect spices. This sauce adds a burst of Southwestern goodness in every bite.

 

 

If you have only ever used red enchilada sauce, you are missing out on the perfect flavors of green chile sauce.

Green chile sauce is a wonderful sauce with delicious flavor that everyone should make.

It is a versatile sauce that can be used in all your favorite green sauce Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and burritos.

But it also is perfect for grilled meats and roasted vegetables.

Made with fresh chiles or canned green chile peppers, you get a perfect blend of flavors that will satisfy even the pickiest eater.

This is one of those great sauces that seems restaurant quality, but is so easy even a first time chef can make it.

All it takes is a quick simmer and a good blender or food processor to get a perfectly smooth green sauce for burritos or any other future use.

 

 

What Ingredients Are in Green Chile Sauce?

• White Onion: gives a sweet and savory base to the sauce.
• Garlic Cloves: adds a rich flavor that makes your house smell amazing.
• Fresh Tomatillos: give a tangy and slightly citrusy taste and color to the green burrito sauce.
• Fire-Roasted Green Chiles: chili peppers are the star of the sauce! Be sure to choose your heat level if you are purchasing canned green chilies. You can choose mild, medium, or hot.
• Chicken Broth: brings out the savory flavors of the sauce.
• Salt: makes everything in the sauce work together and have great flavor
• Dried Oregano: adds a slightly sweet earthy note to the dish
• Cumin: the key ingredient in all my favorite Mexican dishes
• Cilantro: freshens and brightens the sauce.
• Lime Juice: Adds a zesty, citrusy finish to the burrito green sauce.
• Cornstarch: thickens the green chile sauce for burritos.
• Olive Oil: used to saute the vegetables.

Pro Tip: For a special sauce, use hatch chiles to make a hatch green chile sauce. They have a medium heat but also a great specific flavor. 

If you do not have hatch chile peppers at your local grocery store, you can try to find a special hatch chile store or you can just make regular green chile sauce which is perfectly delicious without the special New Mexico green chile.

 

 

How to Make Green Chile Sauce:

1. Sauté onions and garlic for a flavorful base.
2. Place tomatillos in a pot and boil until skins split, then puree.
3. Combine pureed tomatillos, onions, garlic, chiles, broth, and spices.
4. Simmer flavors together.
5. Add cornstarch mixture and simmer to thicken.
6. Blend with cilantro and lime juice and salt to taste.
7. Enjoy your homemade Green Chile Sauce!

Pro Tip: Use gluten-free chicken broth to make a gluten free salsa verde.

 

 

How to Use Green Chile Sauce:

Use green chile sauce exactly like you would use any salsa or homemade green enchilada sauce.

Drizzle it over enchiladas, tacos, or grilled meats. Mix it into rice, eggs, soups, or stews for a great flavor twist.

Create dips for tortilla chips and veggie sticks or use it as a marinade for Southwest-inspired meat.

 

 

What Recipes Can I Use Green Chile Sauce With:

• Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas uses this thicker sauce
• Make them green sauce burritos with these Pork Carnitas Bowls
• Tacos with these Homemade Tortillas with Crisco
• Use as the salsa in this Mexican Chicken Wraps with Tortillas
• Put them on these Smoked Chicken Tacos
• Use them as dip for Quesadillas like this Chicken Salad Quesadilla
• Top this Green Chile Stew Slow Cooker with a little sauce to add flavor.
• Add a little to Pulled Pork Quesadilla.
• This green sauce is a key ingredient in this Creamy Salsa Verde Enchiladas.

 

 

Is Green Chile Sauce the Same as Salsa Verde Sauce?

While they both share some ingredients, Green Chile Sauce usually involves cooking and has a richer, smoother texture, which is different from the raw, chunkier Salsa Verde. However, I have used them as substitutions for each other in recipes and most of the time, it is not super significant.

Pro Tip: Read the recipe. If you are using a sauce to smother enchiladas, a salsa will be too chunky. If you need chunky pieces to layer on a taco, you will use less sauce and more salsa.

Even though they are different, you may find you use them in similar ways and can substitute them in dishes.

 

 

Is Green Chile Sauce Healthy?

Yes, green chile sauce is healthy!

This recipe is packed with fresh veggies and very little oil, which makes this sauce a healthier alternative to store-bought options. 

How to Store Green Chile Sauce:

Store green chile sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

It is perishable so you want to make sure you keep it properly stored so you can use leftover sauce when you need it.  

 

 

How Long Does Green Chile Sauce Last?

Green Chile Sauce will last a week in this fridge when stored correctly.

But we never have a problem eating it sooner than that.

Can You Freeze Green Chile Sauce?

Yes you can freeze green chile sauce! Store it in the freezer in airtight containers for up to three months.

Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.

 

 

Great Mexican Side Dishes You’ll Love…

• Cottage Cheese and Salsa
• Mexican Black Beans
• Refried Beans
• Fiesta Guacamole
• Corn and Feta Salad
• Mexican Rice and Beans

Whether you need the best green chile sauce for your favorite Mexican food or just have too many tomatillos, this recipe is the perfect one to make now and store it for later use.

 

Originally Posted: June 21, 2017

Photos & Text Updated: May 1, 2024

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