Name: Homemade Chili Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. red serrano peppers; ½ medium white onion ((chopped)); 1 bulb garlic; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp salt; 1 medium lime ((juiced)); 3 tbsp vinegar

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This Homemade Chili Sauce recipe is not only delicious but it's so easy to make! It's a great way to make use of the chilis growing in your garden. Serve this tasty sauce with Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Burritos, or a California Burrito.

homemade chili sauce on a towel with Serranos around it

For the past few years, my pepper plant has been going crazy! Last year I dried the peppers and we ate them with Mexican food.

This year I wanted to try making something different. I roasted the peppers, along with a large head of garlic, and onion to make this Homemade Chili Sauce.

I was surprised not only how easy it was to make, but how delicious it turned out. In fact, I liked it enough to share it with you!

Why This Recipe Works

Who doesn't love some good homemade Spicy Chili Sauce, right? The men in my family are hot sauce connoisseurs! My husband, Scott, and my son, Scotty, use chili sauce on everything!

After looking into the process of making hot sauce, I was amazed at how simple it was. Since nothing beats homemade, I thought I'd give it a try.

As you might know, the main ingredient in hot sauce is chilis. They obviously add the spiciness needed. Vinegar is also required to act as a preservative.

Additionally, if using very hot chilis, you may need to add tomatoes, tomatillos, or carrots to balance out the heat. Finally, garlic, onions, and spices can be used to perfect the flavor of the sauce.

serrano plant loaded with peppers — *My crazy Serrano pepper plant, it's more like a giant bush!*

How to Make This Recipe

STEP 1: Rinse and dry one pound of serrano peppers and add to a foil-lined cookie sheet. Slice the bottom of a garlic bulb and place it on the tray. Arrange the chopped onion on the same tray. Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil and sprinkle with half of the salt.

STEP 2: Broil on low until everything is starting to char. Check frequently to avoid burning. Pull the tray out as needed and remove any ingredients that are beginning to burn.

serranos, onions, and garlic being roasted

STEP 3: Add the peppers and onion along with the remaining salt in a blender or food processor. Squeeze the garlic cloves into the blender. Add one to two cups of water, lime juice, and vinegar. Blend until you reach the desired consistency.

STEP 4: Pour the sauce into the jars and store in the refrigerator until cool enough to enjoy. Serve with chips or your favorite Mexican meal.

Serving Suggestions

Taking the extra time to make your own Spicy Chili Sauce is always worth the effort! This sauce is very versatile and can be used in the following ways:

This sauce goes great over Mexican Lasagna and Chicken Fajitas.
I love stirring it in stews to add additional flavor.
Chili sauce is also a great addition to ramen and other noodles.
Finally, add a few drops of this chili sauce to wake up the flavor of guacamole or in your California Burrito.

If you enjoy making your own homemade sauces, you may want to check out these other delicious sauces: Yogurt Shawarma Sauce, Pasta Cream Cheese Sauce, Homemade Enchilada Sauce, and Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce.

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