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Homemade mild taco sauce pouring from a small glass bottle onto a beef taco with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes

Copycat Taco Bell Mild Sauce

If Taco Bell Mild Sauce is the packet you always reach for, this homemade version gets very close with basic pantry ingredients. It’s smooth and pourable, lightly tangy, just a little sweet, and has a small bit of heat at the end.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2.25 cups (about)
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (15-ounce) can plain tomato sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 1½ tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ¾ teaspoon fine salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/16 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon cold water

Method
 

  1. Add the tomato sauce, water, vinegar, sugar, chili powder, onion powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and cayenne to a small saucepan.
  2. Whisk until smooth.
  3. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat.
  4. Simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep the heat gentle so the sauce does not reduce too aggressively.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon cold water until smooth.
  6. Slowly whisk the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce.
  7. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, stirring, until the sauce has lightly thickened.
  8. Remove from the heat and cool.
  9. Transfer to a clean airtight container and refrigerate.
  10. For the best flavor comparison, taste the sauce again after it has completely chilled.

Notes

Tomato sauce: I recommend plain store-bought tomato sauce for the most consistent result. My first test with home-canned sauce tasted noticeably more tomato-forward.
Cayenne: Start with 1/16 teaspoon or add it to taste. I originally tested the final heat adjustment in a small portion of finished sauce before adding it to the full recipe.
Consistency: Keep this sauce thin and pourable. Don't reduce it into a thick tomato sauce.
Simmering: The 20-minute simmer gives the dried seasonings time to hydrate and blend into the sauce.
Storage: Refrigerate in a clean airtight container and plan to use within about 7–10 days.
Canning: This recipe has not been tested for safe shelf-stable home canning.
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