Canning Taco Sauce Recipe

If you love Mexican food as much as I do, you know that the right taco sauce can make all the difference. Today, I’m excited to share a simple, taco sauce canning recipe that I found in the Ball Complete Book of Home Canning and Preserving (Amazon affiliate link.)

This recipe is not only easy to make but also a safe, tested canning recipe, so you can enjoy delicious taco sauce anytime you want, without worrying about whether or not it’s safe to feed your family.

Let’s dive into the details!

Canning Taco Sauce in the Nesco Canner (Video)

If you prefer to watch me make and can the taco sauce, check out the video above!

Ingredients

Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you’ll need to make this flavorful taco sauce:

• 5 cups of water
• 3 cups of tomato paste (two 12-ounce cans)
• 1 cup of cider vinegar
• ½ cup of corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons of chili powder
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or ground red chili flakes as a substitute)
• ½ teaspoon of hot pepper sauce (e.g., Chipotle Tabasco)

Preparing the Taco Sauce

Now let’s get into how to prepare the taco sauce.

Combining the Taco Sauce Ingredients

To start, you’ll need a large pot. Begin by adding five cups of water to the pot. Then, mix in the tomato paste.

Tomato paste can be a bit tricky to work with because it’s so thick, so do your best to get as much of it out of the cans as possible.

Next, add the cider vinegar and corn syrup. While I’m not the biggest fan of corn syrup, it’s important to follow the recipe as written for safety reasons, especially when canning. The corn syrup likely helps to balance the acidity of the vinegar.

Finally, stir in the chili powder, salt, cayenne pepper (or your substitute), and hot pepper sauce. I like to use Chipotle Tabasco, but you can use your favorite hot sauce here.

Cooking and Thickening the Sauce

Once all the ingredients are combined, bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.

After it reaches a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer gently, still stirring frequently. The goal is to thicken the sauce to the consistency of a thin commercial BBQ sauce. This process should take about 30 minutes, but keep an eye on it—sometimes it can thicken a bit faster.

For me, the sauce reached the perfect consistency after about 22 minutes of simmering. It should be thicker than water but not as thick as the BBQ sauce you might buy at the store.

Canning the Taco Sauce

Now let’s get into how to can the taco sauce.

Preparing the Jars

While your sauce is simmering, prepare your canning jars. I like to use the Nesco Canner to heat my jars—it keeps them hot and ready to go when I need them.

According to the recipe, it yields 6 half pints of taco sauce. I recommend having an extra jar or two ready just in case you have a bit more than expected.

Filling and Processing the Jars

Once your sauce is ready, fill each jar to a half-inch headspace.

Be sure to wipe the rims clean to ensure a proper seal. Then, place the lids and rings on the jars.

If you’re water bath canning, make sure the jars are covered by at least an inch or two of water. If you’re steam canning, the water should be below the jars.

Process the taco sauce for 30 minutes, adjusting for altitude. As an example, for my altitude, the processing time was 35 minutes. If you’re unsure how altitude impacts canning, check out my article, How Altitude Impacts Canning.

After processing, allow the jars to cool completely. It’s important to wait 12-24 hours before checking the lids.

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Conclusion

This homemade taco sauce is a fantastic addition to your pantry, and it’s so easy to make and can. Whether you’re new to canning or an experienced canner, this recipe is sure to become a favorite. Not only is it delicious, but you can also rest easy knowing it’s a safe, tested recipe from the Ball Complete Book of Home Canning and Preserving (Amazon).

If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out my other canning recipes. I’ve put together a playlist of all of my water bath canning videos that I think you’ll love. Happy canning, and enjoy your homemade taco sauce!