Is Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce Gluten Free?

Old El Paso is an ever-loved cooking sauce that can enhance the taste of any dish instantly. Add this sauce to pasta, currys, and lots of other recipes to get a taste twist. But can all people enjoy El Paso Enchilada sauce? Is Old El Paso Enchilada sauce gluten free? 

Old El Paso Enchilada is gluten free. As against other enchilada sauces which contain wheat or malt as a thickening ingredient, Old El Paso Enchilada does not have wheat or malt; instead, it has soy as a substitute. 

Does that make Old El Paso safe for celiacs? Can people with intense gluten sensitivity have Old El Paso without facing any side effects? Keep reading to get to the answer. 

Is Old El Paso Enchilada Gluten Free? 

Yes, Old El Paso enchilada sauce is gluten free. The common ingredient in different enchilada sauces which include gluten in them is wheat or malt. Brands use it to thicken the sauce and add texture. 

But that is not the case with Old El Paso. The sauce has no wheat or malt, which can create gluten substances. But is Old El Paso manufactured in a dedicated gluten free factory? Unfortunately no. 

The product is prepared in the same factory where other Old El Paso products are made, so there are chances of cross-contamination. For a product to be completely gluten free, it should contain no ingredient with gluten. 

That’s not all. The food item should also pass through a dedicated gluten free test to label it as gluten free. 

Related:- Is La Choy Soy Sauce Gluten Free?

What is Old El Paso Enchilada? 

Old El Paso is a Mexican sauce with tomato as the primary ingredient. It has chili pepper, garlic, onion, and oregano for perfect flavoring, making it one of the most sought after sauces. 

What makes this sauce a better option than other Enchilada sauces is it does not use wheat as a thickening substance. Instead, Old El Paso has corn starch that works as a substitute without compromising taste and texture. 

Old El Paso Enchilada: FLavors, Ingredient List, and Nutritional Facts 

The company Old El Paso is a known Mexican brand that offers full-line Mexican meals in supermarkets. The Enchilada sauce is one of the trademark products of this brand and comes in different flavors. 

Knowing what you’re consuming is extremely important, especially if you seek gluten-free items. Therefore, we have taken the task of listing all Old El Paso Enchilada flavors with their ingredient list and nutritional facts. 

1. Old El Paso Medium Red Enchilada Sauce 

Ingredients 

• Water 
• Tomato paste 
• Modified corn starch 
• Salt 
• Sugar 
•  Chili 
• Pepper 
• Soybean oil 
• Vinegar 
• Hydrolyzed corn protein 
• Onion powder 
• Citric acid 
• Red pepper 
• Natural flavor 
• Added color 

Nutritional facts per 60g

2. Old El Paso Mild Red Enchilada Sauce 

Ingredients 

• Water 
• Tomato paste 
• Modified corn starch 
• Salt 
• Sugar 
•  Chili 
• Pepper 
• Soybean oil 
• Vinegar 
• Hydrolyzed corn protein 
• Onion powder 
• Citric acid 
• Red pepper 
• Natural flavor 
• Added color 

Nutritional facts per 60g

3. Old El Paso Enchilada Green Sauce 

Ingredients 

• Water 
• Green chile pepper puree 
• Green chiles 
• Modified corn starch 
• Soybean oil 
• Salt 
• Sugar 
•  Chili 
• Jalapeno pepper 
• Corn syrup solids
• Vinegar 
• Spice 
• Hydrolyzed corn protein 
• Onion powder 
• Garlic powder
• Citric acid 
• Acetic acid
• Natural flavor 
• Artificial color 
• Yeast extract

Nutritional facts per 60g 

Is Old El Paso Enchilada Healthy? 

Old El Paso Enchilada sauce is healthy as it contains fewer calories. It also has minimum to zero total fat content, but one drawback of the sauce is it is very high in sodium. 

Enchilada sauce is served with burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, etc., which are already high in sodium, so adding the sauce increases the sodium intake even more. 

As per the American Heart Association, we should not consume more than 500mg of sodium a day, but a single serving of enchilada sauce has around 290 mg sodium, and it gets higher while we combine it with other food. 

As a bottom line, you can consume Old El Paso enchilada sauce once in a while, but don’t make adding it to all your recipes a habit. 

Other Gluten Free Alternatives to Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce (will explain with ingredient list and nutritional facts and will give amazon links) 

Similar to Old El Paso, there are other gluten free sauces that gluten sensitive people can enjoy. Below is the list of some of the top Old El Paso alternatives; let’s have a look- 

1. Market Pantry Enchilada sauce 

It is one of the popular gluten free enchilada sauces that comes close to Old El Paso enchilada. It has ingredients like- 

• Water 
• Tomato paste 
• Modified food starch 
• Red dried chili peppers 
• Citric acid 
• Garlic powder 
• Hydrolyzed corn protein 
• Glutamate 
• Monosodium 
• Natural flavor 
• Onion powder 
• Salt 
• Soybean oil 
• Spices 
• Sugars 
• Yeast extract 

Nutritional facts per 60g

2. Las Palmas Original Style Enchilada Sauce 

Another gluten free enchilada sauce that has a similar taste and texture to Old El Paso is this Las Palmas Original Style Enchilada sauce. It contains ingredients like- 

• Water 
• Dried red chili peppers 
• Salt 
• Cottonseed oil 
• Cider vinegar 
• Fumaric acid 
• Garlic powder 
• Spice 
• Olive oil 

Nutritional facts per 60g 

3. La Palmas Medium Red Chile Sauce 

La Palmas has enchilada sauce available in different flavors, and this Medium Red Chile one is a personal favorite. The taste is great, and I can’t resist adding it to most of my dishes. Let’s check the ingredient list- 

• Water 
• Dried red chile peppers 
• Salt 
• Cottonseed oil 
• Cider vinegar 
• Fumaric acid 
• Garlic powder 
• Spice 
• Olive oil 

Nutritional facts per 60g

4. Las Palmas Mild Green Enchilada Sauce 

Ingredients 

• Water 
• Green chile peppers 
• Modified corn starch 
• Soybean oil 
• Salt 
• Sugar 
• Jalapeno peppers 
• Monosodium glutamate 
• Citric acid 
• Maltodextrin 
• Yeast extract 
• Distilled vinegar 
• Onion powder 
• Spices 
• Garlic powder 
• Torula yeast 
• Caramelized sugar 
• Spice extractive 

Nutritional facts per 60g 

Recipes with Old El Paso Enchilada 

Many staple American dishes use Old El Paso as the main ingredient. The spicy, tangy taste of the enchilada sauce can enhance the flavor to another level. Here are some of my favorite dishes to prepare with Old El Paso enchilada. 

Classic Beef Enchiladas 

This cheesy, spicy, saucy dish is perfect for serving on any occasion or during festivities. Let’s check out its ingredients and cooking procedure. 

Ingredients 

• 1lb ground beef 
• 2 can of Mild Old El Paso enchilada sauce 
• 1 can Old El Paso chopped Green Chiles 
• 1 packet Old El Paso flour tortillas for soft tacos and fajitas. 
• 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese. 

Cooking Procedure 

1. Heat the oven at 375°F. 
2. Take a glass baking dish and apply the cooking spray. 
3. Take a non-stick skillet, cook the ground beef for about 5 to 7 minutes, and drain. 
4. Add ½ cup of enchilada sauce and green chiles. 
5. In the baking dish, spread ½ cup of enchilada sauce evenly. 
6. Take the tortillas and fill in one ¼ cup of the beef mixture and add one tablespoon of cheese on top of it. Wrap the tortillas well around the mixture. 
7. Place the tortillas upside down in the baking dish and add enchilada sauce on top again. 
8. Add cheese and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes. 
9. Once done, let the dish rest for about 5 minutes before serving. 

Baked Cheesy Enchilada Chicken Penne 

Enjoy the cheesy goodness of penne pasta with our every favorite Old El Paso enchilada sauce in your home kitchen. Here is the ingredient list and cooking method. 

Ingredients 

• 3 ¾ cups penne pasta 
• 12oz Velveeta cheese (cut in cubes)
• 1 packet Old El Paso shredded Mexican four-cheese blend 
• 1 cup milk 
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken 
• 1 can Old El Paso enchilada sauce 
• 1 can Old El Paso chopped green chiles 
• 4 tablespoon melted butter 
• 1 package Old El Paso chicken taco seasoning mix 
• 2 tablespoon thinly sliced green onions 
• Chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and Old El Paso Crema Mexicana (optional)

Cooking procedure 

1. Preheat oven to 375°F
2. Take a glass baking dish, preferably 13×9 inch, and grease it with cooking spray. 
3. Cook the pasta as per package directions, drain and set aside.
4. Take a microwaveable bowl: mix cheese cubes, milk, and one cup of shredded cheese. 
5. Microwave on high for about 4 minutes. The mixture should get soft and creamy. 
6. Now add the pasta into the cheese mix. Stir nicely and transfer it into the baking tray. 
7. Take another large bowl: mix shredded chicken, green chiles, enchilada sauce, taco seasoning mix, and butter. Add the chicken mixture over the pasta and put it in the oven. 
8. Cook for 28 to 32 minutes. When the edges bubble up, it’s a sign that your pasta is ready. 
9. Add the remaining cheese and finish off with fresh cilantro. Voila, your baked cheesy enchilada chicken penne is ready to relish. 

Takeaway 

Old El Paso sauce is entirely gluten free with no malt or wheat in the recipe. But is it a labeled gluten free product? The answer is no. So consuming it or not would totally depend upon your gluten tolerance level. But we would suggest celicas to stay away from it. 

Most Asked Questions About Old El Paso Enchilada 

Does Old El Paso Enchilada have gluten? 

No, Old El Paso Enchilada sauce does not have gluten. It is different from other enchilada sauces as it does not use wheat or malt as a thickening ingredient. 

What ingredients are used in Old El Paso Enchilada sauce? 

Ingredients used in the Old El Paso enchilada sauce are- tomato puree, water, chili pepper, garlic, onion, oregano, soybean oil, added flavors, and coloring. 

Is Old El Paso Enchilada sauce safe for celiacs? 

We can’t say Old El Paso enchilada sauce is safe for celiacs because the brand does not label it as a gluten free product. It has not undergone a gluten free test, and the product is also not manufactured in a dedicated gluten free factory.