Taco Bell Mild Border Sauce

Recreate the iconic flavor of Taco Bell's Mild Border Sauce right in your own kitchen with this simple and authentic copycat recipe. Made with pantry-friendly ingredients like tomato paste, white vinegar, and a blend of spices including paprika and ground cumin, this sauce captures the perfect balance of tangy, smoky, and slightly sweet flavors. A touch of canned jalapeño slices adds just enough heat for that signature mild kick, making it a versatile condiment for tacos, burritos, nachos, and beyond. Ready in just 25 minutes, this easy-to-make sauce is pureed to smooth perfection and refrigerated to let the flavors meld into a restaurant-worthy condiment. Perfect for meal prep, this recipe yields enough to share or save—so your Taco Tuesdays will never run out of flavor again!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 6 ounces Tomato paste
• 1.5 cups Water
• 1.5 tablespoons White vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Canned jalapeño slices
• 3 tablespoons Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 0.5 teaspoons Salt
• 0.5 teaspoons Ground cumin

Directions

Step 1

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the tomato paste and water, stirring until smooth.

Step 2

Add the white vinegar, canned jalapeño slices, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and ground cumin to the saucepan.

Step 3

Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and stir the mixture thoroughly to combine the ingredients.

Step 4

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 5

Reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to simmer uncovered for about 15-20 minutes, or until it thickens slightly.

Step 6

Once simmered, use an immersion blender or transfer the sauce to a blender to puree until smooth.

Step 7

Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings if necessary, adding more salt, sugar, or vinegar according to preference.

Step 8

Allow the sauce to cool completely before transferring it to a clean jar or bottle.

Step 9

Refrigerate the sauce in an airtight container for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together for the best taste. Shake well before use.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	647.1 grams (647.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	332

Total Fat 1.70g	2%
Saturated Fat 0.30g	2%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1749mg	76%
Total Carbohydrate 77.20g	28%
Dietary Fiber 9.30g	33%
Total Sugars 59.50g
Protein 8.90g	18%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 122mg	9%
Iron 7mg	37%
Potassium 1893mg	40%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 4.3%

Protein: 9.9%

Carbs: 85.8%