The Ultimate Guide to Mexican Simmer Sauces: Easy, Authentic & Flavorful Meals

Ultimate Guide to Mexican Sauces

Mexican cuisine is known for its bold flavors, rich history, and slow-simmered sauces that bring depth to every dish. But for busy home cooks, recreating authentic Mexican flavors can feel overwhelming.

That’s where Mexican simmer sauces come in! These ready-to-use sauces eliminate hours of prep while delivering restaurant-quality flavors in your home kitchen. Whether you’re making Barbacoa, Tinga, Pibil, or Tomatillo-based dishes, a high-quality simmer sauce can help you create flavorful, authentic Mexican meals in under an hour.

In this guide, we’ll cover:
✅ What Mexican simmer sauces are & why they’re essential
✅ The history & regional origins of different sauces
✅ How to use simmer sauces with Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, and Stovetop methods
✅ The best recipes & meal ideas for Barbacoa, Tinga, Pibil, and Tomatillo sauces
✅ Why Salsaology’s all-natural Mexican simmer sauces make home cooking easier than ever

Let’s dive in!

What Are Mexican Simmer Sauces?

Mexican simmer sauces are flavor-packed, slow-cooked sauces made from a blend of dried chiles, tomatoes, tomatillos, herbs, and spices. They serve as a base for meats, seafood, or vegetables, allowing home cooks to create authentic dishes in minutes—without chopping, blending, or simmering for hours.

Why Use Mexican Simmer Sauces?

✅ Authentic Flavor: Inspired by traditional Mexican recipes and ingredients
✅ Convenience: Cuts down cooking time from hours to minutes
✅ Versatility: Perfect for beef, pork, chicken, seafood & vegetarian dishes
✅ All-Natural Ingredients: No preservatives, just real food

Using a high-quality Mexican simmer sauce means you can create dishes like Barbacoa tacos, Tinga tostadas, or Pibil pork bowls in a fraction of the time—without sacrificing flavor.

A Brief History of Mexican Simmer Sauces

Mexican cuisine has a deep tradition of slow-cooked sauces dating back to pre-Columbian times. Early Mesoamerican civilizations used a variety of chiles, seeds, and herbs to create flavorful stews. Over time, Spanish and regional influences shaped the sauces we know today.

Each region in Mexico has its own signature sauce and recipes, reflecting local ingredients and culinary traditions:

Traditional Mexican Simmer Sauces by Region

Traditional Mexican Sauces By Region

How to Cook with Mexican Simmer Sauces

One of the best things about our Mexican simmer sauces is their versatility. Whether you prefer the fast convenience of an Instant Pot (pressure cooker), the slow depth of a Crockpot (slow cooker), or a traditional stovetop simmer in a Dutch oven or pot, there’s a method that works for your schedule.

1. Instant Pot (Fastest & Most Tender)

  • Best for quick weeknight meals and tenderizing tough cuts of meat.
  • Example: Instant Pot Barbacoa – Juicy beef Barbacoa in under an hour!
  • How to Use:
    1. Sear meat using the sauté function.
    2. Add Barbacoa Mexican Simmer Sauce.
    3. Pressure cook for 50 minutes (beef) or 20 minutes (chicken).
    4. Shred and serve!

2. Slow Cooker (Set & Forget Method)

  • Best for deep, slow-simmered flavors with minimal effort.
  • Example: Slow Cooker Cochinita Pibil – Tangy, tender pork perfect for tacos.
  • How to Use:
    1. Place meat and Pibil Mexican Simmer Sauce in the slow cooker.
    2. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
    3. Shred and enjoy!

3. Stovetop (Traditional & Quick)

  • Best for quick-cooked meals and authentic textures.
  • Example: Tinga Chicken in 20 Minutes – Perfect for tacos, tostadas, or rice bowls.
  • How to Use:
    1. Sear protein in a skillet or Dutch oven.
    2. Add Tinga Mexican Sauce and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
    3. Serve with tortillas, rice, or beans.

Mexican Simmer Sauce Recipes & Meal Ideas

Looking for inspiration? Here are some easy and delicious recipes using Salsaology’s Mexican Simmer Sauces.

Barbacoa Simmer Sauce

Best for: Beef, chicken, and jackfruit
Try it in:

  • Barbacoa Tacos – Slow-cooked beef in warm corn tortillas
  • Barbacoa Rice Bowls – Served with beans, avocado, and queso fresco
  • Barbacoa Nachos – Layered with melted cheese and pickled onions

👉 Learn more: What is Barbacoa?

Tinga Simmer Sauce

Best for: Chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, mushrooms, jackfruit
Try it in:

  • Tinga Tostadas – Crispy tortillas with shredded chicken & crema
  • Tinga Taquitos – Beef Tinga filled warm crunchy taquitos 
  • Tinga Quesadillas – Shredded chicken & cheese, grilled to perfection

Pibil Simmer Sauce

Best for: Pork, chicken, tofu
Try it in:

  • Cochinita Pibil Sliders – Slow-roasted pork in mini buns
  • Pibil Tofu Bowls – Served over rice, black beans with pickled onions
  • Yucatan Grilled Chicken – A bright, citrusy twist on seafood tacos

Tomatillo Simmer Sauce

Best for: Pork, Chicken, seafood, vegetables
Try it in:

  • Tomatillo Chicken Enchiladas – Baked with cheese & crema
  • Tomatillo Pork Stew – A light, flavorful one-pot meal
  • Tomatillo Salsa Verde Tacos – A tangy topping for grilled meats

Why Choose Salsaology’s Mexican Simmer Sauces?

If you want authentic Mexican flavors without hours of prep, Salsaology’s Simmer Sauces make home cooking easier, faster, and more delicious.

✅ All-natural ingredients (no preservatives or artificial flavors)
✅ Authentic, chef-crafted recipes
✅ Versatile for Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, slow cooker, and stovetop meals

🔥 Try our collection of Mexican simmer sauces today! Shop Now

Final Thoughts

Mexican simmer sauces are the secret to quick, flavorful home cooking. Whether you’re making tender Barbacoa, smoky Tinga, citrusy Pibil, or tangy Tomatillo dishes, these sauces bring authentic flavors to your kitchen in minutes.

Ready to get started? Explore our recipes, cooking guides, and Salsaology’s premium simmer sauces today!

👉 Shop Mexican Simmer Sauces