Tomato sauce sports a nice bright red color and a sweet taste that mimics that of the sweet paprika. However, these qualities alone without the spice are not enough as a swap. Mixing it with chili powder will add the heat that tomato sauce lacks. There’s a catch, however. Since this backup is wet, it’s only good for recipes like stews and soups.
Always make sure you check the label of the chili powder you intend to use to know if it will work for your recipe. I also advise reducing the amount of any of the ingredients included in the spice blend to avoid serving overly seasoned dishes.