Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (2024)

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4.42 from 99 votes

Chicken enchilada casserole is a family favorite meal that is so easy to make. Chicken, enchilada sauce and cheese are baked until it’s all golden brown and delicious.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (1)

Thischicken enchilada casserole recipeis the perfect family meal to enjoy without the fuss of rolling tortillas. If you like easy casserole meals, check out my collection of best zucchini casserole recipes.

Contents
  • 🌟 Foolproof Chicken Enchilada Casserole
  • 🍽 Key Ingredients
  • 🔪 How to make
  • 💭 Cooking Tips
  • ⭐ Best Store-bought Enchilada Sauces
  • 📖 Recipe Variations
  • 🥗 What to serve with
  • 🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
  • 🧊 Storing and ♨️ Reheating
  • 🍳 Related Enchilada Recipes
  • 👪 Serving Size
  • 📋 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🌟 Foolproof Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This recipe is based on the America's test kitchen enchiladas recipe.

Unlike most enchilada recipes that use corn or flour tortillas, thisenchilada casseroleis much easier to prepare without needing any high-carb tortillas and ready to eat in under 1 hour.

This easy chicken enchilada casserole is packed with delicious flavors of spicy green chilies, tomatoey red enchilada sauce, a delicious shredded chicken mixture, and lots of melty cheese.

It's made with half the ingredients found in most chicken enchiladas, making it budget-friendly and perfect for a busy weeknight meal. Plus, it can be prepared in advance for busy parents when time is limited. Another easy recipe to try is my chicken piccata and chicken spinach casserole.

Low carb chicken enchilada casseroleis versatile and can be made with fresh or cooked chicken, as well as making your own enchilada sauce or using canned from the grocery store to help save on prep time.

Nobody in your family will be able to resist this delicious meal for lunch or dinner, and it tastes even better the next day for meal prep.

🍽 Key Ingredients

This is a fairlysimple recipethat only needs essential pantry ingredients to prepare the mixture.. You can almost consider this abase recipeand change it up to your taste.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (2)

Chicken- We're using fresh boneless chicken breast for the chicken mixture.

Enchilada sauce- Use homemade enchilada sauce for a fresher taste or buy a canned variety from the store.

Cheese- For the chicken mixture, we're adding queso fresco because it's crumbly and salty, and for the cheese layers, a strong flavored cheese like cheddar cheese is required to add layers of flavor.

Chilies- Fresh or canned green chilies work fine with this recipe. Use as much as you like depending on how hot you want your enchiladas.

Herbs- A small amount of fresh cilantro mixed into the chicken mixture gives it an aromatic citrus flavor.

Substitutions

Chicken

You can use any leftover shredded chicken from a previous dinner or a rotisserie chicken instead of fresh chicken breast without changing the flavor.

Herbs

If you don't have any cilantro on hand, you could use freshly chopped parsley instead as a close substitution.

Cheese

Instead of queso fresco, you could opt for feta cheese as an equal substitute and Colby or Monterey jack cheese instead of cheddar for a similar flavor and melting qualities.

Remember, cheese is "all ok", so it is good to keep some of your favorites handy.

  • Oaxaca: 10 points melting, 10+ elasticity
  • Manchego: 10 points melting, 9 points elasticity
  • Monterrey Jack: 9 points melting, 7 points elasticity
Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (3)

🔪 How to make

Chicken enchilada casserole is a delicious and super easy family dinner recipe to make in under one hour. The prep work is fast, and you can learn how to make it with my step-by-step instruction and helpful cooking tips.

Preparations

  • Chop the cilantro and chilies.
  • Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius).

Cooking Instructions

Step 1

Combine the chicken and enchilada sauce in a medium saucepan & simmer for 10-15 minutes over medium-low heat.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (4)

Then flip the chicken over, cover, and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until the chicken reaches 160-165 degrees with an instant-read thermometer.

Step 2

Remove chicken from pan and shred into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine shredded chicken, the remaining enchilada sauce, queso fresco, chiles, and cilantro. Add salt and pepper if desired.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (5)

Step 3

Spray a square casserole dish with olive oil (or use a brush) and coat the entire bottom and sides. Evenly spread 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese on the bottom of the dish. Add the chicken mixture.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (6)

Step 4

Then add the other cup of cheddar cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake for about 10 minutes.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (7)

Step 5

Remove foil to melt and brown cheese a bit for another 3 to 5 min. and voila. Mexican enchiladas of the day! Be careful when removing from the oven.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (8)

Step 6

Now slice some avocados, green onions, and chopped cilantro to garnish.

Once on the table, add a small bowl of sour cream to pour over your enchiladas. A delicious addition!

💭 Cooking Tips

Prepare ahead

If you're busy in the evenings and want to just pop a delicious recipe in the oven when you don't have time to prepare a meal, you could easily prepare this 1 day in advance and store it covered in the fridge, ready for baking.

Use block cheese

For better texture, buy the block of cheddar cheese rather than pre-shredded cheese. Packet shredded cheese from the grocery store comes with a coating that doesn't melt the same as freshly grated cheese, nor does it have the same smooth consistency.

⭐ Best Store-bought Enchilada Sauces

When it comes to enchiladas, the sauce is paramount. This single ingredient is the soul of all enchiladas. Here are the two best store-bought enchilada sauces!

Red Enchilada Sauce

The BEST red enchilada sauce is Rosarita enchilada sauce. This red tomato-based enchilada sauce dominates the kitchen and is loved by all. An authentic enchilada sauce with a hint of spice (mild heat) and is bold, zesty, and exactly what you'd expect.

Green Sauce

The BEST green enchilada sauce is Old El Paso's mild green enchilada sauce. This green tomato enchilada sauce beats other notable brands like Las Palmas and La Victoria. At the end of the day, this sauce has an authentic taste, with just a touch of heat, and packed with flavor.

Whatever enchilada sauce you choose, these proven red and green enchilada sauces have you covered.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (9)

📖 Recipe Variations

Thislow-carb chicken enchilada casseroleis versatile and can be made to suit everyone's taste buds while using this recipe. Try some of these additions to mix it up.

Protein

This recipe works just as well with ground beef, Italian sausage, ground turkey, or even shrimp.

Veggies

Feel free to add extra veggies like black beans, olives, chopped bell peppers, onion, and garlic.

Tortillas

Upgrade your chicken enchiladas with corn tortillas, and roll the chicken mixture inside. Use these classic america's test kitchen chicken enchiladasfor inspiration.

Sauce

Thisenchilada casseroleuses red enchilada sauce as it's slightly sweeter green enchilada sauce, but you can use whichever suits your taste buds. Both have the same flavor, just that the color is different and green chilies are hotter than the red variety.

🥗 What to serve with

Chicken enchilada casserole is a typical Mexican dish with other Mexican side dishes like rice, nachos, Pico de Gallo, or guacamole. Here are some easy taste creations to serve with these delicious enchiladas.

Tortillas

If you want to have some crunch and are not bothered about a few extra carbs with your meal, try out these crunchybaked tortilla stripsfor dipping in the melty cheese.

Rice

Mexican rice is a staple dish in any Mexican household. Although it can be tricky to replicate the same authentic taste, the same cannot be said about this low-carb option of fragrantcauliflower ricewith garlic, lime, onion, and cilantro.It's delicious and ready in just 15 minutes!

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between red and green enchilada sauce?

Both sauces have a similar flavor, the only difference is how it's prepared and the color of chili used. The red chilis are riper and sweeter in flavor, whereas green chilis are slightly hotter and have a more herbaceous aroma.

Do you cook corn tortillas before making chicken enchilada casserole?

Yes, the corn tortillas need to be softened before you can roll them. Otherwise, they will break. You can soften them in a frying pan with a bit of oil or cooking spray for 10 seconds on each side.

🧊 Storing and ♨️ Reheating

This easy chicken enchilada casserole is perfect for storing and eating the following day and tastes even better once the flavors infuse.

Fridge- Transfer any leftover chicken enchilada casserole to an airtight container, cover the baking dish in aluminum foil, and place it in the fridge for up to two days.

Freezer- Once thelow-carb chicken enchiladashave cooled completely, transfer the leftovers to a freezer container and freeze them for up to 3 months. Alternately, if you want to freeze unbaked chicken enchilada casserole, assemble the contents into a large aluminum tray, ready for baking.

Reheating- The quickest way to reheat leftover enchiladas is to microwave them for 1 to 2 minutes on full power until piping hot (may require longer for frozen leftovers. Or you can preheat an oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until hot.

Save one of these amazing enchilada recipes for dinner! My favorite is the ground beef enchiladas.

  • Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
  • America's Test Kitchen Enchiladas
  • Ground Beef Enchiladas "Ninja Style"

Also check out my chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe that is ready in less than 40 minute! Same as my delicious copycat Longhorn parmesan crusted chicken recipe that will impress your family.

👪 Serving Size

This chicken enchilada casserole makes 5 servings and feeds 4 people. Given this is a casserole dish and super easy, you could double or triple this recipe to cater to more guests. I always make two casseroles to freeze one for the following week and save myself time.

So without further ado, below is the recipe. You won't even miss the tortilla!

📋 Recipe

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (13)

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken enchilada casserole is a family favorite meal that is so easy to make. Chicken, enchilada sauce and cheese are baked until it’s all golden brown and delicious.

4.42 from 99 votes

Print Pin Rate Save

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 5

Calories: 406kcal

Author: Kim Grabinski

Equipment

  • 1 Skillet

  • 1 Baking Casserole

  • 1 medium bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups enchilada sauce - store bought or from scratch
  • 1 cup finely crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese
  • 1 can (4 oz) green chiles (chopped)
  • ½ cup minced fresh cilantro
  • olive oil spray - or you can use olive oil in a little bowl with a brush
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • salt & pepper
  • lime wedges - optional
  • sour cream - optional

Meat Options (pick one)

  • 1 pound boneless chicken breasts - skinless, trimmed, and pounded if necessary
  • 1 pound ground beef - or leftover roast beef

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.

  • Combine the chicken and enchilada sauce in a medium saucepan & simmer for 10-15 minutes over medium-low heat. Then flip the chicken over, cover and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until chicken reaches 160-165 degrees with an instant-read thermometer.

  • Remove chicken from pan and shred into bite-sized pieces. Combine shredded chicken, the enchilada sauce, queso fresco, chiles and cilantro in a bowl. Add salt and pepper if desired.

  • Spray a square casserole dish with olive oil (or use a brush) and coat the entire bottom and sides.

  • Evenly spread 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese on the bottom of the dish. Add the chicken mixture, then add the other cup of cheddar cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 3 to 5 minutes to melt the cheese.

  • Serve with optional lime wedges and optional sour cream.

Notes

Prepare ahead

If you're busy in the evenings and want to just pop a delicious recipe in the oven when you don't have time to prepare a meal, you could easily prepare this 1 day in advance and store it covered in the fridge, ready for baking.

Use block cheese

For better texture, buy the block of cheddar cheese rather than pre-shredded cheese. Packet shredded cheese from the grocery store comes with a coating that doesn't melt the same as freshly grated cheese, nor does it have the same smooth consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 1163mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1240IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 469mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Easy Recipe) - 730 Sage Street (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good enchiladas? ›

Fry each of your tortillas in hot oil before adding in your enchilada filling. This will help keep the tortillas from soaking up too much of your sauce too quickly, which can also cause them to break apart.

Why are my enchiladas always soggy? ›

Not Dipping the Tortillas in Sauce

After you fry and drain the tortilla, dip both sides into your enchilada sauce to coat the entire tortilla. Dipping your tortillas in sauce will ensure even distribution — and means you can use less sauce on the bottom of the baking dish, which will prevent them from getting soggy.

Can you make enchiladas ahead of time without getting soggy? ›

If you would like to make a pan of enchiladas in advance, follow the recipe instructions through step 3 (assembling the enchiladas). Wrap the pan tightly with foil. Then you can either refrigerate the enchiladas for up to 3 days, then bake as directed.

What makes enchiladas taste better? ›

Toppings: When it comes to enchiladas, I vote the more toppings the merrier! Any combination of chopped fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, diced red onion (or quick pickled red onions), sliced radishes, fresh or pickled jalapeños, sour cream or Mexican crema, and/or extra cheese would be delicious!

Which sauce is better for enchiladas? ›

Las Palmas makes the best green enchilada sauce at the grocery store. It's a little tangy, super savory, and it tastes very fresh, even though it's canned enchilada sauce. If you're a green sauce lover, you will be thrilled with this premade enchilada sauce. You won't just want to stop at enchiladas!

How do you keep enchiladas from getting hard on the bottom? ›

Some recipes suggest spreading a little sauce (½ cup for a 3-quart baking dish) on the bottom of the pan before adding enchiladas. This keeps the tortillas from sticking to the pan or getting tough on the bottom.

How do you thicken enchiladas? ›

Or you can omit the flour and instead add a cornstarch slurry (equal parts cornstarch and cold water whisked together) to the sauce once it is simmering to thicken it. Make it creamy: Whisk in 1/2 cup of heavy cream to turn this recipe into a delicious creamy enchilada sauce.

How do you moisten a casserole? ›

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

Is it better to cook enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

It isn't necessary to cover enchiladas while baking. All of an enchiladas components are cooked and you are just heating them through when you bake them. Ideally your ingredients will be room temperature, not ice cold, when you assemble the enchiladas.

Should you cover enchiladas when you bake them? ›

Arrange enchiladas, seam-side down, in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with taco sauce and remaining 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until cheese has melted, about 20 minutes.

Do you put enchilada sauce before or after cooking? ›

After you fry the tortillas, dip both sides in your delicious sauce and cover the entire surface. Then stuff and roll.

Can you leave chicken enchiladas out overnight? ›

According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.

Is it OK to use flour tortillas for enchiladas? ›

A simple, quick, easy beef enchiladas recipe. Ground beef and onion are wrapped in flour tortillas, topped with Cheddar cheese and black olives, then baked. This is also great with leftover chicken, shredded beef, or turkey.

How many enchiladas per person? ›

At 3 enchiladas per person this is a generous serving size. We thought these chicken enchiladas were very tasty. They do need a side dish though; we had some leftover rice and beans from another meal and then did a southwest salad for a vegetable.

How do you keep enchiladas from falling apart? ›

Before frying your tortillas, spread about a cup of sauce lengthwise down the center of your baking sheet. After frying the tortillas, dip each side in your sauce to coat the whole surface. This method will ensure even distribution—and less sauce means your tortillas are less likely to fall apart.

How do you keep tortillas from breaking when making enchiladas? ›

To make enchiladas, get some oil in a skillet or frying pan, get it hot (but not smoking hot), and heat the tortilla in the hot oil for a few seconds each side. Put the tortilla in a plate and remove the excess oil with a paper napkin. If you do this, when you roll the enchiladas the tortilla will not break.

What is the best cheese to melt on enchiladas? ›

Use a shredded Mexican cheese blend for the best melting and flavor. A rustic cut blend of 4 cheese is the best all-around cheese for enchiladas. Look for one that includes Montery Jack, Cheddar, Asadero and Queso Quesadilla Cheese. Avoid using all cheddar as it can be too oily.

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