Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe (2024)

When you’re short on time or money is tight, this Chicken Enchilada Casserole is the answer to the dinner dilemma!

Who doesn’t love an enchilada casserole? This basic recipe is good for new home cooks looking to expand their skills or for teaching kids in the kitchen—plus, it feeds a crowd!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe (1)

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

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Easy Enchilada Casserole

Enchilada casserole is one of our favorites because it’s easy to make and a little bit goes a long way! A few ingredients, some prep steps, and it goes right in the oven! Or, assemble it in the morning and bake it later! Enchilada casseroles are great to take to potlucks, parties, or buffets because the servings can be any size the guest wants!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe (2)

Ingredients and Variations

Like all enchilada recipes, this one has the basics: corn tortillas, meat, sauce, cheese, andtaco seasoning. This simple recipe uses chicken, black beans, an onion, a bell pepper, and green enchilada sauce mixed with sour cream.

TORTILLAS – This recipe calls for corn tortillas, but enchiladas can also be made with flour tortillas. Go ahead and use whole grain sandwich wraps for an extra boost of fiber and nutrition.

MEAT – Use ground beef or turkey, chopped chicken, leftover pulled pork, anything goes well with this enchilada casserole!

VEGGIES – Besides bell peppers and onion, other veggies can be added like diced tomatoes, mushrooms, corn, jalapenos, or green chilis.

OTHER TASTY ADDITIONS

  • If green enchilada sauce is hard to come by, use salsa or taco sauce.
  • Enchilada casseroles are great for using up leftovers, even leftover cooked scrambled eggs!
  • For extra heat, add a few dashes of tabasco!
  • Top with sliced black olives, jalapenos, and shredded cheese for presentation before serving!

How To Make Enchilada Casserole

This enchilada casserole is super easy to pull together, it’s like making a Mexican lasagna!

  1. Combine sauce, sauté veggies, simmer with seasoning, meat and beans
  2. Spread half the sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish. Cover with tortillas.
  3. Layer with half the meat mixture. Top with half the cheese. Spread the other half of the sauce over the cheese.
  4. Layer with more tortillas, sauce, and cheese.
  5. Bake until hot and bubbly, and allow to set before serving.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe (3)

What to Serve with Enchilada Casserole

While this Chicken Enchilada Casserole can stand by itself as a complete meal in one dish, you can always add a side southwest pasta salad or even a freshtomato salad if you have an extra hungry crew. And why not mix up a batch of watermelon sangria to go with it? It will be fiesta time at your house tonight!

Tips & Tricks

  • Use cooked chicken that is shredded so it layers better over the tortillas. If using ground beef, break it up into smaller pieces for the same reason.
  • Chicken Enchilada Casserole can be frozen, too! Before assembling, line the casserole dish with foil and let the foil fold over the edges of the long sides about 6” on each side.
    • For an uncooked casserole, fold the foil over the top of the assembled casserole, cover in plastic wrap and freeze. Once frozen, lift the casserole out of the dish, double wrap with plastic, and label it with the date. It should keep about 1 month.
    • For a cooked casserole or leftovers, first allow it to cool completely. Then cut it into individual portions, wrap in foil followed by plastic, label with the date and freeze. Easy for grab and go school or work lunches!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe (4)

Other Recipes To Try!

  • Taco Salad Bowl with Creamy Avocado Dressing – a delicious entree salad.
  • Fajita Pasta – a tasty twist.
  • Easy Crockpot Chicken Tacos recipe – perfect weeknight meal.
  • Beef Enchiladas – easy dinner!
  • Homemade Salsa Recipe – zesty!
  • Cheesy Chicken Vegetable Casserole – quick and easy.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe (5)

4.96 from 45 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Chicken Enchilada Casserole

With just a few ingredients and some simple prep, this Chicken Enchilada Casserole makes an easy and delicious weeknight meal!

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Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Rest time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Author Holly

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 bell pepper red or green, diced
  • ½ cup black beans drained and rinsed
  • 3 cups cooked chopped chicken
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 28 oz green enchilada sauce
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 12 small corn tortillas 6" each
  • 2 cups Monterey jack cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine sour cream and enchilada sauce. Set aside.

  • Cook onion in oil 4 minutes or until slightly tender. Add bell pepper and cook 3 minutes more.

  • Stir in taco seasoning, chicken and black beans with ⅔ cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until thickened.

  • Place ½ cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Layer 6 tortillas on top. Add ½ of the chicken mixture and ½ of the cheese. Top with half of the remaining enchilada sauce.

  • Add 6 more tortillas, remaining chicken mixture, remaining enchilada sauce and finally the remaining cheese.

  • Bake uncovered 25-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

  • Cool 10 minutes before serving.

4.96 from 45 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 551kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 1471mg | Potassium: 461mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 2076IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 382mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Mexican, Tex-Mex

©The Shortcut Kitchen. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe (6)

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe (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.

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.

How do you make enchiladas not crack? ›

To prevent your tortillas from tearing or becoming soggy, quickly fry each corn tortilla in any oil you like for about 10 seconds on each side, until it starts to get crispy but is still pliable. This will add a barrier that will keep the tortilla from absorbing too much sauce, and also adds a little extra flavor.

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!

Can you pre make enchiladas or will they get 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.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

How to make enchiladas more crispy? ›

Rebecca, try this: Heat one cup vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until the oil bubbles immediately when you stick the edge of a tortilla onto the surface. Working one at a time, fry a tortilla, turning once, until it just starts to brown and crisp (about 10 seconds per side).

Does enchilada sauce go inside or on top? ›

Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the bean mixture in the center of each warm tortilla. Divide the cheese between the tortillas, reserving 1/4 to sprinkle on top. Roll up tightly and place seam side down in the baking dish. Spoon the enchilada sauce over the tortillas and scatter over the reserved cheese.

What goes with chicken enchiladas? ›

Chopped salad, rice pilaf, fresh guacamole, and street corn dip – these all go great with chicken enchiladas! This iconic tortilla dish can be made with slow cooker shredded chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken, a great main course!

Do enchiladas taste better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

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.

How do you Dr up enchilada sauce? ›

Add seasonings - Cumin, chili powder, Mexican oregano, etc. are great ways to punch up the flavor of canned enchilada sauce. You might also consider adding a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.

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