Best Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Looking for the ultimate Mexican dinner? Look no further than this easy Chicken Enchiladas Recipe! Loaded with deliciously shredded chicken and gooey cheese, these enchiladas are smothered in a simple red enchilada sauce and baked to perfection in just 20 minutes. A beloved homemade classic, these enchiladas are sure to become a family favorite and are perfect for quick and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients For Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

To prepare this enchiladas chicken, the following ingredients are required:

Tortillas: Usually, I opt for pre-made corn tortillas from the store; however, if you have a preference, you could also use flour tortillas.

Enchilada Sauce: If possible, I strongly suggest preparing your own enchilada sauce! However, if you’re short on time and looking for a Tex-Mex-style version, you can quickly make one using chile powder, tomato paste, and broth. On the other hand, if you want to go for an authentic taste, you can try my family’s recipe which is made from whole dried chiles and Mexican chocolate. Both recipes are simple to prepare and can be stored in the freezer, making them ideal for making large quantities.

Shredded Chicken: If you have any leftover shredded chicken in your refrigerator, you can utilize it for this recipe. However, in case you don’t have any, here’s a simple recipe that you can follow to shred your chicken at home. Alternatively, if you are short on time, I suggest buying a cooked rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store and shredding it yourself at home.

Shredded Cheese: Usually, I opt for the readily available pre-shredded “Mexican-style” cheese found in most grocery stores. However, for a truly authentic experience, I suggest combining Oaxaca or Asadero, which are genuine Mexican cheeses.

How to make Chicken Enchiladas Recipe?

Set the oven temperature to 350ºF for preheating.

Take a large bowl and mix the cooked shredded chicken with 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Microwave the tortillas for 1 minute, flipping them halfway through until they become warm and pliable.

To prepare the enchiladas, distribute the shredded chicken mixture and a generous pinch of shredded cheese evenly onto each tortilla. Next, tightly roll each tortilla to seal the filling inside, and then place them seam side down into a large baking dish.

Drizzle the remaining enchilada sauce on top of the tortillas, then sprinkle the remaining cheese over them.

Place it in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. After that, serve it.

My Best Tips

• For the chicken: There are multiple options available to prepare shredded chicken for your dish. You may utilize any leftover chicken you have in the fridge, purchase a rotisserie chicken from the store, or make your own shredded chicken at home.
• For the enchilada sauce: If you’re seeking my suggestion, I would recommend making your own enchilada sauce using either the straightforward enchilada sauce recipe or the authentic enchilada sauce recipe. However, if time is a constraint, you can opt for your preferred store-bought sauce.
• If using flour tortillas: As flour tortillas are typically bigger than corn tortillas, you’ll require an extra 1/2 cup of cooked shredded chicken to complete the filling.
• To store enchiladas: Store them in a sealed airtight container and keep them refrigerated for a maximum of 4 days.
• To freeze enchiladas: After allowing them to cool completely in the refrigerator, you may proceed to freeze the enchiladas. Simply transfer them to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Alternatively, you may wrap the enchiladas entirely with aluminum foil before freezing.

The step-by-step instructions Chicken Enchiladas Recipe can be found in the recipe card below

Questions and Answers about enchilada recipe chicken

Recipe variations

As previously stated, this recipe for chicken enchiladas homemade is highly adaptable, and thus, don’t hesitate to tailor it according to your preferences. You can, for instance, make modifications such as….

Use corn tortillas: If you want to prepare Mexican-style enchiladas, swap out the flour tortillas with corn tortillas, which can either be homemade or store-bought. As corn tortillas are usually smaller in size, you will probably need nearly double the amount of tortillas to make up for it. Arrange them in the baking dish as per your liking. To enhance the flavor of the corn tortillas and prevent them from tearing, I suggest flash-frying them in a lightly-oiled skillet for about 10 seconds per side. Alternatively, you can briefly dip the tortillas in warm enchilada sauce before rolling them up.

Use green enchilada sauce: Consider preparing green chicken enchiladas utilizing my easy-to-follow homemade green enchilada sauce recipe as an alternative to using red enchilada sauce. This recipe is straightforward and adds a delightful savory green chile taste to your meal.

Use a different protein: While I typically prepare these enchiladas using chicken, they can be equally delightful with alternative protein sources such as ground or shredded beef, shredded pork (especially carnitas), shrimp, or any other preferred protein.

Use different beans: As previously stated, substituting pinto or black beans with white beans, lentils, or chickpeas would be a great alternative for this recipe.

Make vegetarian enchiladas: To prepare vegetarian enchiladas, exclude the chicken and substitute it with vegetables like roasted cauliflower, zucchini, bell peppers, etc., extra beans, or any other preferred vegetarian fillings. If you wish to make vegan enchiladas, choose a vegetarian filling and use vegan cheese.

Make gluten-free enchiladas: To prepare enchiladas that are free from gluten, opt for corn or flour tortillas that are specifically labeled as gluten-free. Additionally, it’s important to substitute an equal amount of gluten-free flour blend for regular all-purpose flour when making your own enchilada sauce.

What Do You Serve with enchilada recipe chicken?

This enchilada recipe chicken is a delicious and satisfying meal that can be enjoyed on its own or with some tasty sides. Here are some options for what you can serve with this recipe:

Salad: You can choose between our Everyday Mexican Salad or our Mexican Caesar Salad.

Chips and Dip: We offer a variety of dips to accompany your tortilla chips, including your choice of favorite (red) salsa, salsa verde, guacamole, or elote dip.

Drinks: Margaritas or Watermelon-Lime Mocktails

Dessert: Sopapillas

Have a look at our other recipes, how about  Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup or paula deens crockpot potato soup

Can You Freeze homemade chicken enchilada recipe?

Once fully cooled in the refrigerator, transfer the homemade chicken enchilada recipe to a container or bag that is safe for freezing. Alternatively, you may choose to wrap the enchiladas thoroughly in aluminum foil before freezing.

How do you store Chicken Enchiladas Recipe?

Store enchiladas in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and they will stay fresh for up to four days.

Are enchiladas healthy?

Enchiladas can be healthy if made with whole-grain or corn tortillas, lean protein sources, plenty of vegetables, and limited unhealthy fats and sodium. However, if fried or loaded with processed cheese or meats, they can be less healthy and higher in calories.

If you like this recipe, please leave a comment and rate this recipe.
I would love to hear from you and really appreciate your comments!
I will always do my best to reply to every comment as soon as possible.
Thanks for following! And have fun cooking!