My super easy to make Chicken Enchiladas are a go-to favorite of family meals! Tender pieces of chicken are rolled into my homemade flour tortillas, smothered in red enchilada sauce, and topped with Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses!!
A great dish for using up leftover rotisserie chicken as well!
I love to make my quick and easy chicken enchilada recipe, especially when I have cilantro lime chicken, homemade flour tortillas, and enchilada sauce to make them with! This is a family favorite meal, so I make these all of the time!
I used to be able to use a rotisserie chicken, prior to moving to our small town in Minnesota, so now I cook up my own chicken for this meal. My favorite way to do that is to pan sear the chicken in a cilantro lime sauce. Yum! And perfectly suited for celebrating Cinco De Mayo!
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🥘 Ingredients
- Chicken - Leftover chicken will make this all come together super fast.
- Cilantro - Fresh, chopped add amazing flavor!
- Lime Juice - Freshly squeezed is the best way.
- Enchilada Sauce - Canned or try my homemade enchilada sauce!
- Green Chiles - Canned or fresh, although canned is very convenient.
- Corn - Frozen, canned or fresh.
- Tortillas - I use my homemade flour tortillas but feel free to use corn if you desire.
- Cheese - I find that a combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack really works!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
Optionally, you can cover your enchiladas with heavy duty aluminum foil to prevent burning while baking. Just remember to remove the foil when you add your cheese!
You can make more than 1 tray of chicken enchiladas and freeze them uncooked to bake at a later time.
🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
So simple to make these enchiladas either using fresh or leftover chicken, most of the ingredients should be very easy to find at your local grocer.
- For the chicken, I use our cilantro lime chicken thighs or leftover rotisserie chicken (or breasts, just allow more cooking time). Once done, let the chicken thighs cool so that you can shred them for adding to the enchiladas.
- Once you have the chicken shredded, combine in a large mixing bowl the chicken with ¼ cup of the enchilada sauce, corn, green chiles, and a handful more of the chopped cilantro.
- Mix it all together, then spoon out portions into the 8 large flour tortillas. *I do add black beans and/or diced tomatoes to the filling at times, depending on what I have on hand or if I want to make a batch and a half of enchiladas!
- Wrap the tortillas and place them seam side down in a greased 9 x 13 baking pan (metal or glass).
- Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the tops of the enchiladas, using the back of a spoon to spread evenly.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350ºF (175ºC) for 30 minutes, then remove from the oven and top with the shredded cheeses.
- Return to the oven and bake an additional 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Allow to cool for about 5-10 minutes, then serve with optional garnish including green onions, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, diced tomatoes, sliced olives, salsa roja, or pico de gallo.
🥗 Sides
Some incredible ideas for what to serve with your enchiladas, add sides to make this a absolute fiesta weeknight dinner!
- Mexican Rice - Adds bulk to your meal to help feed a small army.
- Refried Beans - Filling, and my black bean homemade version is healthier than canned.
- Guacamole - Perfect for Mexican cuisine.
- Nachos Supreme - Just an awesome appetizer to enchiladas!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Enchiladas will store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
You can freeze the enchiladas (wrapped tightly in cling film) as well for up to 3 months.
To reheat chicken enchiladas, the best way is to use the oven, although microwaving them on individual plates works great as well.
📋 Recipe
Chicken Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 1 lb cilantro lime chicken thighs (see recipe, or use leftover chicken, shredded cooked chicken meat)
- 1 bunch cilantro (chopped or blitzed with lime juice, reserve ½ for adding to the enchilada mixture and garnish)
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 portion enchilada sauce (see recipe, or use 1 large 28 oz can)
- 4 oz mild green chiles (canned, diced)
- 8 oz corn
- 8 large flour tortillas (see recipe, or use one package of 8 large tortillas)
- ½ cup cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Monterey jack cheese
Instructions
- Use my cilantro lime chicken thighs or leftover chicken, shred the meat for the enchilada filling.
- In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken meat with green chiles, corn and a portion of the enchilada sauce. Stir to combine, then spoon equal amounts into the 8 large flour tortillas. Roll filled tortillas and place them seam side down in a greased 9 x 13 baking pan.
- Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the tops of the enchiladas, use a spoon to spread the sauce out evenly over all of the enchiladas.
- Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes, then remove from oven to add the shredded cheeses. Cook an additional 5 minutes to melt the cheeses.
- Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, avocado, or sliced olives if desired.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Brenda kay says
Yummy,,I Actually Added Broccoli