These easy chicken enchiladas are stuffed with shredded chicken and cheese, topped with homemade enchilada sauce, and CHEESE! They’re baked until the cheese is deliciously melted, the sauce bubbly and the tortillas are slightly crispy.
I love transforming leftover rotisserie chicken into new recipes especially these enchiladas! You can totally use chicken breast, but grabbing a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket will save you a lot of time. Ultimately, you won’t be able to tell the difference, thanks to the flavor and moisture you’ll add when you toss together the filling.
Seriously the homemade enchilada sauce really makes it outstanding, so don’t skip that step!
You can assemble the enchiladas a day in advance or freeze for future baking — just be sure to bring it to room temperature before baking. You’ll know it’s done when the sauce is bubbling, the cheese is melted, and the ends of the tortillas are nice and crisp.
As for serving, sprinkle with sliced black olives, chopped fresh cilantro and a dollop of sour cream are just about all this easy casserole needs.
INGREDIENTS
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups chicken stock
Enchiladas
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 rotisserie chicken or 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into small 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
- Salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
- 8 large corn or flour tortillas
- 3 cups Mexican-blend shredded cheese
- Optional Toppings: Black Olives, Chopped Cilantro and Sour cream
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Prepare your enchilada sauce.
Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add flour and whisk together over the heat for one minute.
Stir in the remaining seasonings (chili powder through oregano).
Then gradually add in the stock, whisking constantly to remove lumps.
Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes until slightly thickened.
Remove pan from heat and set aside.
Prepare the chicken.
In a large sauté pan, heat oil over medium-high heat.
Add onion and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add diced chicken and green chiles, and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté the mixture for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the chicken is cooked through.
If using already cooked rotisserie chicken, cook until heated through and covered in spices.
Remove pan from heat and set aside.
To assemble the enchiladas
Set up an assembly line including: tortillas, enchilada sauce, chicken mixture, and cheese.
Lay out a tortilla, and spread two tablespoons of sauce over the surface of the tortilla.
Add a generous spoonful of the chicken mixture in a line down the center of the tortilla, then sprinkle with 1/3 cup cheese.
Roll up the tortilla and place in a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
Assemble the remaining enchiladas.
Then spread any remaining sauce evenly over the top of the enchiladas, followed by any extra cheese.
Bake the enchiladas
Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are cooked through and the tortillas are slightly crispy on the outside.
Remove the pan from the oven and serve the enchiladas.