Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (2024)

By Wendy Zitzman

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (1)

Mexican food is my happy place. In fact, I have yet to try a Mexican dish that I didn’t like, and the good things are that many Mexican food recipes can be petty easily adjusted to suit my diet plan.


This is great because I eat it ALL.THE.TIME. One of my favorite Mexican foods is enchiladas…cheese enchiladas, chicken enchiladas, shredded beef enchiladas…you name it.

I ADORE them. But when making them at home, I sometimes have an issue with rolling up those corn tortillas without having them break apart. I’ve tried a few tricks, and I can make it work, but it’s still a pain. So I decided to try doing some chicken enchiladas in casserole form and the result was AMAZING. Seriously, amigos.

This dish is so good. I actually just made these for dinner last night, and couldn’t wait to post them here on the blog for you to try!

Feel free to top them with any extras you see fit…jalapeños, sour cream, diced red onions…whatever floats your boat.

This Chicken Enchilada Casserole was loved by the whole family and I highly recommend you get in the kitchen and make this bambino ASAP.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (2)

These stacked chicken enchiladas is a super easy recipe that is oh so delicious! Family dinner is sure to be a hit with this dish.

3.31 from 108 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings 8 servings

Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients

  • 12 corn tortillas - halved
  • 1 ½ lbs chicken breast
  • 2 15oz cans of black beans - drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn
  • 3 cups enchilada sauce
  • 2 cups reduced fat Monterey Jack cheese - shredded
  • 6 green onions - chopped
  • cup cilantro - chopped
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Fill a baking dish with 1/2 cup water.

  • In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Sprinkle generously over both sides of the chicken breasts, then place them in the baking dish.

  • Roast chicken in oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken breasts are cooked through. Remove from oven, transfer chicken to a large bowl, and shred using two forks. Set aside.Reduce oven heat to 375.

  • In a medium sized bowl, mix together the corn and black beans.

  • To prepare the casserole, start by misting a 9 x 13 casserole dish with nonfat cooking spray or an olive oil mister.

  • Add about 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce to the bottom of the casserole dish. Spread evenly with the back of a spoon. Top with a layer of 8 tortilla halves, so that the entire dish is covered.

  • Now sprinkle about 1/3 of the black bean corn mixture on top of the tortillas. Follow with about 1 cup of shredded chicken, and then about 1/3 of the cheese. Top with a sprinkle of green onions and cilantro.

  • For the second layer, start with 8 tortilla halves, then about 1 cup of enchilada sauce, then the black beans and corn, then the chicken, then these cheese, then green onions and cilantro.

  • For the third layer, start with 8 tortilla halves, then the remainder of black beans and corn, then the remainder of the chicken, then the remainder of enchilada sauce, but reserve the cheese, cilantro and green onions.

  • Cover and place in oven for about 20 minutes. Remove pan and take off the aluminum foil. Sprinkle the top of the enchiladas evenly with the remaining cheese, then return to the oven (uncovered) and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

  • Remove pan, and top with the remaining green onions and cilantro. Let cool for about 5-10 minutes, then cut into 8 equal pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 350 kcal (18%)Carbohydrates: 30 g (10%)Protein: 40 g (80%)Fat: 9 g (14%)Saturated Fat: 3.5 g (22%)Fiber: 6.5 g (27%)Sugar: 1 g (1%)

Main Ingredient: Chicken Recipes

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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AuthorWendy Zitzman

As your average, every day, All American woman, I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts and ideas on many different topics that interest me such as dieting, health & fitness. Trust me when I tell you that this is one site you NEED to bookmark! I have the most amazing recipes with Weight Watchers Points that you won’t believe are low calorie! As an avid Weight Watchers follower, I have learned so many helpful tips and tools over the years that I am eager to share.Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

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    20 Comments

    1. Nancy4 months ago

      Made this for a luncheon with friends. They loved it.

    2. Amy7 years ago

      I am also frustrated because the print icon does not do anything. I have tried it in different browsers (Explorer and Chrome), to no avail. The best I can get is to click print, print preview and then adjust the size (anywhere from 60%-80% to get the complete recipe on page 2 on my computer, then print. Not ideal. Often the font is very small and the titles aren’t included. Please fix!! Aside from the printing, thank you for wonderful recipes that have basic nutrition outlined.

      • Robin6 years ago

        Get the “Print Friendly” ext. from the Chrome store to add to your browser. It turns your page into a PDF that you can edit and then print.

    3. AM7 years ago

      I tried this recipe & really like it. However, when I entered it into WW to log it, it’s actually 12 SmartPoints, not 8!
      Just a heads up to those of you also following Weight Watchers. I cut my casserole into 6, because 8 portions was so small that it wasn’t very filling. So, it was actually 15 points for me. Opps!
      Next time, I will put less cheese, less sauce, and add some veggies to bulk it up for fullness, but keep the points down.

      • Laura E Bond7 years ago

        is this really 12 points???

        • Nicole7 years ago

          I’m late to this but when I put it in my app it comes out to eight points

    4. Judy8 years ago

      I made this tonight and I found it salty.

    5. Judy8 years ago

      The title of this recipe shows 8 but it say’s 6 in the details of the recipe. Recipe looks great, thanks

    6. Karen8 years ago

      I can’t find the “PIN IT” button. I go to pinterest a lot for your recipes, but the “pin it’ button has been missing from recent recipes.

    7. ida Bailey8 years ago

      I cannotmake the printable recipe print. It just tries and will not come up.

      • Lauren4 years ago

        We love enchilada casserole! I add diced green pepper, onion and jalapenos as another layer after the beans and corn. I also mix a can of diced green chillies in with the shredded chicken. I am somehow out of garlic powder so I threw some minced garlic on top of the seasoned chicken when roasting. I use reduced fat cheese. I always need an extra small can of enchilada sauce for leftovers. We eat it with salsa, fat free sour cream and guacamole. My 17 month old eats it too (I leave jalapenos out of his portion).

    8. pat sanders8 years ago

      Which size tortilla did you use?

    9. Co8 years ago

      Why am I having such a difficult time printing these recipes? When I click on “print friendly”, I only get the first paragraph “Mexican food…”, but the recipe disappears. Am I doing something wrong?

      • Audrey5 years ago

        If I have a difficult time printing recipes, I just copy text and paste into word. Then, I can edit things that I changed in the recipe.

    10. Monica Gonzalez8 years ago

      I make a very similar casserole and luckily, our local grocery chain carries a pre-cooked, shredded chicken breast that is already seasoned. It’s the perfect thing to use in recipes like this. I usually use pinto beans in my recipe but I’m going to have to give the black beans a try. With a little dollop of low fat sour cream, you can’t go wrong!! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    11. KG8 years ago

      Looks great! Print thingy isn’t working.

    12. Mary Ann Everett8 years ago

      When I print recipes from you, the print from the right side margin gets imposed on the recipe print and makes it difficult to read. Do you know what I can do to stop this?

    13. Cheryl8 years ago

      Wow! Sounds delish. I know – right? I always have that same problem with the tortillas. But this will solve my problem. Can’t wait to try it. BUT – Your print friendly link doesn’t work – only give the picture and your comments – not the recipe itself.

    14. Laura Calvin8 years ago

      You really need to fix your print settings. I used to get the full recipe in the email and now I only get a picture and description. I have to follow the link to the blog for the recipe. That would be fine if the Printer Friendly button worked, but it doesn’t. The only way to cleanly print the recipe is to copy and paste it into Word, a step that’s kind of a pain to do. I’ve tried it in both Explorer and Chrome and it doesn’t work in either one.

    15. Kathy8 years ago

      This sounds wonderful and I’d like to print it but the print friendly button only gives me the photo and description. Could someone fix that please? Thank you!

    Food Recipes

    Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (2024)

    FAQs

    Are enchiladas better with flour or corn tortillas? ›

    While some recipes use flour tortillas, corn tortillas are traditional — and for good reason — are the better option for enchiladas. Corn tortillas have a distinct flavor that plays a key part of the enchilada experience, compared to flour tortillas, which are more like a blank slate.

    Do you put sauce on enchiladas before or after baking? ›

    Easy Cheese Enchiladas Recipe

    Step 2: Sprinkle shredded Mexican blend cheese into the centers of corn tortillas then roll and place inside a casserole dish. Step 3: Cover with red sauce then bake.

    Should enchiladas be with or without foil? ›

    Unless you are baking from frozen, then you will need to keep them covered for part of the baking time so that enchiladas will cook through before drying out. If you want soft, yet not soggy enchiladas, cover for the first 20 minutes of baking, then remove the foil for the final portion of baking.

    Should enchiladas be covered when baking? ›

    Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are cooked through and the tortillas are slightly crispy on the outside. Transfer the baking dish to a wire baking rack. Serve. Serve the enchiladas immediately while they're nice and hot and melty, garnished with lots of fresh toppings.

    Is it better to cook enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

    Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until hot.

    What is the best melting cheese for enchiladas? ›

    Monterey Jack is a mild, creamy cheese that melts easily and adds a smooth texture to the enchiladas.

    What kind of cheese do Mexican restaurants use in enchiladas? ›

    Queso fresco comes from Jalisco, in the western part of Mexico. It has a mild, slightly tangy flavor and crumbles and shreds easily, making it makes a fantastic topping for Beef and Cheese Enchiladas or sweet-tangy Grilled Corn.

    How to keep flour tortillas from getting soggy in enchiladas casserole? ›

    Tips for keeping your flour tortillas from getting soggy in enchiladas
    1. Preheat your pan. Try preheating your enchilada pan in the oven before you start cooking. ...
    2. Pre-fry your tortillas. ...
    3. Put the sauce on top, not on the bottom. ...
    4. Bake the enchiladas before adding sauce. ...
    5. Put your enchiladas under the broiler.
    Jun 25, 2021

    What can I use instead of enchilada sauce? ›

    Tomato sauce is a good way to replace enchilada sauce if you're looking for a milder alternative. It's easy to take a pre-made tomato sauce and spice it and add other ingredients to get closer to a real enchilada sauce.

    Are chicken enchiladas better with green or red sauce? ›

    If you are making enchiladas, you may be wondering, “Which sauce should I use?” This is an excellent question, and the most straightforward answer is whatever you prefer. If you are making beef enchiladas, it is more common to pair them with a red sauce, and chicken enchiladas usually have a green sauce.

    How long to put enchiladas in the oven at 350 degrees? ›

    Pour the enchilada sauce over the rolled enchiladas and top with any remaining meat or cheese. Bake in the preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 30 minutes.

    Are yellow or white corn tortillas better for enchiladas? ›

    Yellow corn tortillas have a stronger corn flavor, whereas white tortillas have an almost oaky, nutty flavor when toasted. I personally like white tortillas for tacos and enchiladas, and use yellow ones for fried tortillas and corn chips when I want that corn taste to really come through.

    Do you brown tortillas before making enchiladas? ›

    In Mexico, before anything else, corn tortillas are quickly fried until they just start to crisp up and take on a little bit of color. Only then are they filled and rolled into enchiladas.

    How do you make enchiladas crispy and not soggy? ›

    Bake the enchiladas before adding sauce

    Another thing you can try is baking your enchiladas after filling them until the tortillas are just be-ginning to get brown and starting to crisp. Then, add your cheese and sauce on top and bake them again until the cheese is melted.

    How do you keep corn tortillas soft for enchiladas? ›

    To use the oven to soften your tortillas, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once heated, wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and place them in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until they are warm and pliable enough to roll.

    How to reheat enchiladas so they aren't soggy? ›

    At 300 degrees, cover the enchiladas with some tinfoil and slide them into the toaster oven next. While the tinfoil will protect the tortilla, this will slowly continue warming up the filling.

    References

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