The Best Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe for Family Dinners

Satisfying comfort arrives with this hearty chicken enchilada casserole that brings zesty Mexican flavors straight to your dinner table.

Layers of tender shredded chicken, melted cheese, and robust spices promise a mouthwatering experience.

Weeknight dinners transform when you combine simple ingredients into something spectacular.

Families appreciate how quickly this one-pan meal comes together without complicated techniques.

Spice levels can be adjusted to suit everyone’s preferences, making it a versatile crowd-pleaser.

Rich, cheesy, and packed with robust seasonings, this casserole delivers warmth and satisfaction in every single bite.

You’ll want to savor every delicious forkful of this classic southwestern-inspired dish.

What Sets This Chicken Enchilada Apart

• Conquer Layered Comfort: Create a mouthwatering casserole that stacks flavors and textures in one delicious dish, making meal preparation a breeze with simple layering techniques.
• Customize Your Flavor Profile: Easily swap ingredients to match your family's taste preferences, from mild to spicy, ensuring everyone at the table enjoys their meal.
• Quick Family Crowd-Pleaser: Prepare a satisfying dinner that comes together quickly, feeds multiple people, and delivers maximum flavor with minimal kitchen effort.
• Meal Prep Champion: Perfect for making ahead, storing, and reheating, this casserole works wonderfully for busy weeknights, potlucks, and casual gatherings with friends and family.

Ingredients List for Enchilada Casserole

• Chicken: Shredded meat that serves as the primary protein and flavor base for the casserole.

• Onion, Green Chiles: Fresh vegetables that add depth and mild heat to the chicken mixture.
• Cumin, Salt, Pepper: Spices that enhance the overall flavor profile of the dish.

• Tortillas: Corn or flour base that creates the structural layers of the casserole.
• Enchilada Sauce: Provides moisture and traditional Mexican-style flavor to the dish.
• Cheese: Melts to create a creamy, golden topping that binds the ingredients together.

• Cilantro: Fresh herb that adds a bright, fresh finish to the completed casserole.

How to Make Chicken Enchilada

Step 1: Crank Up the Heat

Fire up your oven to a toasty 375°F (190°C) and get ready for a flavor explosion.

Step 2: Craft the Zesty Chicken Blend

• Shredded chicken
• Diced onion
• Green chiles
• Ground cumin
• Salt
• Black pepper

Stir everything until the ingredients become best friends.

Step 3: Create a Saucy Foundation

Splash a thin layer of enchilada sauce across the bottom of your baking dish, creating a flavor-packed base.

Step 4: Build the First Layer

• One-third of the chicken mixture
• A generous sprinkle of cheese

Press down gently to make everything snug.

Step 5: Repeat the Delicious Layers

Duplicate the tortilla, chicken, and cheese layers two more times. Make sure the final layer is crowned with a blanket of melty cheese.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Watch for the cheese to turn bubbly and golden brown.

Step 7: Rest and Garnish

Let the casserole chill for 5 minutes after baking. Sprinkle fresh cilantro on top for a burst of color and freshness.

Serve and enjoy your mouthwatering creation!

Insider Tips for Best Enchilada

• Choose rotisserie chicken for a quicker preparation and richer flavor.
• Swap corn tortillas with flour tortillas for a softer texture if preferred.
• Reduce spiciness by using mild green chiles or removing seeds from peppers.
• Add extra vegetables like bell peppers or black beans for more nutrition.
• Make it vegetarian by replacing chicken with beans or tofu for protein alternative.

Creative Twists on Chicken Enchilada

• Vegetarian Black Bean Bake: Replace chicken with black beans, add roasted bell peppers for extra flavor and protein.
• Keto-Friendly Zucchini Layer: Swap tortillas with thin zucchini slices, use low-carb cheese, maintain original spice blend.
• Gluten-Free Corn Tortilla Version: Use corn tortillas instead of flour, ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free, keep same cooking method.
• Dairy-Free Cashew Cheese Option: Substitute regular cheese with homemade cashew cheese, use nutritional yeast for added flavor, maintain original seasoning profile.

Great Pairings for Enchilada Casserole

• Fiesta Family Dinner: Serve this casserole with a zesty side of Mexican-style rice to soak up the delicious sauce and add extra texture to the meal.
• Quick Taco Night Upgrade: Transform the casserole into individual servings on plates, topped with a dollop of sour cream and fresh salsa for a personalized touch.
• Weekend Brunch Twist: Add a fried egg on top of each serving and pair with sliced avocado to create a hearty breakfast-style dish that's packed with flavor.
• Fresh and Light Companion: Serve alongside a crisp green salad with lime vinaigrette to balance the rich and cheesy casserole, creating a perfectly rounded meal.

FAQs

• What are the key ingredients in this Chicken Enchilada Casserole?

The key ingredients include shredded chicken, tortillas, green chiles, enchilada sauce, onions, cumin, and cheese. These components create a flavorful and hearty Mexican-inspired dish.

• Is this recipe spicy?

The recipe has a mild to moderate heat level from green chiles and cumin. You can adjust the spiciness by adding more or fewer green chiles or using a mild enchilada sauce.

• Can I use corn or flour tortillas?

Both corn and flour tortillas work well in this casserole. Corn tortillas provide a more traditional Mexican flavor, while flour tortillas offer a softer texture.

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe

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4.8 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Mexican chicken enchilada casserole combines layers of corn tortillas, shredded chicken, melted cheese, and spicy sauce for a comforting meal. Home cooks can easily prepare this hearty dish that brings authentic southwestern flavors to dinner tables.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken

Cheese:

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Sauce and Spices:

• 2 cups enchilada sauce
• 12 small corn tortillas
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 can (4 ounces) diced green chiles
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish:

• Fresh cilantro

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven at 375F (190C) for optimal cooking temperature.
2. Combine shredded chicken with finely chopped onion, diced green chiles, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl, ensuring thorough blending of flavors.
3. Create a thin base layer of enchilada sauce across the bottom of a baking dish to prevent sticking and enhance moisture.
4. Arrange the first layer of tortillas completely covering the sauce, creating a uniform foundation for the casserole.
5. Distribute one-third of the seasoned chicken mixture evenly across the tortillas, followed by a generous sprinkle of shredded cheese.
6. Repeat the layering process two more times, carefully stacking tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese to build depth and texture.
7. Top the final layer with a complete coverage of cheese, ensuring maximum golden-brown melting potential.
8. Transfer the assembled casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese becomes bubbly and develops a rich, golden color.
9. Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes, enabling the layers to set and flavors to meld.
10. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro just before serving to add a bright, aromatic finish.

Notes

• Swap tortillas with gluten-free corn tortillas for a celiac-friendly version that keeps the authentic Mexican flavor profile.
• Reduce cheese quantity by half and use low-fat Mexican cheese blend for a lighter, heart-healthy alternative without compromising taste.
• Boost protein content by adding black beans or quinoa to the chicken mixture, creating a more nutritionally balanced one-pan meal.
• Customize heat levels by selecting mild, medium, or hot green chiles depending on personal spice tolerance and family preferences.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 380 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 700 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg