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Best Chicken Enchilada Recipe

Today’s Best Chicken Enchilada Recipe is the only chicken enchilada recipe you’ll need from now until eternity. Tender and flavorful shredded chicken is stuffed into corn tortillas along with a little bit of cheese, smothered in an easy homemade enchilada sauce, and covered in more freshly shredded cheese. They’re popped into a hot oven just until the cheese melts, and served with your favorite Mexican condiments. 

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 413 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts (1 3/4 pounds)
  • 1/2 medium onion
  • 2 large garlic cloves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 celery stalk
  • enchilada sauce (see recipe below)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
  • sour cream and cilantro for serving
  • 1 tbsp canola oil (if using corn tortillas)
  • 8 corn or flour tortillas
Enchilada Sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large garlic clove, grated
  • 4 oz tomato paste
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/8 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • pinch sugar
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x12 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Place chicken in a large stock pot and cover with water. Add onion, garlic, bay leaves, carrot, and celery. Season with a few teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Continue to simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 12-15. minutes. To make sure it's cooked through, you an instant read thermometer, when it reaches 165 degrees, the chicken is done. Remove chicken from the cooking liquid and cool until it's easy enough to handle. Shred chicken, discard leftover liquid and veggies in the pot.
  3. While the chicken cooks, make the enchilada sauce. Heat a medium saucepan to a medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons oil and garlic. Saute until slightly softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add tomato paste, cook 1 minute. Whisk in chicken stock. Add chili powder, chipotle powder, oregano, coriander, garlic powder, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk to combine. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until thickened.
  4. Transfer chicken to a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce and cumin, toss until coated. Season the chicken to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Spoon enough enchilada sauce into the casserole dish to lightly coat the bottom.
  6. Mix cheeses together in a small bowl.
  7. If using corn tortillas, add canola oil to a medium skillet. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot. Use tongs to pull the corn tortillas through the oil until pliable. Place chicken filling in the tortilla and then sprinkle with a tablespoon of cheese. Roll up and place in the casserole dish, seam-side down. Continue with remaining tortillas. If using flour tortillas, simply roll, fill with chicken and cheese, and skip the oil.
  8. Pour remaining sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the enchiladas are hot and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes. Serve with sour cream and cilantro.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1g Calories 413kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 24g (8%) Protein 30g (60%) Fat 23g (35%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Cholesterol 85mg (28%) Sodium 816mg (34%) Potassium 714mg (20%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 3044IU (61%) Vitamin C 7mg (8%) Calcium 330mg (33%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 413

% Daily Value*

Serving 1g
Calories 413kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 24g 8%
Protein 30g 60%
Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 85mg 28%
Sodium 816mg 34%
Potassium 714mg 15%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 3044IU 61%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Calcium 330mg 33%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.