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Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

With just 4 basic ingredients you can have a healthy and easy chicken enchilada casserole ready to go in the oven -- with only 10 minutes of prep time!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 262 kcal
Course: Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (about 12 ounces) diced or shredded cooked chicken (such as the meat from a rotisserie chicken)
  • 1 ¾ cups enchilada sauce, divided
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese, divided
  • 8 (6 inch) corn tortillas
  • Optional garnish: sour cream, sliced green onion or red onion, diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, sliced olives, diced avocado or guacamole

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
  2. Spread ¼ cup of the enchilada sauce in a thin layer in the bottom of the dish.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together the chicken, ¾ cup of the enchilada sauce, and about half of the cheese (½ cup).
  4. Place 4 of the tortillas in the bottom of the prepared dish, tearing or overlapping them as necessary to cover the bottom.
  5. Top with half of the chicken mixture and drizzle with ¼ cup of enchilada sauce. Repeat layers one more time.
  6. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining ½ cup of cheese, and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes (until cheese melted and casserole is hot and bubbly).
  7. Garnish with optional toppings and serve.

Notes

  • If you prefer to cook your own chicken at home, boil about 1 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs until cooked through (about 15 minutes). When cool enough to handle, chop or pull the chicken. You'll need a total of about 2 cups shredded. I find that 1 lb. of chicken breasts yields about 2 cups of pulled chicken, but there's some flexibility here -- it doesn't need to be exact.
  • To serve a larger family, double all of the ingredients and bake the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch dish.
  • The corn tortillas will soften as they combine with the chicken and sauce. That's normal! The longer the dish sits, the softer the tortillas will be. If you like them a bit more firm, assemble the casserole just before baking.
  • Make it a healthy chicken enchilada casserole! The corn tortillas are made with whole grains, the chicken is a lean protein, and you can use reduced-fat cheese if that's your preference. Pile on plenty of veggies, too! Good options include shredded lettuce, fresh cilantro, onions, tomatoes, avocado, and salsa.
  • The enchilada sauce gives this dish great flavor, but you can easily substitute with an equal amount of taco sauce or your favorite salsa.
  • For even more flavor, add spices like smoky ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, or minced fresh garlic to the chicken mixture.
  • Swap out the chicken and use 2 cups of pulled pork, 1 lb. of cooked ground beef, or 1 lb. of cooked ground turkey instead.
  • Add a can of corn (drained), black beans (drained and rinsed), diced onion, or chopped green chilies to the filling. Use the base recipe and jazz it up with as many spices and "extras" as you like.
  • Corn tortillas are more authentic for enchiladas, but you can substitute with flour tortillas if you prefer.
  • Use different types of cheese. Try just Monterey Jack, just cheddar cheese, or use Colby or Pepper Jack.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/4 of the casserole Calories 262kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 10g (3%) Protein 30g (60%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 86mg (29%) Sodium 1158mg (48%) Potassium 207mg (6%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 900IU (18%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 197mg (20%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 262

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/4 of the casserole
Calories 262kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Protein 30g 60%
Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 86mg 29%
Sodium 1158mg 48%
Potassium 207mg 4%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 900IU 18%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 197mg 20%
Iron 2mg 11%

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