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5.0 from 3 votes

Easy Enchiladas Verdes

I've been making these easy Enchiladas Verdes more often over the past few months.  But don't let the simple ingredient list fool you as you can get incredible flavor when building this green sauce from scratch! 

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 316 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

For the green sauce:
  • 12-15 tomatillos (approx. 1.5 lbs.)
  • 1-3 jalapeños
  • 1/2 onion
  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • 10-15 prigs cilantro
  • 1/2 cup stock
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano (optional)
For the enchiladas:
  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 10-14 corn tortillas
  • cheese (I used Jack)
  • finely chopped raw onion
  • Freshly chopped cilantro
  • salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Start by adding a quart of cold water to a mixing bowl along with a 1/4 cup of Kosher or sea salt. Dissolve the salt and then add the chicken breasts. Let the chicken brine for 30-60 minutes. I usually cover the bowl and put it in the fridge. Once brined you can pat the chicken dry and add it to a baking sheet.
  2. Rinse and de-stem the tomatillos. Add them to the same baking sheet as the chicken and bake for 20 minutes in a 400F oven. For this batch I also roasted the jalapenos and 1/2 onion but that is optional.
  3. When the chicken is no longer pink inside or registers 160-165F then it's done. Set aside to cool and then shred using two forks.
  4. In a blender add the following ingredients: the roasted tomatillos, 1-3 jalapenos, 1/2 onion, 3-4 peeled garlic cloves, and 10-15 sprigs of cilantro. Combine well and take a taste for heat, adding more jalapeno for more heat.
  5. Add the green sauce to a pan along with 1/2 cup of stock and 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano, bringing it up to temp over medium-low heat. Take a final taste for seasoning.
  6. Heating up the corn tortillas first will make them easier to roll. I covered them with a damp paper towel and nuked them for 60 seconds. You could also flash fry them or heat them up in the oven.
  7. Add a thin layer of green sauce to your baking dish to prevent sticking. Put some green sauce on a plate, dredge a tortilla in it, then flip it and fill with your preferred ingredients. I used the shredded chicken, plenty of Jack cheese, and some finely chopped raw onion. Roll tight and place seam side down in the baking dish. Continue until all the hcicken is gone.
  8. Cover the enchiladas with plenty of green sauce and a layer of shredded cheese. Bake for 8-10 minutes in a 400F oven.
  9. Serve immediately with your choice of garnish. Freshly chopped cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and more green sauce are all good options.

Notes

  • Kosher or sea salt are typically recommended for brining as they don’t have any additives.
  • For a milder version, start with a single jalapeno and give it a taste after blending.  If you want more heat simply add more jalapeno. 
  • If you don't want to brine the chicken you could poach it instead (or even use rotisserie chicken).  See Mexican Shredded Chicken for details. 
  • Using 2 chicken breasts will give you 10-14 enchiladas, depending on how much chicken you put in each tortilla. 
  • Options for warming up corn tortillas.

Nutrition Information

Calories 316kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 38g (13%) Protein 29g (58%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 72mg (24%) Sodium 282mg (12%) Potassium 870mg (25%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 625IU (13%) Vitamin C 21mg (23%) Calcium 76mg (8%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 316

% Daily Value*

Calories 316kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 38g 13%
Protein 29g 58%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 72mg 24%
Sodium 282mg 12%
Potassium 870mg 19%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 625IU 13%
Vitamin C 21mg 23%
Calcium 76mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%

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