Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (2024)

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas are made with shredded chicken, rice, beans, corn, bell pepper, and onion mixed in a creamy sauce and topped with cheese and homemade enchilada sauce.

Mexican food is quite possibly my favorite type of food. After spending several months living in Mexico and learning from true Mexican chefs, I developed an even greater love of the food. My favorite Mexican recipes include 5-Minute Homemade Salsa, Authentic Mexican Rice, and Tres Leches Cake! I have a host of other Mexican recipes you might also enjoy!

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (1)

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas

Mexican enchiladas are one of those EASY recipes that I am always happy to make because I know that not one of my children will put up a fight when it comes to eating them! These easy chicken enchiladas are loaded with all the good stuff and topped with the most delicious enchilada sauce.

Are chicken enchiladas bad for you?

Due to their saucy and creamy nature, enchiladas are not generally the healthiest food to eat. However, not all chicken enchiladas are made the same way or filled with the same ingredients, and these enchiladas include healthier ingredients than most.

These chicken enchiladas include chicken and black beans (which have protein and fiber) as well as bell pepper and onions (which have valuable vitamins and minerals). You could substitute brown rice for white rice for extra health benefits.

Can I make chicken enchiladas with flour tortillas?

Traditional Mexican enchiladas are made with corn tortillas. However, my family enjoys them with flour tortillas as well. I buy large (not the giant burrito size) flour tortillas when I make enchiladas. You can make these enchiladas with either flour or corn tortillas.

My favorite brand of flour tortillas are the Tortilla Land or Fresca brand of uncooked flour tortillas. You cook them fresh at home, in a skillet. I buy mine from Costco, but they’re pretty commonly found at grocery stores.

Ingredients in chicken enchiladas:
  • shredded chicken
  • rice
  • corn
  • black beans
  • green bell pepper
  • onion
  • garlic
  • diced jalapeños or diced green chiles
  • cream of chicken soup
  • cream cheese
  • shredded cheese
  • large flour tortillas
  • homemade enchilada sauce
How to make chicken enchiladas:
  • Add the chicken, rice, chopped veggies, black beans, corn, cream of chicken soup, and cream cheese to a large mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
  • Spoon ½ cup of filling mixture into a line on the edge of a tortilla. Sprinkle cheese on top of the filling.
  • Roll your tortillas tightly and place, seam side down, into a 9×13” pan. Each pan should be able to fit 7-8 enchiladas.

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (2)

  • Pour desired amount of enchilada sauce over the top. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
  • Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (3)

Make ahead instructions:

To make ahead, prepare the enchiladas as instructed, but don’t add the enchilada sauce on top. Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Add enchilada sauce and cheese on top right before baking.

This recipe makes TWO 9×13” pans of enchiladas. I serve one for dinner, and freeze the other in a disposable aluminum pan.

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (4)

To Freeze Enchiladas:

To freeze, prepare the enchiladas up until baking. Cover the pan tightly with two layers of aluminum foil and freeze the enchiladas for up to 3 months.

Bake the enchiladas from frozen at 350 degrees for about 1 ½ hours, covered in foil. Remove foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (5)

HERE ARE ALL OF MYMEXICAN RECIPES. SOME OF MY FAVORITES INCLUDE:
  • Cheese Enchiladas
  • Authentic Mexican Rice
  • Tres Leches Cake
  • Horchata

You can alsoFOLLOW MEonFACEBOOK,TWITTER,INSTAGRAMandPINTERESTfor more great recipes!

Recipe

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (6)

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas are made with shredded chicken, rice, beans, corn, bell pepper, and onion mixed in a creamy sauce and topped with cheese and homemade red enchilada sauce.

Print Pin Review

Author Lauren Allen

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 16 enchiladas

Calories 318

Prep 30 minutes mins

Cook 20 minutes mins

Total 50 minutes mins

Save Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked chicken , shredded (about 3 breasts or 4 thighs)
  • 2 1/2 cups cooked rice (see note*)
  • 1 can corn , drained
  • 1 can black beans , rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 green bell pepper , chopped
  • 1/4 onion , chopped
  • 1 clove garlic , minced
  • 4 ounces canned jalapeño peppers (or diced green chilies)
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup (see note**)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese , softened
  • 3 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella or mexican blend)
  • 16 large flour tortillas (not burrito size)
  • 1 batch red enchilada sauce (or 4 cups store bought)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

  • Add a few spoonfuls of enchilada sauce to the bottom of TWO 9x13 inch pans.

  • Add all ingredients except for the tortillas and enchilada sauce to a very large bowl. Stir everything until evenly combined.

  • Spoon ½ cup of filling mixture into a line on the edge of a tortilla. Sprinkle a small handful of shredded cheese on top of the filling.

  • Roll the tortilla tightly and place it seam side down into prepared pan. Each pan should be able to fit 7-8 enchiladas.

  • Pour sauce over the top of the enchiladas, dividing it between both pans. Sprinkle any remaining cheese on top.

  • Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

  • Serve with 5-minute homemade salsa, or pico de gallo.

Notes

*If I'm in a hurry I often cook one box of rice-a-roni, which yields the perfect amount for this recipe . We like the cilantro-lime, Mexican, or rice pilaf flavors best in these enchiladas.

**Feel free to substitute one batch of my homemade cream of chicken soup.

***You can substitute any brand of store-bought red or green enchilada sauce that you like. You will need about 4 cups of sauce.

To Freeze Enchiladas:

To freeze the second pan of enchiladas, prepare up until baking (I usually use a disposable aluminum pan for the batch I will be freezing).

Cover the pan tightly with two layers of aluminum foil and freeze the enchiladas for up to 3 months.

Bake the enchiladas from frozen, at 350 degrees for about 1 ½ hours, covered in foil. Remove foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 19gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 633mgPotassium: 290mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 480IUVitamin C: 5.3mgCalcium: 160mgIron: 2.2mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch!

HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?!

RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.

This post contains affiliate links.

Related Posts

Steak Kabobs

Italian Grinder Chopped Salad

Marinated Flank Steak

Corn Salad

Original Post

Updated

Categories

  • Chicken
  • Freezer Friendly
  • Kid Friendly Recipes
  • Main Dish
  • Mexican

About The Author

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (11)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Learn More

Loaded Chicken Enchiladas (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good enchiladas? ›

The most important tip for avoiding soggy enchiladas is to briefly fry your tortillas in hot oil before you fill and roll. This creates a little bit of a barrier so that the tortillas don't soak up too much of the sauce and therefore start to break down.

Do enchiladas taste better with corn or flour 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.

How do you cook Costco enchiladas Realgood? ›

Grab a tray of our Creamy Poblano Chicken Enchiladas from your local Costco or other grocery store and remove the plastic. Transfer it to an oven-safe container or cook it right in the tray. Bake at 375 degrees for 27-29 minutes. When the enchiladas are done cooking, let rest for 2 minutes.

Is it better to cook enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

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.

How to make store bought rotisserie chicken more flavorful? ›

Use your favorite preserves, chutney, barbecue sauce, or build your own thick and sticky concoction to coat the bird with. Think honey and lemon or brown sugar and soy sauce; just be mindful of how much salt the glaze contains as most store-bought rotisserie chickens are already seasoned with salt.

Why is Costco rotisserie chicken so soft? ›

Some people associate rotisserie chickens at Costco with a soft texture of meat and meat that falls off the bone. These are the result of the young age of the birds, coupled with the cooking method and injected solution.

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.

Do Mexicans use flour tortillas for enchiladas? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

How to cook premade enchiladas from sam's? ›

Heating Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Remove lid.
  3. Cover with foil and cook for 40–50 minutes.
  4. Heat until enchiladas reaches 165°.

How many servings are in a Costco chicken enchilada bake? ›

You get at least six hearty servings per pan.

How to cook real good chicken enchiladas? ›

Cooking Instructions: Microwave Oven: Remove Enchiladas tray from box. Leave Enchiladas wrapped in film and poke holes to ventilate. Place tray in microwave & heat on high for 3:30 to 4:30 min. Let sit 1 minute.

Should enchiladas be with or without foil? ›

Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and melted. Note: For softer enchilada, bake covered for 10 minutes, then remove the foil for the final 10-15 minutes of baking.

How do you keep enchiladas moist? ›

Covering enchiladas with sauce adds flavor and keeps them moist while cooking.

What cheese melts the best for enchiladas? ›

Use a melting cheese like Monterey Jack, cheddar, Colby, or pepper jack. Mexican restaurants typically use queso fresco, asadero, or a combination. Use a variety of at least two to switch up the taste.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aron Pacocha

Last Updated:

Views: 6454

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aron Pacocha

Birthday: 1999-08-12

Address: 3808 Moen Corner, Gorczanyport, FL 67364-2074

Phone: +393457723392

Job: Retail Consultant

Hobby: Jewelry making, Cooking, Gaming, Reading, Juggling, Cabaret, Origami

Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.