Creamy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a simple, creamy casserole. Tremendous simple to place collectively, and the avocado cream sauce makes this one particular. Critically, you’ll need this sauce on the whole lot. I like to avoid wasting a bit additional and scoop it up with some tortilla chips—so good!

For extra enchilada love, attempt our Beef Enchiladas or our Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas.

Why Our Recipe

• The creamy avocado sauce is motive alone to make this recipe!
• Corn tortillas maintain this casserole from turning into soggy.
• Use rotisserie or leftover rooster to whip up this dish with minimal prep work.

This recipe happened as a result of I wished to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing gentle to eat, and I like shocking her with taste. And thus, this casserole was born! We love this recipe as a result of it’s gentle, not soggy, and creamy, however not bland. Plus, you may simply spice it up a bit extra with that jalapeño or some crimson pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use a superb high quality lengthy grain rice for the most effective texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic baggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Hen: Rotisserie rooster works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. If you happen to’re utilizing uncooked rooster, cook dinner it completely earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility permits you to finest management the flavour. It’s an excellent chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely elective! Recent jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
• Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite gentle or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth degree you want.
• Avocados: You need an avocado that’s completely ripe. Attempt urgent on the very high of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it offers a bit, it ought to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a superb substitute in the event you don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you may completely use flour tortillas in the event you favor.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You’ll be able to simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for a bit kick.

Hen Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked rooster. You’ve obtained a couple of choices to select from, so take your choose! We’ve used all of them.

Rotisserie Hen – many grocery shops these days promote cooked rotisserie chickens you can purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often bought as a “loss chief,” that means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the most effective bang to your buck in the case of rooster. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie rooster pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Hen – try the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked rooster strips and chunks bought in baggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay rooster breasts out right into a frivolously greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by means of. Chop into chunks and use instantly, or freeze for later use.

Fast Skillet Hen – warmth a big heavy skillet over medium-high warmth. Add in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place rooster breasts into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner 5 to 7 minutes per facet. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

If you happen to’re searching for extra warmth, seize a medium or scorching salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You can even high with contemporary jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some crimson pepper flakes on high for some shade and warmth!

For a milder possibility, keep on with gentle salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as a substitute of the entire pepper. Or, omit the pepper fully.

Make-Forward Directions

This enchilada casserole can simply be made forward. Assemble and refrigerate earlier than baking, as much as 1 day upfront. Make sure to retailer it coated with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to stop it from drying out. Take away the overlaying and bake when able to eat.