Chicken Enchiladas

Published Sept. 22, 2023

Chicken Enchiladas
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
65 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
55 minutes
Rating
5(2,084)
Comments
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With the help of rotisserie or roast chicken and easy, premade (or canned) enchilada sauce, these American Southwest-inspired enchiladas are ready in about an hour. Make them vegetarian by substituting the chicken with roasted vegetables, such as summer or winter squash, eggplant or mushrooms. For extra flavor and texture, add some fresh cilantro, or chopped raw onion or jalapeño to the filling before you roll up the enchiladas. Pre-shredded cheese (preferably Cheddar or a Mexican blend) will help get this meal on the table even faster.

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings
  • ¼cup vegetable oil
  • 12(6-inch) corn tortillas
  • ½medium white onion, chopped
  • 1medium poblano or green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
  • 3garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2large tomatoes, cored and finely chopped
  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • 2cups cooked shredded chicken (from a roast chicken or rotisserie chicken)
  • cups enchilada sauce or from 2 (10-ounce) cans
  • 12ounces (3 cups) sharp Cheddar, shredded
  • Pico de gallo, for serving (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

560 calories; 37 grams fat; 14 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 15 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 31 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 27 grams protein; 858 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Using 2 tablespoons of the oil, lightly brush both sides of each tortilla. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high and, working in batches, cook tortillas until lightly browned and just starting to crisp but still pliable, 45 seconds to 1 minute per side. (This will prevent the tortillas from completely falling apart while cooking.) Set aside.

  2. Step 2

    Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high and cook onion, poblano, garlic, tomatoes and juices, and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until most of the liquid has evaporated and tomatoes begin to stick to the skillet, 9 to 11 minutes. Stir in chicken, ½ cup enchilada sauce and ½ teaspoon salt until combined and just warmed through; remove from heat. Taste and season with additional salt, if necessary.

  3. Step 3

    Pour ½ cup enchilada sauce into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, spreading to cover the bottom. Working one at a time, arrange a scant ¼ cup of chicken down the center of the tortilla, roll to secure the filling and place seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas and chicken, making sure they’re nestled right up against each other.

  4. Step 4

    Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the tortillas, then scatter cheese on top. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is just beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm topped with pico de gallo, if desired. For leftovers, divide remaining enchiladas into portions of 2 or 3; wrap each portion tightly in plastic wrap or place in a freezer bag, squeeze out the air, seal and freeze for up to 3 months.

Ratings

5 out of 5
2,084 user ratings
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Comments

Im too lazy to bother rolling so I just stack them. Tortilla on the bottom, filling, tortilla, sauce, cheese, and bake.

Chiles Poblanos, never green bell peppers.

I have made enchiladas like this numerous times, and they are delicious. I would make one recommendation. If making ahead or to freeze, dip each tortilla into the sauce, roll up, and place in dish as instructed. Then, keep the remaining sauce separate and pour it on and top with cheese just prior to cooking. Otherwise, the sauce soaks into the tortillas to the point of causing the final product to be very dry.

These were fantastic. Made it exactly as instructed. Thanks for a great recipe! Definitely will be repeating :)

Great recipe. I added some of those chipotle peppers in adobo sauce you get in the jar to my seasoning and I highly recommend. Mine came out a little dry, I feel like I used enough enchilada sauce but could maybe add more next time.

This recipe is just about how we made enchiladas growing up. They were pretty much a staple, along with a pot of pinto beans, in the fridge. We rarely included chicken so it's easy to just omit it and use a little extra cheese, onions, etc. Try chopped black olives!

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