Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas

There’s something undeniably comforting about a plate of Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas. Bursting with flavor and wrapped up in soft tortillas, these enchiladas are not only delicious but adaptable to any family’s taste. Imagine tender chicken, spicy enchilada sauce, and gooey cheese tucked inside a warm tortilla, perfectly satisfying for any weeknight dinner. Fun fact: the origins of enchiladas date back to ancient Mexico, where Aztecs would wrap food in corn tortillas, providing both flavor and sustenance. This dish is special because it’s versatile—feel free to swap out ingredients to suit your family’s preferences. If your family loves cheesy casseroles like my Cheesy Baked Ziti, they’ll surely enjoy these enchiladas too! Trust me, after making this dish, you’ll be eager to share it with family, as good food always brings people together.

What is Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas?

Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas—now that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? You might wonder where such a playful name came from. Did someone accidentally drop the word “delicious” in the middle? Or maybe a chicken enthusiast coined it? Who knows! But as the saying goes, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” and trust me, once you taste these enchiladas, you’ll understand why they deserve such a catchy name. Plus, you can whip this dish up in under an hour. Why not give it a try and bring a smile to someone’s face today?

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas

This recipe is all about simplicity and flavor! Packed with tender chicken and smothered in a rich and spicy sauce, these enchiladas are a feast for your taste buds. Homemade enchiladas not only save you money compared to takeout, but they also allow you to control the ingredients—letting you customize the heat to your liking! Think of the delicious melted cheese that pulls away as you take that first bite, a delightful sight! If you’re a fan of other classic dishes like Chicken Quesadillas, then you’ll absolutely love making these enchiladas from scratch at home. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to enjoy a delicious homemade meal!

How to Make Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Quick Overview

Making Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas is a breeze! In just about 40-50 minutes, you can have a satisfying meal on the table. This recipe features tender chicken encased in soft tortillas, topped with a creamy sauce and cheese baked to melty perfection. You’ll love how easy and customizable it is!

Key Ingredients for Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas

To make these delectable chicken enchiladas, you will need the following ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (you can use rotisserie chicken for convenience)
• 8 small corn or flour tortillas
• 2 cups enchilada sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
• 1/2 cup chopped onions (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Prepare the Chicken Filling: In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken with half of the enchilada sauce, garlic powder, cumin, and salt and pepper. Make sure everything is well combined.

3. Assemble the Enchiladas: Take a tortilla and spoon a bit of the chicken mixture into the center. Sprinkle some chopped onions if you like, then roll the tortilla tightly around the filling. Place it seam-side down in a greased baking dish. Repeat this for all tortillas.

4. Add Sauce and Cheese: Once all the enchiladas are rolled and in the baking dish, pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top. Then sprinkle the shredded cheese generously over everything.

5. Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.

6. Serve: Once baked, remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot!

What to Serve Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas With

Complement these chicken enchiladas with a fresh garden salad, guacamole, or Mexican rice to create a complete meal. For drinks, consider serving a light Mexican beer or a refreshing agua fresca to cleanse the palate. Pairing these with sides like refried beans or cornbread can add a delightful variety to your table.

Top Tips for Perfecting Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas

1. Ingredient Swaps: Feel free to switch up the proteins! Shredded beef or even black beans make excellent substitutes.
2. Spice Level: Adjust the spice level of your enchilada sauce or add jalapeños to amp up the heat.
3. Tortilla Tip: Warm your tortillas in the microwave or on a skillet for a few seconds before filling them to prevent cracking.
4. Cheese Choices: Experiment with different cheese blends for added flavor, such as Monterey Jack for extra creaminess.

Storing and Reheating Tips

Leftover enchiladas can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply pop them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through. You can also freeze unbaked enchiladas; just wrap them tightly with foil or plastic wrap. They should last about 2-3 months in the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy them, bake straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Now that you know how to make Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas, gather your ingredients and get cooking! Your family will be eagerly waiting for you to serve this delicious meal. Enjoy the fabulous flavors and celebrate the joy of cooking together!

Homemade Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Delicious chicken enchiladas wrapped in soft tortillas, topped with spicy enchilada sauce and melted cheese, perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Calories: 400

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Chicken Filling

• 3 cups cooked shredded chicken You can use rotisserie chicken for convenience.
• 2 cups enchilada sauce Store-bought or homemade.
• 1 cup shredded cheese Cheddar or Mexican blend.
• 1/2 cup chopped onions Optional.
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• to taste salt and pepper
• Fresh cilantro For garnish, optional.

Tortillas

• 8 small corn or flour tortillas

Method

 

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken with half of the enchilada sauce, garlic powder, cumin, and salt and pepper until everything is well combined.

Assembly

1. Take a tortilla and spoon a bit of the chicken mixture into the center. Sprinkle some chopped onions if you like, then roll the tortilla tightly around the filling. Place it seam-side down in a greased baking dish. Repeat this for all tortillas.

Baking

1. Once all the enchiladas are rolled and in the baking dish, pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top. Then sprinkle the shredded cheese generously over everything.
2. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.

Serving

1. Once baked, remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot.

Notes

Leftover enchiladas can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes. You can freeze unbaked enchiladas wrapped tightly and they will last about 2-3 months in the freezer.