Green Chicken Enchiladas
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Green chicken enchiladas are made with salsa verde, green chiles, leftover rotisserie chicken + Monterey Jack cheese! The best weeknight meal!
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Why you’ll love green chicken enchiladas
- Super simple recipe. These green enchiladas are incredibly easy to assemble with a killer salsa verde sauce that’s bright and slightly tangy (a fun twist on traditional red enchiladas). You can also make this ahead of time, assembling the night prior for the easiest weeknight meal (great for entertaining company too!).
- Repurposes leftovers. This is a great recipe to repurpose leftover rotisserie chicken, a time-saving shortcut while adding pre-seasoned juicy meat right into your enchiladas.
- Leftovers are even better. If you are graced with any leftovers, the leftovers taste even better the very next day, reheating so easily.
- Meal prep magic. You can whip up a double batch to store leftovers and freeze for later. They also make for wonderful meal train meals for new parents, those recovering from surgery, or new neighbors moving in.
Key Ingredients
- Tortillas: 8-inch flour or corn tortillas
- Filling: shredded rotisserie chicken, green chiles, and salsa verde
- Aromatics: onion, garlic, oregano, and cumin
- Cheese: shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Toppings: sour cream and fresh cilantro leaves
How to make green chicken enchiladas
- Sauté the aromatics. Cook the onion until translucent and tender in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Then stir in the garlic, oregano, and cumin until fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in the green chiles.
- Mix the filling. Combine the green chiles and onion mixture, leftover rotisserie chicken, salsa verde, cilantro, cheese, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble the enchiladas. Lay a tortilla on a flat, clean surface, and spoon about 1/2 cup of the filling in the center. Roll the tortilla tightly around the filling.
- Transfer to a baking dish. Place the rolled tortilla seam-side down into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish, repeating with the remaining tortilla and filling.
- Top and bake. Top the enchiladas with salsa verde and sprinkle with cheese in an even layer. Bake at 375°F until the cheese melts and bubbles, about 35-40 minutes.
- Serve. Serve warm with desired toppings and garnishes.
Make-ahead, freezing, and storage
Prep
To make ahead, cover the enchiladas tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate up to 24 hours. To bake, let the enchiladas sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes. Remove plastic wrap and bake as directed.
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheating
Reheat in the oven at 350°F, covered in aluminum foil until warmed through, about 15-20 minutes.
Freeze before baking
Cover the enchiladas tightly with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Label, date, and freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge, remove the plastic wrap and bake as directed, adding a few more minutes of cook time as needed.
Freeze after baking
Let the enchiladas cool completely; cover tightly with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Label, date, and freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven at 350°F, covered in aluminum foil until heated through.
what to serve with enchiladas
Tools For This Recipe
Green Chicken Enchiladas: Frequently Asked Questions
Both green enchilada sauce and salsa verde are made with tomatillos and green chilies, but green enchilada sauce is cooked and typically served hot, while salsa verde uses raw ingredients and is served cold (or at room temperature).
Yes! I use this IP rotisserie chicken and this 6-ingredient lemon herb rotisserie chicken interchangeably.
Absolutely! You can use corn or flour, it really just depends on personal preference. Flour tortillas are traditionally used for enchiladas as they maintain their structure a little more (less cracking and tearing when rolled) but either option will work great here.
Sweet potato, mushrooms, zucchini, and cauliflower are all excellent options.
I prefer Monterey Jack but Cheddar, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack and Mexican blend can also be used.
Add your filled enchiladas to the bottom of the pan first, then pour the sauce on top to prevent them from soaking too much sauce (hence, soggy enchiladas).
Yes! Enchiladas is a great dish to make ahead of time and assemble the night before, letting it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to baking.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, reheating in the oven at 350°F, covered in aluminum foil, until warmed through.
Green Chicken Enchiladas
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles
- 4 cups coarsely shredded rotisserie chicken
- 2 cups salsa verde, divided
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 8-inch flour tortillas, warmed
- ¼ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
- Heat canola oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano and cumin until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in green chiles.
- In a large bowl, combine green chile mixture, chicken, 1/3 cup salsa verde and cilantro. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- To assemble the enchiladas, lay tortilla on a flat surface and spoon 1/2-3/4 cups of the chicken mixture in the center. Roll the tortilla and place seam side down onto prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas and chicken mixture. Top with remaining salsa verde and remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese.
- Place into oven and bake until bubbly, about 35-40 minutes.
- Serve immediately, topped with dollops of sour cream.
Equipment
Notes
- Soften the tortillas. Warm the tortillas first so they are easier to roll. Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds. You can also fry the tortillas, in batches, in a little bit of oil (about 1 tablespoon vegetable oil) until crispy but pliable.
- Use the right cheese. Use melting cheeses such as Monterey Jack, Oaxaca, or Chihuahua.
- Do not overstuff. Size matters! Overstuffing may sound like a good idea since the filling is the best part, but this can result in ripped tortilla and overspill.
- Avoid a soggy bottom. Nobody likes soggy enchiladas! Be sure to pour the sauce on top, adding the filled enchiladas to the pan first.
Did you make this recipe?
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This recipe is a keeper! I accidentally read the recipe incorrectly the first time I made it and added sour cream to the chicken mixture instead of cheese. It turned out great and I make it this way every time now.
Do you drain green chiles from can? Or pour in liquid and green chiles?
This recipe was sooooo delicious!! I used corn tortillas. I also didn’t cook the full 40 minutes. Next time I make this I will cook at 350 for 40 minutes. It was bomb!! Thank you for sharing
I just poured true green chills, juice and all into the mixture. Turned out perfectly!
Delicious and have made this several times. Thank you.
Have made this many timess now. Always great!
Has anyone cracked the code on the best way to freeze these puppies? I just made fresh salsa verde, but I’m the only one in my household that likes salsa verde and enchiladas, so I was thinking of freezing individual portions. Not sure if I should bake the whole thing and then freeze, or if I should freeze individual unbaked portions? I’ll definitely need to include the sauce because it’s already made.
The best way I’ve found is to place in a disposable baking dish, cover with foil and then place into a freezer bag. Seems to be fine even after a month or so. I put them in uncooked and then thaw them in the fridge overnight before cooking!
I made this last night. I had to use dried cilantro because I didn’t have fresh, and I used my shredded Mexican blend cheese that needed used up. My husband LOVED it…. he even asked if we could have it for lunch today. In 30 years I don’t think that has EVER happened!!
These were awesome! And I am very picky about my Green chicken enchiladas! Easy recipe!
These were awesome! I added a squeeze of 1 lime to the mixture, I thought it needed some acid. Next time I would add a little more salsa verde to the inside to avoid it drying out and more salsa verde to the top.
I made this for my family just after the Christmas and everyone loved it. My husband even went back for seconds. I had the dish put together in no time and the flavors were amazing.
Oh. My. God. This was one of the best dinners I’ve ever made. My husband is Mexican and his mom was born and raised there. Everytime I make Mexican food, he’s got a comment about how it’s not the way his mom made it, or its not really authentic. This recipe? He said it was just like something his mom would have made and he went back for more – twice! This will definetly be a regular meal at our house!!! I froze the leftover meat mixture and just got it out for dinner tonight. I think I’ll make a double batch next time, so I have lots to freeze for quick dinners during the week.
Wow I just made this for dinner and felt compelled to let everyone know this recipe is AMAZING! My husband and I were beside ourselves, it’s so delicious – especially the crispy edges! I followed the recipe to a T, except I only used one can of diced chiles and added avocado on top. I will definitely be making these again! Bravo!
We tried this recipe with our leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. Absolutely delicious! We are going to make it our holiday tradition.
Can i use shredded beef instead?
Yes.
But forgot to add that it was just the right blend that made it so fabulous!
That was what reminded me of authentic Mexican cuisine…simple with just the right blend.
Thanks again!
Not knowing what I was doing I adjusted the recipe using 1/2 pound of shredded chicken and turned it into Dinner for 2 x 2.
I’ve been cooking a lot since March and I’ve been making dinner for me + dinner for my Aunt.
Perfect to share between us (and we each get two meals!)
Thank youj!
Everyone absolutely loved these! I’ve made many enchilada recepies, trying to find one that everyone in my family loved. I found it! Everyone raved about it! I’ll be making this quick and delicious recipe over and over again.
Hi! These look amazing! I am going to a cabin with family and wanted to make these ahead of time. Do you think it would be ok for me to make them two days ahead and put them in the fridge before baking them? Or would it be better to bake them and then just reheat on the second day?
I have never tried putting them in the fridge before and then baking but with this recipe I know it tastes good reheated. Hope this helps:)
What in everything holy is this recipe. YES. . Make it NOW. I have family requesting this exact thing when I come to visit.
Thanks for the delicious recipe!! It’s in my favorites now and forever.
Xox
We loved these. I had to modify them a little bit since my husband hates peppers. So instead of eliminating them, I reduced the amount to one can. That was enough to make him happy and he said that I should make it again! The enchiladas were really delicious. I used Goya enchilada sauce and it was great. I have made homemade salsa verde before which is also great (preferred) if I have the time, but either one works. Thank you Chungah, for another wonderful recipe.
This was so good! My husband absolutely loved this and he’s Mexican! He asked for me to make it again. It’s a keeper!