Green enchiladas with chicken have it all - melted cheesy goodness, seasoned tender chicken bites, soft tortillas, slight creamy filling, and some spicy heat that's just right. Yes, please! 🙂
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- WATCH: How to make Chicken Green Enchiladas
- You will love these Chicken Green Enchiladas
- How we like to serve Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce
- Everything you need to make this Chicken Green Enchilada Recipe
- Green Chicken Enchiladas Recipe Variations
- How to make Green Chicken Enchiladas
- Our Top Tips when making this Green Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage Instructions for Green Chicken Enchiladas
- Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas FAQs
- Related Recipes
- ⭐ Let's Connect
- 💬 Comments
WATCH: How to make Chicken Green Enchiladas
You will love these Chicken Green Enchiladas
"My family gobbled up these green enchiladas! I thought for sure they would be put off by the green color but NOPE - not even a single leftover. LOL. A sign of a tasty casserole, right?" -Kori
So Much Flavor
There's a lot of flavors packed into this green chicken enchilada recipe. Start with the taco seasoned chicken, then add in diced green chiles, some amazing creamy cheeses, slather with green enchilada sauce, and top with more cheese.
This recipe is mild to medium in spiciness. You can make adjustments as needed. For example, to make it spicier, you could use hot diced green chiles, and then top with a hot salsa verde when you serve.
Comfort Food
Green enchiladas are total comfort food and the perfect casserole - crave-able comfort food with melted cheese, soft tortillas, creamy filling, and tender chicken bites, topped with tangy green enchilada sauce.
How we like to serve Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce
Green enchiladas with chicken are a meal in one, but here are a couple of ideas of how you can serve:
- Toppings. I love to serve my enchiladas topped with sour cream, salsa verde or roasted chili corn salsa, diced avocado, cilantro, and sour cream. You could add any favorite topping that you want though!
- A simple side salad with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, green onion, olives, and salad dressing made by mixing sour cream and salsa verde.
- Got spicy lovers? Make sure they have a spicy salsa verde, maybe some sliced jalapenos, and even some green hot sauce.
Everything you need to make this Chicken Green Enchilada Recipe
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need to make green enchiladas with chicken:
See the recipe card for quantities.
Chicken Breast - Boneless skinless chicken, cut into bite sized pieces (1/2" to 1" in size). You can also use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken or oven roasted thawed frozen pre-cooked diced chicken. It can be shredded or diced. If using pre-cooked, follow the instructions in the Variations section below.
Taco Seasoning Mix - You can use my Taco Seasoning recipe or use a pre-mixed packet from the store. My recipe is super easy and can be made ahead of time! I highly recommend it. Batch make it to have on hand for later use.
Olive Oil
Jack Cheese - If you want to go a little spicier you could go with pepper jack cheese too!
Green Enchilada Sauce - You can use my Green Enchilada Sauce recipe or buy the canned variety.
Flour Tortillas - I know, many recipes call for corn tortillas which are quite delicious. I prefer the flour tortillas because of the softness and mild taste that they lend to the recipe. You can use whichever one you prefer.
Cottage Cheese - If you don't like cottage cheese, substitute ricotta, or even sour cream.
Diced Green Chiles - Use mild or hot.
Salt and Pepper to taste
Optional Toppings - Salsa verde, avocado, fresh cilantro, sour cream. I also love to add some shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and olives sometimes too.
Equipment
Equipment and tools needed to make this recipe:
- Cutting Board
- Chef Knife
- 12" Skillet
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Mixing Spoon
- 9 x 13" Casserole Dish
- Cheese Grater
- Nonstick Spray
- Aluminum Foil
Green Chicken Enchiladas Recipe Variations
Here are a few ways you can vary or make substitutions to this recipe:
- To make this low carb or keto enchiladas use a low carb or keto friendly soft taco tortilla. We used carb balance flour tortillas to make this recipe lower in carbohydrates (4 grams net carbs).
- Use taco sized soft flour tortillas or burrito size.
- Use pre-cooked diced or shredded chicken to save time. Skip the step where you cook the chicken and instead add the chicken to a bowl, add the taco seasoning mix, the 2 tablespoons olive oil, and stir in only 1/8 cup water (instead of 1/2 cup as called for in the recipe).
- For more spice, add sliced jalapenos, hot sauce, or use a spicy salsa verde. You could also try pepper jack cheese.
- Substitute ricotta or sour cream for cottage cheese if desired. Ricotta typically has less salt, so additional salt may be needed when serving.
- Want to add some veggies? Add 1 to 1-1/2 cups of sauteed mushrooms, onions, or diced zucchini. You could also add cooked spinach or even corn too. Divide evenly amongst the tortillas.
Can Ricotta Cheese be substituted for Cottage Cheese?
Yes, while the flavor profile of ricotta cheese is slightly different than cottage cheese, it can be substituted.
How to make Green Chicken Enchiladas
Here's how to make this green chicken enchilada recipe:
For complete instructions, please see the printable recipe card below.
Cook Chicken
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray a 13 x 9" casserole dish with nonstick spray.
Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. In a large skillet, add olive oil and saute chicken over medium-high heat until done (no longer pink), about 8 to 10 minutes.
Stir in taco seasoning mix and 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking just until liquid is absorbed.
Fill and Roll Up Tortillas
Fill each tortilla with 1/4 cup chicken, 2 tablespoons cottage cheese, 2 tablespoons green enchilada sauce, 1 tablespoon green chiles, and 1/4 cup jack cheese.
Roll up each enchilada.
Assemble Casserole
Place each enchilada in the casserole dish.
Pour remaining green enchilada sauce over the top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking another 15 to 20 minutes until the inside of enchiladas are hot and the cheese is bubbly.
Serve
Top with optional toppings, adjust salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Our Top Tips when making this Green Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
- If you have the counter space lay all the tortillas out and fill with ingredients first. It goes much faster this way! I provided the amounts to place in each tortilla to help you divide up the ingredients easier. If there are any leftovers or shortages just pull from another enchilada. Roll up after you are finished filling.
- There is usually a variance between taco seasoning brands, sauce, chiles, etc. so adjust heat, salt, and pepper, to taste after cooking.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions for Green Chicken Enchiladas
Can you make ahead of time?
Yes, absolutely. You can prepare the casserole a couple of days ahead of time. Pull the casserole out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Because the casserole will still be cold in the center, the baking time will increase by approximately 15 to 25 minutes.
How long will this casserole keep?
Green enchiladas will keep up to 4 days if stored in an airtight container.
Can you freeze this green enchilada casserole?
Yes, you can freeze this casserole - I often make two casseroles and freeze one for later. It reheats really well.
Leftovers can go into an ovenproof, freezer-proof airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat in the oven at 350F until hot in the middle. Before reheating, you can sprinkle with a little more grated cheese to freshen it up.
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas FAQs
The main difference between the two is the ingredients used and the flavors they impart. Green enchilada sauce, also known as salsa verde, is made with green ingredients such as tomatillos, green chilies, cilantro, and onions. This sauce has a tangy and bright flavor profile with a hint of tartness. It is often milder in spice compared to red sauce. On the other hand, red enchilada sauce is typically made with red tomatoes, red chili peppers, onions, and various spices. It has a rich and earthy flavor with a slightly sweet undertone. Red sauce tends to be spicier than green sauce.
Enchiladas are wonderful with corn or flour tortillas. It all comes down to the recipe and personal preference. Corn tortillas are slightly firmer and add a corn taste. Flour tortillas are softer and milder in taste.
To prevent green enchiladas from becoming soggy, there are a few steps you can follow. Avoid over-soaking the tortillas in the sauce. Dip each tortilla briefly in the sauce to coat it lightly. Try baking the enchiladas uncovered for a slightly longer time at a slightly higher temperature. This allows any excess moisture to evaporate, resulting in enchiladas that are flavorful, yet firm.
Related Recipes
More Mexican Recipes
Here are a few more Mexican-inspired recipes I think you'll love!
- Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Green Enchiladas Chicken Soup (Slow Cooker + Instant Pot)
- Chicken Fajitas Bake
- The Best Low Carb Keto Shrimp Tacos
- Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
More Casserole Recipes
If you are looking for more delicious casserole recipes, check these out:
- EASY Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole
- Zucchini Ground Beef Taco Casserole
- Leftover Ham Casserole
- Parmesan Chicken Casserole
- Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Bake
⭐ Let's Connect
If you tried Green Enchiladas with Chicken, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a star rating and/or a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please share photos of your creations with me and others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Green enchiladas with chicken have it all - melted cheesy goodness, seasoned tender chicken bites, soft tortillas, slight creamy filling, and some spicy heat that's just right. Yes, please!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 recipe Taco Seasoning Mix or 1 store-bought packet
- 1/2 cup water
- 8 flour tortillas (8 to 10") (we used low carb tortillas)
- 24 ounces monterey jack cheese, grated
- 16 ounces Green Enchilada Sauce or 1 (16 oz) can store bought sauce
- 8 ounces cottage cheese
- 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional toppings: sour cream, green salsa, diced tomatoes, sliced olives, diced avocado.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Spray a 13 x 9" casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces.
- In a large skillet, add olive oil and saute chicken over medium-high heat until done (no longer pink), about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Stir in taco seasoning mix and 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking just until liquid is absorbed.
- Fill each tortilla with 1/4 cup chicken, 2 tablespoons cottage cheese, 2 tablespoons green enchilada sauce, 1 tablespoon green chiles, and 1/4 cup jack cheese.
- Roll up each enchilada and place in casserole dish.
- Pour remaining green enchilada sauce over the top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking another 15 to 20 minutes until the inside of enchiladas are hot and the cheese is bubbly.
- To serve, top with optional toppings, adjust salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 enchiladaAmount Per Serving: Calories: 616Total Fat: 36gCholesterol: 161mgSodium: 1970mgCarbohydrates: 29gNet Carbohydrates: 11gFiber: 18gSugar: 6gProtein: 56g
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