Description
Hearty chicken enchilada casserole unites Mexican flavors in a comforting one-dish meal. Layers of tortillas, shredded chicken, and melted cheese create a satisfying dinner perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (710 ml) cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works well)
- 2 cups (470 ml) shredded Mexican blend cheese (or cheddar/Monterey Jack mix)
- 2 cups (470 ml) enchilada sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 8 small corn tortillas (or flour tortillas, if preferred)
- 1 can (4 oz/113 g) diced green chiles
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sliced green onions
- Sour cream (optional)
- Guacamole (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Ignite the oven to a sizzling 375F (190C) and anoint a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray for effortless release.
- Chicken Fusion: Amalgamate shredded chicken with enchilada sauce, green chiles, cumin, and chili powder, creating a robust and cohesive filling that promises explosive flavor profiles.
- Foundation Layer: Drape a gossamer layer of enchilada sauce across the baking dish’s base, strategically positioning tortillas to form a comprehensive bottom coverage with subtle overlapping.
- Flavor Stratification: Cascade the seasoned chicken mixture across the tortilla foundation, lavishly sprinkling shredded cheese to create a molten landscape that promises decadent textural complexity.
- Casserole Construction: Repeat layering with remaining tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese, ensuring uniform distribution. Culminate with a final tortilla layer, drenching in residual enchilada sauce and a luxurious cheese mantle.
- Baking Transformation: Encase the dish in aluminum foil, baking for 20 minutes. Uncover to allow cheese to metamorphose into a golden, effervescent crust during an additional 10-15 minutes of roasting.
- Presentation Finale: Permit the casserole a momentary reprieve to stabilize, then embellish with fresh cilantro, verdant green onions, and optional accompaniments like sour cream or guacamole for a vibrant culinary tableau.
Notes
- Control Chicken Moisture: Pat chicken dry before shredding to prevent excess liquid, ensuring a rich, concentrated flavor without making the casserole soggy.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Use a blend of cheeses like sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack for optimal melting and complex flavor depth, creating a more luxurious texture.
- Tortilla Selection Strategy: Use corn tortillas for authentic flavor and better structural integrity, or flour tortillas for a softer, more flexible casserole base.
- Dietary Adaptation Hack: Swap regular cheese for low-fat or plant-based alternatives, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and add extra vegetables like bell peppers or spinach for a nutritional boost and dietary flexibility.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg