Description
Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole brings Mexican-inspired comfort straight to dinner tables. Layers of tender chicken, zesty sauce, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups red enchilada sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 12 small corn tortillas, torn into quarters
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) corn, drained
- 1 can (4 oz / 113 g) diced green chiles
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
- fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- sour cream (for serving, optional)
- avocado (for serving, optional)
- green onions (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Arrange raw chicken or rotisserie chicken evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker, creating a uniform base layer.
- Sauce Application: Pour enchilada sauce over the chicken, ensuring complete and thorough coverage to maximize flavor infusion.
- Layering Foundation: Carefully position tortilla pieces to completely cover the sauce-coated chicken, trimming as necessary for a precise fit.
- Cheese and Bean Integration: Distribute shredded cheese generously, then scatter black beans across the layer, complementing with a harmonious blend of seasonings.
- Repeated Layering: Continue building layers of sauce, tortillas, cheese, beans, and seasonings until the slow cooker approaches its maximum capacity, maintaining a balanced ingredient composition.
- Slow Cooking Process: Secure the lid and allow the casserole to simmer on low temperature for 4-6 hours (2-3 hours for rotisserie chicken), ensuring the chicken becomes perfectly tender and flavors meld completely.
- Final Preparation: Shred the chicken directly within the slow cooker, meticulously incorporating all layered ingredients, then top with a final cheese layer to create a golden, irresistible surface.
- Serving: Present the enchilada casserole with traditional accompaniments like sour cream, fresh cilantro, rice, or guacamole, elevating the culinary experience with vibrant, complementary sides.
Notes
- Prevent Soggy Layers: Layer tortillas carefully and avoid oversaturating with sauce to maintain a crisp texture.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Use a mix of cheeses like cheddar and Monterey Jack for optimal melting and flavor complexity.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Swap regular tortillas with corn tortillas for gluten-free version or use low-fat cheese for lighter option.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Add a pinch of cumin, chili powder, or smoked paprika to elevate the overall taste profile of the casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg