Zesty Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet Recipe – One-Pan Magic!

Green enchiladas dancing with salsa verde chicken capture the heart of vibrant Mexican cuisine.

Comfort meets excitement in this one-pan marvel that promises to revolutionize weeknight dinners.

Quick and effortless, the skillet method simplifies traditional enchilada preparation without sacrificing an ounce of flavor.

Layers of tender chicken, zesty salsa verde, and melted cheese create a harmonious blend that tantalizes taste buds.

Minimal ingredients and straightforward techniques make this dish accessible for home cooks of all skill levels.

Fragrant herbs and spices weave through each bite, promising a meal that feels simultaneously familiar and extraordinary.

You will want to savor every single morsel of this irresistible culinary creation.

Why Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet Rocks

• Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal: Whip up this delicious Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy families craving a flavorful dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.
• One-Pan Wonder: Minimize dish cleanup by preparing this entire meal in a single oven-safe skillet, saving time and reducing kitchen mess while delivering maximum flavor and satisfaction.
• Customize Your Comfort: Easily adapt the recipe by swapping chicken with shredded beef or turkey, adjusting spice levels, or adding extra toppings like cilantro, green onions, or sliced jalapeños to suit personal tastes.
• Crowd-Pleasing Flavor Explosion: Combine creamy sour cream, zesty salsa verde, and melted cheese with tender chicken and crispy tortilla strips for a mouthwatering dish that will have everyone asking for seconds.

What You Need For Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet

• Shredded Chicken: Lean protein that provides the main substance of the dish, best when freshly cooked or rotisserie chicken.
• Sour Cream: Adds creamy texture and tangy flavor to the sauce, full-fat version recommended for richness.

• Onion, Garlic: Classic flavor base that builds depth, fresh ingredients give the best taste.
• Cumin, Chili Powder: Warm spices that create traditional Mexican-inspired flavor profile, ground versions work best.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential for enhancing overall seasoning, kosher salt preferred.

• Salsa Verde: Provides zesty green sauce base, store-bought or homemade work well.
• Monterey Jack Cheese, Cheddar Cheese: Melting cheeses that create golden, gooey topping, shredded versions recommended.
• Tortilla Strips: Adds texture and helps thicken the dish, corn tortillas work best for authentic flavor.

How To Make Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet

Step 1: Sizzle Aromatic Base

Warm olive oil in a spacious oven-safe skillet over medium flame. Toss in chopped onions and dance them around until they become soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Tumble in minced garlic and let it sizzle for another minute, releasing its fragrant essence.

Step 2: Introduce Protein and Spices

• Ground cumin
• Chili powder
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Stir everything together, allowing the chicken to absorb the bold spice blend and warm through completely.

Step 3: Create Creamy Sauce

Pour in tangy salsa verde and velvety sour cream. Whisk and swirl until the mixture transforms into a smooth, inviting sauce that coats every morsel beautifully.

Step 4: Incorporate Tortilla Goodness

Gently fold torn tortilla strips into the skillet. Ensure each strip gets a luxurious coating of the creamy, spiced sauce.

Step 5: Cheese and Bake Finale

• Monterey Jack cheese
• Sharp cheddar cheese

Slide the skillet into a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts into a golden, bubbly blanket.

Smart Tips For Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet

• Customize Protein Power: Swap shredded chicken with pulled pork, ground turkey, or black beans for a protein-packed alternative that suits different dietary preferences.
• Control Spice Level: Adjust heat by choosing mild, medium, or hot salsa verde, and add extra chili powder or red pepper flakes for those who love intense flavors.
• Smart Cheese Swap: Replace Monterey Jack and cheddar with dairy-free cheese alternatives or experiment with pepper jack for an extra kick of spiciness.
• One-Pan Wonder Technique: Use an oven-safe skillet to minimize cleanup and create a seamless cooking experience from stovetop to oven.
• Meal Prep Magic: Prepare this skillet in advance and store in the refrigerator, reheating gently to maintain the creamy texture and vibrant flavors.

How To Store Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet

• Preserve your delicious Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet with these easy storage methods.
• Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor.
• Cool the skillet completely before transferring to prevent condensation and soggy texture.
• Wrap tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to a sealed container to maintain its scrumptious taste and prevent other refrigerator odors from seeping in.
• Freeze individual portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months, perfect for quick future meals.
• When reheating, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm gently in the oven or microwave, adding a splash of extra salsa verde to restore moisture and prevent dryness.
• Pro tip: Separate cheese and tortilla layers before freezing to keep the texture optimal and prevent separation during reheating.

What To Serve With Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet

• Sip Mexican Margaritas: Brighten the dish's rich flavors with a classic lime margarita, balancing the salsa verde's tangy notes and complementing the chicken's spicy seasoning.
• Pair with Crisp Slaw: Create a refreshing cilantro-lime coleslaw as a side, offering a crunchy contrast to the creamy enchilada skillet and cutting through its richness.
• Serve with Mexican Rice: Prepare a zesty Mexican-style rice with tomatoes and herbs, providing a perfect starchy accompaniment that soaks up the salsa verde sauce.
• Enjoy with Cool Horchata: Introduce a traditional Mexican rice drink to soothe the palate, its sweet and creamy texture wonderfully offsetting the skillet's bold spices.

Different Twists For Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet

• Spicy Jalapeño Kick: Add diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to increase heat and bring a fiery flavor to the skillet. Perfect for those who love a spicy challenge.
• Green Chile Verde Edition: Replace salsa verde with roasted green chiles for a more intense, smoky southwestern flavor profile. Enhance the dish with additional cumin and cilantro.
• Vegetarian Power Bowl: Swap chicken with black beans, roasted sweet potatoes, or plant-based protein crumbles. Keep the creamy sauce and cheese for a hearty meatless option.
• Tex-Mex Protein Swap: Use shredded beef, carnitas, or ground turkey instead of chicken for a different protein experience. Adjust seasonings to complement the new meat choice.

FAQs For Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet

• What makes salsa verde different from regular red salsa?

Salsa verde is made with green tomatillos instead of red tomatoes, giving it a tangy, slightly acidic flavor that’s brighter and less sweet than traditional red salsa.

• Can I use rotisserie chicken for this recipe?

Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken is a great time-saving option that adds delicious, pre-cooked flavor to the skillet enchiladas and makes meal prep super quick and easy.

• Is this recipe spicy?

The dish has a mild to moderate heat level from the chili powder and salsa verde. If you prefer more kick, you can add extra chili powder or choose a spicier salsa verde. For less heat, use a mild salsa verde or reduce the chili powder.

• Do I need any special equipment to make this?

All you need is a large oven-safe skillet. If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the mixture to a baking dish before adding cheese and baking.

Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Skillet Recipe

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4.5 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sizzling salsa verde chicken enchilada skillet brings Mexican comfort to your dinner table with zesty flavors and hearty ingredients. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and bold green sauce create a quick, satisfying meal perfect for family gatherings or weeknight dinners you’ll crave.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 pound (1 lb) cooked, shredded chicken (breasts or thighs)

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Base and Additional Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup salsa verde
• ½ cup sour cream
• 8 small corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Garnish and Optional Toppings:

• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Diced avocado (optional)
• Jalapeno slices (optional)
• Lime wedges (optional)

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Instructions

1. Warm a spacious cast-iron skillet over medium flame, drizzling olive oil to create a glossy surface. Introduce finely chopped onions, allowing them to soften and become translucent, releasing their sweet aromatics for approximately 3-4 minutes.
2. Incorporate minced garlic, stirring briefly until its fragrant essence permeates the skillet, creating a rich foundational layer of flavor.
3. Introduce shredded chicken into the aromatic mixture, generously seasoning with cumin, chili powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Gently toss to ensure the chicken is evenly coated and heated through.
4. Pour salsa verde and creamy sour cream into the skillet, whisking until the sauce transforms into a smooth, vibrant coating that embraces the chicken and aromatics.
5. Carefully tear corn tortillas into rustic strips, folding them into the saucy mixture, ensuring each fragment is thoroughly enveloped in the verdant sauce.
6. Lavishly scatter Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar cheeses across the surface, creating a molten blanket of dairy deliciousness.
7. Transfer the skillet into a preheated oven at 375°F, allowing the cheese to melt and bubble, creating a golden, appetizing crust that signals the dish is ready to be devoured.

Notes

• Experiment with rotisserie chicken for a quick time-saving shortcut that adds delicious pre-seasoned flavor to the dish.
• Swap corn tortillas for flour tortillas to create a softer texture and milder taste that works well for picky eaters.
• Consider using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to boost protein content and reduce overall fat while maintaining creamy consistency.
• Make this recipe gluten-free by using corn tortillas and checking that salsa verde is certified gluten-free, perfect for those with dietary restrictions.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg