Love enchiladas but hate the work? This easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe is all the delicious flavors of an enchilada without the fuss. Chicken, cheese, and beans layered between corn tortillas and smothered in sauce bake together to make a delectable dinner you’ll be making over and over again!
Any information in the post is for general information purposes only and is NOT medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for individual medical and nutrition advice.
Enchiladas are one of the first Mexican dishes that I’d ever tried, and they remain my absolute favorite. The cheese and sauce combined with chicken, beef or beans, wrapped in a yummy corn tortilla and cooked to perfection just can’t be beaten! However, making them at home can be time consuming, and I usually shied away. Not anymore! This easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe made it fast and simple to have my favorite Mexican dish at home.
Although this easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe calls for both chicken and refried beans, it is simple to customize to suit the tastes of your family. For a lower sodium recipe, substitute one pound of cooked and shredded chicken breast for the chicken sandwich mix, and 1 can of reduced sodium refried beans. This recipe also goes great with beef, using one pound of browned and drained ground beef in place of the chicken. Vegetarian? Omit the meat all together, and add a layer of no salt added black beans.
Most recipes for enchiladas call for the sauce to be cooked on top of the tortilla. However, I have found that my family is much more likely to eat a new recipe if they can see the melted cheese on top. There’s just something about melted cheese that makes dinner so much more visually appealing! In my opinion, adding the sauce to the layer of meat also adds flavor to the meat, and makes each bite a little more cohesive in taste. If you prefer, though, pouring the sauce over top the entire dish before baking works just as well.
What goes well with this easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe? A side of stewed tomatoes or even just mixed vegetables makes this a complete meal. To amp up this easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe even more, top your serving with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, or even fresh sliced avocado to add some color to your dinner, as well as a refreshing texture. Don’t have time to prep this and bake it in the evening? No problem! Just prep the dish in the morning (or evening before) and store, covered, in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.
Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound Shredded Chicken Sandwich Mix, drained
- 18 Corn Tortillas, 6″ wide
- 1 can (16 oz) Refried Beans
- 1 can (10 oz) Enchilada Sauce
- 8 ounces shredded Cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground Cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon Chili Powder
Directions
- Lightly grease a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or vegetable oil
- Place six tortillas in the bottom of the pan, and spread evenly to cover the entire bottom. They will overlap in places
- Empty the can of refried beans onto the tortillas, and spread uniformly with a spoon or spatula
- Sprinkle the onion and seasonings (garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder) over the beans
- Place another layer of 6 tortillas over the beans
- Empty the chicken over top the tortilla layer, and spread out. Drizzle the enchilada sauce over top until the can is empty.
- Layer the rest of the tortillas on top, and sprinkle the cheese over the entire pan to form the final layer.
- Cover with foil and bake at 325o F for 35-45 minutes
Time-Saving Tip: Substitute 1/2 packet of taco seasoning for the chopped onion and dried seasonings (garlic powder, ground cumin, and chili powder)
*Nutrition Information (per serving, about 8 servings per dish)
- 410 Calories
- 10 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 24 g Protein
- 940 mg Sodium
- 50 g Total Carbohydrate
- 5 g Fiber
*Nutrition information is approximate and based on the products that I buy in my home. Information will vary based on the products purchased in your home.