Make these delicious shredded chicken enchiladas as a quick and flavorful weeknight meal! White chicken enchiladas are a family favorite that everyone will enjoy.
Shredded Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
If you're looking for enchiladas with a homemade red enchilada sauce, then check out my rotisserie chicken enchiladas. But if you're looking for an easy recipe that uses white enchilada sauce, then look no further than these amazing shredded chicken enchiladas!
This is one of my most favorite homemade enchilada recipes! It's so easy to make and is perfectly rich and creamy. We love to pair it with Mexican rice for a quick dinner that is both filling and delicious.
Mexican food is like a go-to comfort food in our home. We just can't get enough tacos and even like to make Mexican breakfast casserole to start our day off on the right foot.
So, if you're like us and want more hit recipes to serve at dinner time then check out these incredible homemade enchiladas. It is sure to become one of your go-to recipes because of its amazing flavor and super simple steps to follow!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
This is really one of the best chicken enchiladas recipes out there. It's an incredibly easy recipe but lacks nothing in flavor. One of our most favorite dishes! There's so many reasons to love it, these are a few:
- This is a great make-ahead meal! Make the entire things in a casserole dish and then pop it into the freezer. Then you'll have a meal ready to go when you have a day that is especially hectic. Your future self will thank you for the meal prep!
- The whole family will love this recipe. It's kid friendly and incredibly simple to make. A great option for those families that have a lot of picky eaters. I've never seen anyone turn down creamy enchiladas!
- You can easily repurpose leftover chicken and use it as the filling so that your leftovers don't go to waste! I love to take meals and flip them into something completely new. Using leftover shredded chicken is the easiest way to make a new meal that is hearty, filling and totally delicious.
Ingredients
Make the best chicken enchiladas with the most simple and wholesome ingredients. I make my enchilada sauce from scratch and it's so easy! It really does take these homemade chicken enchiladas to the next level. Here's what you need to make this recipe:
Shredded Chicken Filling
- shredded chicken
- flour tortillas
- cheese
White Enchilada Sauce Ingredients
- diced white onion
- butter
- all purpose flour
- broth
- sour cream
- green chiles
Substitutions and Variations
To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free tortillas and a gluten-free 1:1 flour substitute, such as King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour, for the homemade sauce.
You can try to make these dairy free by using a dairy free butter and dairy free sour cream! I have not tried it, so if it works out be sure to leave me a comment and let me know how it turns out.
Chicken broth and beef broth will both work to make the sauce. Use whatever you prefer, or what you have on hand.
Add extra flavor by mixing in some tasty things like green onions, fresh cilantro, black pepper and maybe even spicy cheese like pepper jack cheese.
I typically use Monterey jack cheese, but you can use Mexican blend, sharp or mild cheddar cheese, or any of your other favorites. You can use multiple different types of cheese to make this chicken enchilada casserole extra gooey and cheesy!
Feel free to use store-bought enchilada sauce if you need to save some time. I think the best way to make homemade enchiladas is to make your own enchilada sauce, but using store bought would make thing go more quickly too!
How to Make Shredded Chicken Enchiladas
There are a few different methods to shred chicken, so use whichever is best for you. Once you have plenty of chicken, you can make these easy chicken enchiladas in no time. Here's how to start making this yummy dinner:
How to Make the Shredded Chicken Enchilada Filling
There are a few different methods to shred chicken, so use whichever is best for you:
I like to use the Instant Pot to quickly make chicken. But you can also use the crock pot, stove top or even make roasted chicken in the oven.
Once the chicken is cooked, place it on a cutting board or plate and use two forks to evenly shred.
For another quick and easy method, place the cooked chicken into the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Place a pouring shield or towel around the bowl and turn it on for 30 seconds to a minute to shred the chicken.
How to Make the White Enchilada Sauce
Follow these simple instructions to make the best white enchilada sauce:
Melt butter in a large skillet and then add the diced onions and sauté until fragrant and translucent.
Once translucent, add all purpose flour and ensure that the onions are evenly coated. Then pour the chicken broth or beef broth into the skillet, along with the sour cream and green chiles.
Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer, careful not to boil it. Once thickened, take two tablespoons of the easy homemade enchilada sauce and spread it along the bottom of a baking dish.
Add the shredded chicken filling and shredded cheese to your tortillas and carefully roll them up.
Then place each of the shredded chicken enchiladas into the prepared baking dish and top with the rest of the white enchilada sauce.
Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Keep an eye on it as it's in the oven to make sure that nothing burns.
Serve immediately with your favorite topping, like sliced avocado, red onion, jalapeños, and diced tomato.
How to Store Leftover Enchiladas
For best storage results, place leftovers into an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftover chicken enchiladas for up to 3 months! Reheat in the oven or microwave until warm.
You can also make these cheesy chicken enchiladas ahead of time. Just assemble them as instructed, but don't bake them. Then wrap the casserole dish tightly in plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and store in the fridge for 24 hours or freezer for 3 months.
To bake from frozen, pop the dish into the oven and simply add 10 minutes of cooking time!
What to Serve with Shredded Chicken Enchiladas
Whether you like an appetizer of tortilla chips and guacamole or a side dish of Mexican cauliflower rice, there are tons of tasty things that you can serve with shredded chicken enchiladas.
Cilantro lime rice and refried beans would super tasty with this delicious dish. And my Mexican fruit salad goes well with anything! Corn and tomato salad would also be a tasty side to serve with shredded chicken enchiladas.
Tips for Success
With a few simple tips, you can have the most amazing shredded chicken enchiladas in no time:
- For the most cheesy results, shred your own cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheese from the grocery store has additives that end up making it not melt as well as freshly grated cheese.
- Don't forget to coat the bottom of the baking dish with enchilada sauce! It will help prevent sticking and will also help to ensure that all of the enchiladas are evenly coated in sauce.
- Make sure to shred the chicken into fine shreds. Large chunks of chicken can make the enchiladas difficult to cut through and may result in dried out and tough chicken.
FAQ
This is really all about personal preference. Both types of tortillas will work great, so grab whatever you have on hand or whichever you like better and use them in this simple recipe.
Shredded chicken enchiladas should always be rolled up and place into the baking dish seam side down. This keeps the filling from falling out and creates perfectly creamy and rich enchiladas!
More Mexican Recipes
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Shredded Chicken Enchiladas
Equipment
Ingredients
Shredded Chicken Filling
- 1 ½ cups shredded chicken
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 8-10 flour tortillas
White Enchilada Sauce
- ½ onion diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 ½ cups broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 can green chiles
Instructions
Shredded Chicken
- Make chicken with your favorite method — Instant Pot, Crock Pot, oven or stove top.
- Then shred it with two forks or place it in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Shred evenly.
White Chicken Enchilada Sauce
- Melt butter in a pan. Sauté diced onions in melted butter until fragrant and translucent.
- Once translucent, add flour to coat onions.
- Pour in broth, sour cream and green chiles. Bring to a simmer, being careful no to boil.
- Once thickened, pour two tablespoons into base of a 9x9 baking dish.
Build the Enchiladas
- Add the shredded chicken filling and shredded cheese to your tortillas and carefully roll them up.
- Place into the bottom of the baking dish and pour the rest of the enchiladas sauce over the top. Then top with more shredded cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and then remove from the oven and serve!
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