Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas are loaded with tender chicken, melty cheese, and spicy green chile all wrapped in soft tortillas and smothered in the best sauce.
author’s note
Tried, Tested, and Loved Chicken Enchiladas!
I have to give credit where it’s due. These Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas were inspired by my friend Erin’s recipe in The Well Plated Cookbook. If you don’t have her book yet, it’s filled with quick, delicious meals that actually fit into busy schedules.
I’ve tried so many of her recipes and every single one has been a win at my house. When I tested out her enchilada recipe, I knew I wanted to put my own spin on it. It turned out so good and has quickly become a favorite around here.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swaps or Tips |
|---|---|
| Shredded Chicken | Use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut, leftover grilled chicken, or even turkey. |
| Green Chile Sauce | Store-bought is quick and easy, but homemade gives incredible depth. If unavailable, use salsa verde. |
| Tortillas | Flour tortillas are softer and easier to roll; corn tortillas add authentic flavor. Warm them first so they don’t crack. |
| Cheese | I use Monterey Jack for meltiness, but Pepper Jack adds spice, or cheddar for richness. |
| Diced Green Chiles | Mild or hot depending on your heat preference; roasted poblanos also work well. |
Quick Tip
Erin’s tip: Choose firm tomatillos with smooth husks. Take off the husks, rinse, and rub off the sticky layer before roasting.
How To Make Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
- Cook the Veggies: Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Season the Chicken: Let the spices coat evenly for the best flavor.
- Make Filling: Cool the veggies before mixing to keep the sour cream smooth.
- Roll the Enchiladas: Warm tortillas first to prevent cracking.
- Add Sauce and Bake: Use extra sauce for a juicier dish.
- Melt Cheese: Let it cool slightly before serving for easier plating.
Storage
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas Leftovers?
- Refrigerator: Keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
To reheat:
- Oven: Heat at 350°F. For refrigerated, bake 20-30 minutes; for frozen, bake 45 minutes (thaw first if using a glass dish).
- Microwave: For quicker reheating.
More Delicious Chicken Dinners:
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Experience the ultimate Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, where every bite is a blend of tender chicken, rich cheese, and spicy green chile, wrapped in a soft tortilla and smothered in a zesty sauce.
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 medium bell peppers red, yellow, or orange; cut into 1/4-inch pieces (2 cups)
- 1 medium yellow onion cut into 1/4-inch pieces (1-1/2 cups)
- 1-1/2 cups cooked chicken like shredded rotisserie
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt divided
- 1 teaspoon ground chili powder
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese 8 ounces, divided
- 1-1/2 cups light sour cream or fat-free, or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles drained
- 8 (8-inch) tortillas I love TortillaLand
- 2 cups green enchilada sauce I love homemade! See note 1
- Toppings as desired see note 2
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add chopped bell peppers and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften and onion becomes translucent, 8–10 minutes.
- To the skillet, add chicken, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and black pepper. Stir to coat, then remove the skillet from the heat and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of the cheese, the sour cream, drained green chiles, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Once chicken and veggie mixture has cooled to room temperature, add it to the bowl with the cheese mixture and stir with a large spoon until chicken and vegetables are coated evenly with the cheese mixture.
- Prepare tortillas according to package directions. Lay a tortilla on a work surface and spread 1/8 of the chicken and cheese mixture, leaving a bit of space on each end of the filling (you will use about a heaping 1/2 cup per enchilada.) Roll the tortilla as tightly as you can without the filling squishing out, and place in the prepared pan, seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Pour 1 and 1/2 up to 2 cups of the green enchilada sauce evenly over the top (use more if you want a saucier enchilada; I like 1 and 1/2 cups best). Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven, uncover the pan, and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake, uncovered, for an 5 additional minutes, or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with the desired toppings and enjoy!
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.
Recipe Notes
Recipe is from Erin over at WellPlated and featured in her stunning cookbook—The Well Plated Cookbook! Be sure to check out the book on Amazon and get your own copy to enjoy more delicious recipes!
Note 1: Here’s how to make your own green enchilada sauce:
- 1 pound (9–10) small tomatillos, husked, scrubbed, and left whole
- 2 poblano peppers, stemmed, seeded, and coarsely chopped into 1/4 to 1-inch pieces (~2 cups)
- 2 medium jalapeños, seeds and membranes removed and chopped into 1/4 to 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic, peels on and left whole
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 cup water
- Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat oven to 400°F. For easy cleanup, line a large rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper. Place tomatillos, poblanos, jalapeños, onion, and garlic in the center of the pan. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat, then spread the veggies into an even layer. Bake for 25–30 minutes, flipping and tossing halfway through. The peppers and onion should be golden brown and soft, and tomatillos should be breaking down.
- Peel the garlic and discard the skins. Working in batches (if needed) transfer the roasted vegetables to a blender. Add cilantro and puree until smooth. Then add cumin and water and blend again until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. If you like a thinner sauce, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 679kcal | Carbohydrates: 45.5g | Protein: 41.1g | Fat: 37.2g | Cholesterol: 128.3mg | Sodium: 1586.8mg | Fiber: 7.3g | Sugar: 13.6g | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I make this recipe about once a month and just realized I never took the time to give it some love! I always make a double batch of the sauce so I have enough to freeze for other recipes like Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Soup. I also like to roast my own Hatch chiles when it’s the season. It is absolutely worth the time to make the sauce from scratch. So much flavor!
I am so thrilled to hear this! Also making the sauce from scratch is amazing and so delicious! Thank you so much for your comment Briana!
This has become a staple in our house. And the homemade green enchilada sauce is so flavorful and amazing! I make batches and freeze to have ready for the next meal. So good! Thank you!!
Yay! So glad to hear that! Thank you Andrea!
I’m on WW and have used many of your recipes-everyone delicious. I don’t know how to print FaceBook posts so have to hand write everyone. Is there an e-mail Chelsea’s Apron? Is there a cookbook I can order?
Thanks
You can click the link on facebook to go to the post and then click “print recipe” on the recipe card! I don’t have a cookbook yet, sorry!
Chelsea, thank you SO MUCH for sharing my book and this recipe with your readers. I’m so thrilled to know you are all enjoying it xoxoxo
This was SO AMAZING! Can’t express how much my family absolutely loved it! If your thinking of making this trust me, its 100% worth it to make the sauce from scratch; omg! I also used her suggestion & bought a whole rotisserie chicken from Kroger since I was preparing it a day & a half later. Saved a lot of time & it’ll save you too($5)! Thank you & to your friend for the extremely delicious recipe & very helpful suggestions:)
Yay! SO thrilled to hear this was a hit 🙂 Thanks Michelle! 🙂