This easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe is a super simple dinner the whole family will love. This delicious recipe has a little bit of crunchy with just enough of the enchilada chewy goodness filled with Mexico-inspired flavors and the perfect amount of spicy heat.
Best Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe
Spicy chicken, mixed with creamy cheese, beans, veggies, and soft tortillas, topped with your favorites, like sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro. Yum!
Who doesn’t love a good casserole?! Casserole recipes allow for a quick and easy meal that you can put together ahead of time while meal prepping for the week or easily assemble during a busy night.
Related: How to cook marinated chicken in the air fryer
This is one of my favorite enchilada recipes. Easy chicken enchiladas are great, and a great way to use up leftover chicken. It is an easy recipe and a family favorite.
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This Chicken Enchilada Recipe:
- Serves 6-8
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients – Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- 1 can (19 oz) red enchilada sauce, mild or hot
- 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1 cup salsa, mild or hot
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans
- 12 (6 inch) corn tortillas or flour tortillas, cut to fit baking dish
- 1 can (15.25 oz) corn or 2 cups frozen corn, drained
Optional Toppings
- Tomatoes
- Green onion
- Olives
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Fresh Cilantro
Instructions -Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Step 1
First thing you need to do is preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2
Start by lightly spraying a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
Step 3
Then, in a large bowl, stir together enchilada sauce and salsa.
Step 4
Reserve 1 cup of sauce mixture.
Step 5
Next, spread about ½ cup sauce evenly on the bottom of the baking dish.
Step 6
Drain and rinse black beans, drain pinto bean and corn, stir into sauce.
Step 7
Then, stir in chicken.
Step 8
Cut tortillas and layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Step 9
Next, cover with one third of the meat mixture.
Step 10
Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over meat mixture.
Step 11
Then, repeat with another layer of tortillas, meat mixture then 1 cup cheese.
Step 12
Add remaining tortillas and remaining ½ cup sauce mixture, then more cheese.
Step 13
Next, lightly spray a piece of foil to prevent cheese sticking, and cover baking dish.
Step 14
Bake covered for 20 minutes.
Step 15
Uncover and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.
Step 16
Remove from oven and let set for 5 minutes before serving.
Step 17
Serve with your favorite toppings. Like salsa, salsa verde, pico de gallo, red onions, chilies, green chilies, etc.
Recipe Notes
- Ground beef can also be used instead of chicken. Brown ground beef on the stove until no pink remains.
- Beans – you can use any beans you like
- Don’t have time to slow cook chicken? Rotisserie chicken also works and is moist.
- Need some heat? Green chiles work great here.
- I like to add some seasoning to my mixture like chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic powder.
- You can use canned red sauce or homemade enchilada sauce or green enchilada sauce.
- My momma always added black olives to the chicken mixture.
- You can use any shredded chicken whether its chicken breast or skinless chicken thighs.
- You can use whatever cheese you have on hand- Monterey jack cheese, cheddar cheese, etc.
- Don’t have shredded chicken on hand? Then use your crock pot to cook some chicken during the day and shred it in the crockpot to use for this Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe.
How To Make Gluten Free Enchilada Casserole
It is so easy to convert this enchilada casserole into a gluten free recipe!
Use gluten free flour tortillas instead of traditional flour tortillas (Mission makes delicious gluten free tortillas!).
Then, just double check that the rest of your packaged ingredients are gluten free.
What To Serve With Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Whenever I make enchiladas or tacos, I love serving yummy bean and rice dishes on the side! Why not have more of a good thing, am I right?!
- This Tex-Mex black bean and corn salad is the perfect side for your chicken enchilada casserole! Just add a bit of guacamole and a spritz of fresh lemon or lime juice–YUM!
- Speaking of guac, here is THE BEST guacamole recipe, ever! It’s so easy to make and just tastes better when it’s homemade!
- I also love to make a big pot of Mexican rice, too! It mixes nicely with the black bean and corn salad.
- You can also had a side of Mexican rice as well as refried beans. It will go with the best chicken enchiladas.
How To Store Your Enchilada Casserole
Have leftover enchiladas? Well you can store any remaining sauce in an airtight container or freeze it.
The enchiladas should be eaten over the next couple days. You can wrap it in aluminum foil or put it over your casserole dish or put in an airtight container. Remember to allow your food come to room temperature before you put it in the fridge or freezer as putting hot into cold can cause bacteria to grow and the moisture will make your food soggy.
Can You Make This Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe Gluten-Free?
Yes! Just make sure you use corn tortillas and double check the packaging to ensure you have a gluten-free meal.
Leftover Chicken Enchilada Casserole Storage
You can put your leftover Chicken Enchilada Casserole in the refrigerator in an airtight container and it’ll stay good for 2-3 days.
Can I Freeze My Leftover Chicken Enchilada Casserole?
Yes you can! Make sure you wrap the food good and put it in an airtight freezer container and it should stay good for up to 3 months.
Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe
Switch up your Taco Tuesday routine with this easy and delicious chicken enchilada casserole!
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 1 can (19 oz) red enchilada sauce, mild or hot
- 1 cup salsa, mild or hot
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans ** see notes
- 12 (6 inch) corn or flour tortillas, cut to fit baking dish
- 1 can (15.25 oz) corn or 2 cups frozen corn, drained
- 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Optional Toppings:
- Tomatoes
- Green onions
- Olives
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly spray 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together enchilada sauce and salsa.
- Reserve 1 cup of sauce mixture.
- Spread about ½ cup sauce evenly on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Drain and rinse black beans, drain pinto bean and corn, stir into sauce.
- Stir in chicken.
- Cut tortillas and layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Cover with one third of the meat mixture.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over meat mixture.
- Repeat with another layer of tortillas, meat mixture then 1 cup cheese.
- Add remaining tortillas and remaining ½ cup sauce mixture, then more cheese.
- Lightly spray a piece of foil to prevent cheese sticking, and cover baking dish.
- Bake covered for 20 minutes.
- Uncover and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and let set for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with your favorite toppings.
More Yummy Chicken Recipes & Easy Dinners
Chicken is on of those foods that even the pickiest of eaters will eat, if you have the right recipe! Here are some of our favorite chicken recipes:
- Nothing says summer like these yummy grilled chicken recipes! I love grilling chicken, then cutting into strips to store in the fridge and use in salads, sandwiches, and other recipe throughout the week!
- For more see these easy chicken dinner recipes!
- I also love making Air Fryer chicken breasts when I am meal prepping for the week!
- If you family loves fried chicken, and you’re looking for a healthier option, try our Air Fryer fried chicken recipe!
- This cherry pineapple chicken recipe from The Nerd’s Wife is dangerously good!
- Instant Pot chicken and rice is the perfect comfort food dish!
- Let’s make Mexican lasagna!
- Pssst…one of my favorites is this easy chicken noodle casserole.
- Need to empty your pantry because there is not time to go to the store? This is what is for dinner tonight!
- You’re gonna love this corn salsa recipe!
- Don’t miss out on these great chicken casseroles!
- We have the Best Acorn Squash Recipe!
- This creamy chicken slow cooker recipe is SO GOOD!
What is your favorite topping for chicken enchiladas? Comment below!
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