Creamy Hen Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a simple, creamy casserole. Tremendous simple to place collectively, and the avocado cream sauce makes this one particular. Significantly, you’ll need this sauce on every part. I like to avoid wasting slightly additional and scoop it up with some tortilla chips—so good!

For extra enchilada love, attempt our Beef Enchiladas or our Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas.

This recipe happened as a result of I needed to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing tender to eat, and I like stunning her with taste. And thus, this casserole was born! We love this recipe as a result of it’s tender, not soggy, and creamy, however not bland. Plus, you may simply spice it up a bit extra with that jalapeño or some purple pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use a superb high quality lengthy grain rice for one of the best texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic luggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Hen: Rotisserie rooster works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. Should you’re utilizing uncooked rooster, cook dinner it totally earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice permits you to greatest management the flavour. It’s an ideal chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely non-compulsory! Contemporary jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
• Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite delicate or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth stage you want.
• Avocados: You need an avocado that’s completely ripe. Attempt urgent on the very prime of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it offers slightly, it must be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute should you don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you may completely use flour tortillas should you favor.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You’ll be able to simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for slightly kick.

Hen Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked rooster. You’ve obtained a number of choices to select from, so take your choose! We’ve used all of them.

Rotisserie Hen – many grocery shops these days promote cooked rotisserie chickens which you can purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often offered as a “loss chief,” that means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it one of the best bang to your buck relating to rooster. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie rooster pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Hen – try the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked rooster strips and chunks offered in luggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay rooster breasts out right into a evenly greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by way of. Chop into chunks and use immediately, or freeze for later use.

Fast Skillet Hen – warmth a big heavy skillet over medium-high warmth. Add in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place rooster breasts into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner 5 to 7 minutes per aspect. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

Should you’re on the lookout for extra warmth, seize a medium or scorching salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You can too prime with recent jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some purple pepper flakes on prime for some shade and warmth!

For a milder choice, keep on with delicate salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as an alternative of the entire pepper. Or, omit the pepper fully.

Make-Forward Directions

This enchilada casserole can simply be made forward. Assemble and refrigerate earlier than baking, as much as 1 day prematurely. Be sure you retailer it lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to forestall it from drying out. Take away the masking and bake when able to eat.