Creamy Hen Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a simple, creamy casserole. Tremendous straightforward to place collectively, and the avocado cream sauce makes this one particular. Severely, you’ll need this sauce on all the things. I like to save lots of a bit of additional and scoop it up with some tortilla chips—so good!

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

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

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use high quality lengthy grain rice for the very 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 important chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely non-obligatory! Contemporary jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
• Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite gentle or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth degree you want.
• Avocados: You need an avocado that’s completely ripe. Strive urgent on the very high of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it provides a bit of, it must be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a superb substitute in the event you don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you’ll be able to completely use flour tortillas in the event you favor.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You’ll be able to simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for a bit of kick.

Hen Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked rooster. You’ve received just a few 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 that you could purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often bought as a “loss chief,” that means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the very best bang on your buck on the subject of 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 bought in luggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay rooster breasts out right into a calmly greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked via. 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. Prepare dinner 5 to 7 minutes per aspect. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

Should you’re searching for extra warmth, seize a medium or scorching salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! It’s also possible to high with recent jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some purple pepper flakes on high for some colour and warmth!

For a milder choice, keep on with gentle salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as a substitute of the entire pepper. Or, omit the pepper utterly.

Make-Forward Directions

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