Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas in 30 minutes? Yes, it’s possible and this recipe is going to be a family favorite in no time at all.
Gooey cheese, spicy green chile, and hearty chunks of chicken come together to make this easy dinner.
This simple recipe for Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas is cheesy, spicy, and well-loved by my family.
I’ve been making 30-Minute “casserole style” Enchiladas for so long, I can’t recall the last time I rolled or stacked a batch of enchiladas in a more traditional recipe.
You can have these Green Chile Enchiladas on the table in less time than it would take to pick up take-out. I promise they’ll taste better than anything you can buy.
How To Make Enchiladas
I alternate making enchiladas with red chile or green chile enchilada sauce, depending on my mood as I’m cooking most of the time. However, I can’t deny that I choose green chile at least 90% of the time.
One of my boys prefers red chile though, so every so often a batch of red enchiladas will make it’s way to our table.
You can also make them “Christmas-style” – and use a combination of both sauces for the layers, similar to the way the flavors are combined in this Mexican Lasagna.
We are rarely patient enough to wait for a pan of enchiladas to cool enough to slice pretty, so we typically eat our enchiladas with a pile of crunchy tortilla chips as a hot and cheesy “dip.”
If your preference is sliceable enchiladas, let them cool 15-20 minutes prior to serving. If you haven’t eaten a plate of gooey enchiladas alongside a pile of crunchy chips, then you are missing out.
Try it once and I’m willing to bet you’ll never choose “sliceable” enchiladas again.
Easy Chicken Enchiladas
My favorite tips for these Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas are illustrated in this video. I slice the tortillas into wedges before layering them into the dish.
This makes each serving easier to eat, with a great balance of flavors and textures in each bite, and it prevents any giant chunks of tortilla from making their way to your fork.
For an awesome slow-cooker variation on an enchilada dinner, check out this Crock Pot Mexican Casserole. All the southwestern flavors we love in a simple slow cooker dinner.
Enchilada Recipes
For more great enchilada recipes, save these recipes for Breakfast Enchiladas and Cheesy Chicken White Bean Enchiladas. Green Chile Chicken Chowder is great white bean and chicken soup.
Check out these Steak Fajita Enchiladas by Aggie’s Kitchen and our BBQ Chicken Enchiladas too.
This Ground Turkey (low carb) Enchilada Casserole by Kalyn’s Kitchen and these Enchiladas Suizas by A Zesty Bite also look delicious.
My kids love it when I make these Pulled Pork Red Chile Enchiladas when I use leftover pulled pork to make this recipe.
These enchiladas can be made in almost any 1 ½ quart oven safe dish. The smaller and taller the dish, the longer the enchiladas will take to bake.
A larger (9×13 style) dish will work as well, just watch the time more closely and don’t overcook the shallower enchiladas.
Monterrey Jack, Pepper Jack, Cheddar, or Mexican blend shredded cheeses all work well in enchiladas. I tend to use whichever varieties I have on hand. A blend of Pepper Jack and Cheddar is my favorite combination.
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, ½ cup of chile sauce, cumin, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add the chicken, beans, and green chile. Stir to combine.
- Pour about ¼ cup of the green chile sauce into the bottom of a 9-inch baking dish. Place a layer of tortillas wedges across the green chile sauce and then scoop about ½ of the chicken mixture on top of the tortillas. Sprinkle with 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese.
- Layer with tortillas, top with the remaining chicken mixture and sprinkle with another 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese. Layer once more with tortillas and pour the remaining 1 ¼ cup of chile sauce over the tortillas. Sprinkle generously with the remaining 2-3 cups of cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until the edges are bubbling. Remove from the oven and scoop piping hot onto plates or let cool for 15-20 minutes for a prettier slice of enchiladas. Serve with tortillas chips.
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 2 cups red or green chile enchilada sauce homemade or store-bought, divided
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ¾ teaspoon cumin
- ¾ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon granulated onion or onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 cups cooked chicken shredded or chopped bite-size
- 14 ounces can pinto or black beans drained and rinsed
- 4 ounces chopped green chile frozen is fine
- 5 white corn tortillas cut into 6 pie-shaped wedges
- 5-6 cups shredded cheese see cook’s note, divided
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, ½ cup of chile sauce, cumin, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add the chicken, beans, and green chile. Stir to combine.
- Pour about ¼ cup of the green chile sauce into the bottom of a 9-inch baking dish. Place a layer of tortillas wedges across the green chile sauce and then scoop about ½ of the chicken mixture on top of the tortillas. Sprinkle with 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese.
- Layer with tortillas, top with the remaining chicken mixture, and sprinkle with another 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese. Layer once more with tortillas and pour the remaining 1 ¼ cup of chile sauce over the tortillas. Sprinkle generously with the remaining 2-3 cups of cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until the edges are bubbling. Remove from the oven and scoop piping hot onto plates or let cool for 15-20 minutes for a prettier slice of enchiladas. Serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 1/28/16 – recipe notes and photos updated 4/20/21}
jason says
great recipe
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like the enchiladas, Jason!
Nicole says
So, so good! I mixed red and green enchilada sauce and it was amazing!
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the enchiladas, Nicole!
Charlene says
my husband cannot eat beans of any type will this work with out them consistency wise?
Mary Younkin says
Absolutely, Charlene. It will work nicely without the beans.
Loretta says
Made this last night. You are correct about it is a lot easier than rolling tortillas. It was perfect and everyone loved it. I should have watched the video before I made it. I ended up using more tortillas, but I don’t think it mattered. Also using 9 x 9 Aluminum pan I agree with another post that it took longer to heat than 25 minutes. Actual time was 40 minutes. Really good recipe, can’t wait to make it for a large group.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the enchiladas, Loretta!
AntKathy says
I made these exactly as written and ran into a few problems. When layered in a 9X9 casserole dish, the dish is filled to the very, very top. Surprisingly, it did not overflow — score a point for that. The biggest problem with the pan was that it took much, much longer to cook than 20 minutes. Yes, my oven temperature is correct, and yes I preheated it. I have no idea why it took so long to cook. As it was, part of it was hot, and part of it was lukewarm. A problem for me since I prefer piping hot food. I did opt to wait for the sliceable style casserole, but some servings were still very hot while some were not. The other problem I had was that the tortillas were mushy. This may be the way the recipe is meant to be especially if you are going to eat it with chips, but I found it yucky.
However, everyone else in the family absolutely loved this dish, so five points for that minus one point for the problems I encountered. My son and I did not find this spicy (heat) at all, but my daughter felt it was very spicy (heat). She is more sensitive to chiles and peppers. The flavor was excellent and can stand on its own without spicy heat, but if you like chiles and peppers you might want to add diced jalapenos or something hotter to the dish.
I will make this again because the family liked it but would not make it again for myself. Since the family liked it, I’d consider it a win. Next time I’ll be prepared for a longer cooking time and maybe lightly fry the tortillas like traditional enchiladas to give it more body. However, if you want to serve it with chips as recommended, the soggy tortillas are fine.
Mary Younkin says
I’ll have to watch the time more closely next time I make this to double-check the cooking time, Kathy. I know all ovens are different, but that’s a pretty significant difference. I bake it until it is good and hot – bubbling all around the edges and hot throughout. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The tortillas definitely soften in this casserole. Frying them will change that a bit, but like you said, it’s immensely dippable this way and we love it.
Keri says
Elevation can change cook times too.
Martin D. says
This was quick and really good! I have always rolled my enchiladas so I was a bit skeptic about the whole cutting the tortillas into wedges thing. The turned out amazing.
Martin
Mary Younkin says
I felt the same way the first time I tried it. Now, I’ll never go back. I’m so glad that you like the enchiladas, Martin!
Dee says
I used 1/2 green chilies and 1/2 jalapeños..we like ours a bit zippy.
Also I used a lot more tortillas, made it more casserole like.
We love this recipe!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you love the recipe.
Tiffany says
One of our favorites! Such a great tasting and simple recipe. Thank you!
Tiffany
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you liked the enchiladas, Tiffany!
DICK BIRKENHAUER says
awesome ! don’t eat if you’re on a diet, you can’t stop till it’s gone !!
Mary Younkin says
hahaha, I’m so glad you like the enchiladas, Dick!
connie Dunfield says
I’m making this one for my Gluten Free family members! Thanks
Mary Younkin says
I hope you love it, Connie!
T Browne says
Born and raised in Arizona, and this is totally not authentic… Green chili chicken enchiladas are made with flour tortillas and DO NOT have beans of any kind in them. Nor do they have dried/powdered onion. Sorry, this is just gross in my opinion.
Mary Younkin says
Well, to each their own, but “authentic” in my experience growing up in NM and AZ has rarely been made with flour tortillas. However, I’ve had delicious enchiladas made with flour tortillas, so that works too. (And for what it’s worth, you’ll find many enchiladas made with each kind of tortilla here on the website.) Lastly, I didn’t use the word authentic anywhere in this recipe and I don’t usually do that since food is all a matter of opinion. Have a great day and definitely make enchiladas however makes YOU happiest.
Mary Walker says
What if you dont have things for the chili sauce?
Mary Younkin says
Hi Mary, I’m not sure what you’re asking. I just buy the enchilada sauce at the store if I’m not making it myself.
Lora A Yoder says
Yum!! I’m wondering about leaving the tortillas out completely & just serve as a dip w/chips!?
Mary Younkin says
You can definitely do that, however, the tortillas cook down and thicken it nicely. We almost always serve it as a dip with chips, exactly as written. It will be pretty thin without the tortillas in it. Still really tasty though.
Rachel says
Excellent recipe! Thank you!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you like the enchiladas!
Kris Marie says
Hi Mary, I’m new here….I know this is a crazy question but could I use cooked left over Turkey instead of chicken? I’m absolutely going to make this….like now! Thank you.
Mary Younkin says
I just saw this, Kris. I’m thrilled that you tried it with the turkey and that you enjoyed it!
Kris Marie says
Made this with left over Turkey and it was awesome! I also mixed a can of green and red enchilada sauce! Very delicious! Thank you!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Susan says
It was very easy to make. Very good
Cheryl Mann says
This was really good, although a super amount of cheese.
I misread the recipe and used white flour tortillas rather than white corn. Still turned out good.
Make my own green chili sauce.
Have a lot left over, so may freeze.
Garnished with guacamole.
Was really tasty.
Mary Younkin says
Cheryl – We do love our gooey melty cheese on enchiladas. These should freeze nicely for you.
Audrey says
So good & super easy to prepare! I cooked the chicken in the Instant pot with fresh roasted hatch chiles, it was juicy and didn’t dry in the oven. This dish was a family fave & even got approval from a teenager. 🤣
Mary Younkin says
Having teenagers myself I know how hard it is to earn that approval badge! Good for you, happy I could help.
Lisa Bullock says
This was amazing! It was as good as the enchiladas I make individually that takes a lot of time.
I doubled recipe to freeze some mixture. Also used extra cans of green chilis because we like spicy. Paired it with refried beans which was a great side with it. Thanks for posting it!!
Mary Younkin says
Thank you for sharing, Lisa. I do love enchiladas but not the rolling-up assembly so these are perfect and so tasty!
Erin says
Delish! Can this be frozen and reheated?
Mary Younkin says
Hi, Erin! These enchiladas can be frozen and reheated without an issue. For the best result, I’d actually recommend freezing the tray before it goes into the oven, so that everything will cook from the same starting point. Enjoy!