These have been on my to-make list forever and I kept putting them off. Honestly, I read the recipe over and it looked a little time-consuming for me. I can be a very lazy cook but I finally gave in and made them since my husband’s grandparents were visiting for the weekend. This was my first time making enchiladas at home and I was very impressed. Like I said, it was a bit time-consuming but not enough that I wouldn’t make them again.
The chicken cooks in the homemade enchilada sauce, which I found to be an interesting technique which gave fabulous results. The enchiladas can be assembled ahead of time and I’m sure they would freeze very well. However, I found it was easier to make the enchilada filling in the afternoon and then quickly assembled them right before popping them in the oven. Our company LOVED them and even went back for seconds. I’m pretty sure that’s a compliment, but they’re so sweet I’m not sure if they were just being polite. In my defense, my husband liked them and he’s not a huge fan of mexican food.
Chicken Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion chopped fine
- 2 jalapenos seeded and chopped fine
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 tomato seeded and chopped
- Salt and pepper
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese divided
- 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese divided
- ½ cup minced fresh cilantro
- 12 6-inch soft corn tortillas
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Combine the onion, jalapeno and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the onions and peppers have softened, 8-10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin and sugar, and cook just until fragrant, less than 30 seconds. Mix in the tomato sauce, water, and chopped tomato. Bring the sauce to a simmer, lower the heat and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Nestle the chicken into the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the chicken is completely cooked through (160˚ F on an instant-read thermometer), about 12-20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside to cool.
- Strain the sauce through a large mesh strainer into a medium bowl, pressing down on the onions and tomatoes to extract as much liquid as possible. Transfer the reserved solids to a large bowl and set aside. Season the sauce with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Shred the chicken into bite size pieces and add to the bowl with the onion mixture. Add in ¼ cup of the enchilada sauce, ½ cup of each of the shredded cheeses, and the cilantro. Stir to combine.
- Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Oil a 9 x 13″ baking dish with cooking spray. Stack the tortillas on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 40-60 seconds, until warm and pliable. Spoon 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture evenly down the center of a tortilla. Roll up the tortilla around the filling tightly, and place in the prepared baking dish, seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining filling and tortillas.
- Lightly spray the tops of the enchiladas with cooking spray. Place in the oven, uncovered, for 7 minutes or until the tortillas start to brown slightly.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 400˚ F. Remove the enchiladas from the oven and pour the sauce oven the top. Sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is browned. Remove from the oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Should I cover chicken enchiladas when baking?
Most enchiladas are baked and covered with foil until heated through. Oven temperatures and baking times vary per recipe, but on average they cook in a 350°F oven for about 25 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the enchiladas after they are heated through.
What is the secret to good enchiladas?
The most important tip for avoiding soggy enchiladas is to briefly fry your tortillas in hot oil before you fill and roll. This creates a little bit of a barrier so that the tortillas don’t soak up too much of the sauce and therefore start to break down.
What is chicken enchilada made of?
These easy chicken enchiladas feature corn tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken and cheese, topped with the best enchilada sauce, and even more cheese! They’re baked until the cheese is deliciously melted and bubbly. Because they’re so easy to make, I make these enchiladas about once a week.
What cheese melts the best for enchiladas?
What Kind of Cheese For Enchiladas. Use a shredded Mexican cheese blend for the best melting and flavor. A rustic cut blend of 4 cheese is the best all-around cheese for enchiladas. Look for one that includes Montery Jack, Cheddar, Asadero and Queso Quesadilla Cheese
