Green Chicken Enchiladas
Learn how to make easy, cheesy green chicken enchiladas with a homemade tomatillo sauce and rotisserie chicken. I love using rotissierie chicken in this recipe to save time but you can use any cooked, shredded chicken. The homemade tomatillo sauce adds freshness and is a great change from the canned cream of chicken soup recipe or use of bottled salsa verde. Flour tortillas are my personal favorite for enchiladas but you can also use corn tortillas in this recipe. Lots of grated cheese is key to a great enchilada. Use Monterey jack, colby jack, pepper jack or Mexican cheese blend for great flavor.
What do I need to make Green Chicken Enchiladas?
For tomatillo sauce:
- 6 medium sized tomatillos (2″ diameter), husked, rinsed and cut into fourths
- 1/2 yellow onion, cut into 1″ slices
- 1-2 serrano chiles or jalapeno peppers, cut in half lengthwise (if you want mild enchiladas remove the seeds after roasting or leave in for more heat).
- 3 whole garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 lime, juiced (about 1 tbsp)
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chop leaves and stems
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Mexican crema (may substitute crème fraîche or sour cream)
For chicken enchiladas:
- 4 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 3 1/2 cups shredded cheese such as Monterey jack, colby jack, Mexican cheese blend, or pepper jack
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 8-10 flour tortillas (may also substitute corn tortillas)
Optional Garnishes:
Sour Cream
Fresh cilantro
Avocado slices
Chopped red or green onions
Lime wedges
How to make Green Chicken Enchiladas:
Roasted tomatillo sauce:
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil. Place the tomatillos, onion, serrano chilis and garlic cloves on a prepared baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables and toss. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until vegetables have softened and are starting to carmelize. Cool slightly and place in blender container. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.
- Add salt, lime juice, cilantro, chicken broth and Mexican crema to the vegetables in the blender and pulse until mixture is smooth. There will be small bits of cilantro in mixture.
- Set sauce aside and make chicken filling.
Chicken enchiladas:
- Mix shredded chicken, 2 cups of grated cheese, 3/4 cup of tomatillo sauce, green onions, cumin, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl and stir together.
- Place flour tortillas on a large microwave-safe plate and cover with a paper towel. Microwave on high for about 30 seconds to soften the tortillas. Remove and keep covered with the paper towel until ready to assemble.
- Spray a 13″ x 9″ baking dish with cooking spray. Place 3/4 cup of the tomatilla sauce in the bottom of the baking dish and spread it around evenly. If you are making more than 8 enchiladas you will need an additional smaller baking dish (9″ x 9″). Put 6 enchiladas in the large baking dish and the remainder in the second baking dish. Divide up the 3/4 cup of enchilada sauce using 1/2 cup for the large baking dish and 1/4 cup for the smaller baking dish.
- Place one flour tortilla on a large plate and add enough chicken mixture to cover bottom third of the tortilla (scant 1/2 cup). Roll the tortilla up tightly and place seam side down into the baking dish on top of the tomatillo sauce.
- Fill all remaining flour tortillas with chicken filling and place in prepared baking dish.
- Spoon the remaining tomatilla sauce over the tortillas and then sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of grated cheese (or more if you want it really cheesy) on top.
- Bake enchiladas in the oven at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and tortillas are golden brown.
- Serve enchiladas immediately and garnish with toppings as desired.
Notes:
- You can substitute any cooked chicken for the rotisserie chicken.
- Serve with desired garnishes such as cilantro, red or green chopped onions, sour cream or Mexican crema, avocado slices, lime slices, or my Pico de Gallo Salsa.
- If you want enchiladas to be more saucy you can double the tomatillo sauce and use desired amount.
- The enchiladas can be made the night before, covered and refrigerated, and baked when ready to eat. Take out of the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before baking.
- Enchiladas can be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Unthaw completely before reheating in the microwave or oven.
Other yummy recipes to try:
Green Chicken Enchiladas
Learn how to make easy, cheesy green chicken enchiladas with a homemade tomatillo sauce and rotisserie chicken.
Ingredients
Tomatillo sauce:
- 6 medium tomatillos (2" diameter), husked, rinsed and cut into fourths
- 1/2 yellow onion, cut into 1" slices
- 1-2 serrano chiles or jalapeno peppers, cut in half lengthwise (if you want mild enchiladas remove the seeds after roasting or leave in for more heat)
- 3 whole garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 lime, juiced (about 1 tbsp)
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chop leaves and stems
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Mexican crema (may substitute sour cream)
Enchiladas:
- 4 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 3 1/2 cups grated cheese, such as Monterey jack, colby jack, Mexican blend, or pepper jack
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 8-10 soft taco size flour tortillas
Instructions
Roasted Tomatillo Sauce:
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil. Place the tomatillos, onion, serrano chilis and garlic on a prepared baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables and toss. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until vegetables have softened and are starting to carmelize. Cool slightly and place in blender container. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.
- Add salt, lime juice, cilantro, chicken broth and Mexican crema to the vegetables in the blender and pulse until mixture is smooth. There will be small bits of cilantro in mixture.
- Set sauce aside and make chicken filling.
For the enchiladas:
- Mix shredded chicken, 2 cups of grated cheese, 3/4 cup of tomatillo sauce, cumin, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl and stir together.
- Place flour tortillas on a large microwave-safe plate and cover with a paper towel. Microwave on high for about 30 seconds to soften the tortillas. Remove and keep covered with the paper towel until ready to assemble.
- Spray a 13" x 9" baking dish with cooking spray. Place 3/4 cup of the tomatilla sauce in the bottom of the baking dish and spread it around evenly. If you are making more than 8 enchiladas you will need an additional smaller baking dish (9" x 9"). Put 6 enchiladas in the large baking dish and the remainder in the second baking dish. Divide up the 3/4 cup of enchilada sauce using 1/2 cup for the large baking dish and 1/4 cup for the smaller baking dish.
- Place one flour tortilla on a large plate and add enough chicken mixture to cover bottom third of the tortilla (scant 1/2 cup). Roll the tortilla up tightly and place seam side down into the baking dish on top of the tomatillo sauce.
- Fill all remaining flour tortillas with chicken filling and place in prepared baking dish.
- Spoon the remaining tomatilla sauce over the tortillas and then sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of grated cheese (or more if you want it really cheesy) on top.
- Bake enchiladas in the oven at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and tortillas are golden brown around the edges.
- Serve enchiladas immediately and garnish with toppings as desired.
- Notes: *Serve with desired garnishes such as cilantro, red or green chopped onions, sour cream or Mexican crema, avocado slices, lime slices, or my Pico de Gallo salsa. *Any cooked, shredded chicken can be used in place of rotissierie chicken. *If you want your enchiladas more saucy double the tomatillo sauce and use desired amount. *The enchiladas can be made the night before, covered and refrigerated, and baked when ready to eat. Take out of the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before baking. *Enchiladas can be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Unthaw completely before reheating in the microwave or oven.