Chicken enchiladas, especially these green chili chicken enchiladas, hold a special place in our hearts because they were the very first recipe we learned to make, and they’re a perfect example of how our Mexican heritage shines through in our cooking.
Since then, they’ve been made HUNDREDS of times (maybe more) and we’ve deemed enchiladas as a family favorite dinner! We make them almost weekly and love to whip them up for dinner guests making them one of our signature dishes!
The flavors of green chiles + loads of chicken and gooey cheese make them absolutely irresistible – it’s no wonder they’re ALWAYS a hit!
Serve them alongside our famous Mexican Rice and Canned Refried Beans for a complete Mexican feast!
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Feeds the masses. Great for making for company because it’s easy to double (or even triple!)
- Freezer Friendly. Green chile chicken enchiladas are our favorite recipe to store in the freezer for a rainy day!
- Warm sauce softens tortillas. A quick dip prevents cracking and makes rolling easy.
- Sauce coverage keeps them tender. Baking covered in sauce prevents dry enchiladas and keeps them moist.
Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas Ingredients
- Shredded cooked chicken (2 cups): Tender protein that soaks up the tangy green sauce and keeps each enchilada hearty. Baked Chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, or even Shredded Chicken (canned chicken can be used but we do not prefer it).
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese, or Mexican blend cheese, divided (2 cups): Half melts inside for creamy pull, the rest finishes bubbly on top. Or Mexican blend, grated marble Colby jack, cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese and pepper jack cheese blends all work well.
- Chopped green chiles (1, 4-ounce can can): Mild heat and bright chile flavor that defines the dish. For a milder flavor use diced green bell peppers. For extra heat use diced jalapenos.
- Garlic salt and pepper (to taste): Quick, even seasoning that boosts savory notes.
- Las Palmas green chile enchilada sauce (1, 28-ounce can): Tangy, silky sauce for dipping tortillas and smothering the pan. Or make homemade Green Enchilada Sauce.
- Corn tortillas, 6 inch (8): Classic texture and flavor; dipping them in hot sauce keeps them pliable and prevents cracking. We prefer corn tortillas since they are more traditional and add more flavor to the recipe, but you can swap the corn tortillas with similarly sized Flour Tortillas. (No need to dip flour tortillas in the sauce before rolling.)
- Sour cream (1 cup): Adds cool creaminess inside each roll for a luscious, balanced bite.
- toppings (optional) – olives, tomatoes, diced red onions, sliced jalapenos, fresh cilantro, salsa, chili peppers, black beans, or corn
How to Make Chicken Enchiladas
PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
FILLING. In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, 1 cup of cheese, green chiles, and salt and pepper to taste.
SAUCE. In a small skillet, bring the enchilada sauce to a boil. Remove from heat.
FILL. Dip each tortilla into the heated sauce for a few seconds to soften.
- Spoon ⅓ cup of chicken mixture and 2 tablespoons sour cream down the center for each tortilla.
- Roll the tortilla and place seam-side down in 8×8-inch (or 9×9) baking dish.
- Repeat with remaining tortillas. Pour the remaining heated enchilada sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
BAKE. Bake the green chili chicken enchilada recipe uncovered for 20 minutes. Let them cool a few minutes before serving. Serve with favorite toppings like Pico de Gallo, Sweet Salsa Verde, Homemade Salsa, and Guacamole.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30-60 seconds to help keep them from cracking while rolling.
- Be sure to dip the tortillas in the hot sauce so they can soften and won’t crack when rolled.
- Use about ⅓ cup filling per tortilla as written for even portions and tidy rolls.
- For easy application use sour cream in a squeeze bottle or put the sour cream in a sandwich bag and cut off the bottom tip.
- Arrange seam side down and snuggle rolls close so they do not unroll while baking.
- Freshly shredded cheese melts better than packaged cheese.
- Bake until the edges bubble and the top cheese melts with a few golden spots for best flavor.
Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, or Mexican blend cheese, divided
- 1 (4-ounce) can can chopped green chiles
- garlic salt and pepper to taste
- 1 (28-ounce) can Las Palmas green chile enchilada sauce
- 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, combine chicken, 1 cup cheese, chiles, salt, and pepper.
- In a small skillet, bring enchilada sauce to a boil, then lower temperature and bring to a simmer.
- Dip each tortilla into heated sauce for a few seconds to soften.
- Place a tortilla in a 9×11 inch baking dish and spoon ⅓ cup of chicken mixture and 2 tablespoons sour cream down the center. (NOTE: The squeeze sour cream works great.)
- Roll the tortilla and place seam-side down.
- Repeat with remaining tortillas. Pour enough sauce to cover the enchiladas. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Make sure to dip the tortillas in the sauce so they can soften and won’t crack when rolled.
- Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded packaged cheese.
- For easy application use sour cream in a squeeze bottle or put the sour cream in a sandwich bag and cut off the bottom tip.
- To bake. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Pour on the extra sauce and add the cheese before baking according to the recipe directions.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Make as instructed, cover them with plastic wrap, and place them in the fridge for up to 24 hours, or cover again with foil and freeze for 3-4 months. Take the excess sauce place it in an airtight container and refrigerate or freeze it.
To bake. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Pour on the extra sauce and add the cheese before baking according to the recipe directions.
Store leftovers in an airtight container(s) in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze for 3 months. Thaw if needed and reheat large portions in the oven and smaller portions in the microwave.
Complete The Meal
Side Dishes
Homemade Spanish Rice Recipe
45 mins
Easy Esquites Recipe
20 mins
Canned Refried Beans
10 mins
Mexican Street Corn Recipe
13 mins
More Enchiladas
Desserts
Cheesecake Chimichanga
30 mins
Churro Cheesecake Bars
40 mins
Mexican Wedding Cookies
1 hr 26 mins
Easy Tres Leches Cake
4 hrs 32 mins
Collections
This recipe was originally published June 2010.
this is a great easy week night recipe! I bought the larger size can of green sauce and poured extra on top. thank you so much. delicious!
That’s perfect!! And, yes, these are great anytime! I am glad you liked them! Thank you 🙂
THIS is such a simple recipe that LOOKS and smells delicious! I’m making it tonight for my family. My only question is how do you keep the tortillas from cracking WHILE rolling them or falling APART when pulling them out of the sauce?
Don’t get them to soaked or they may rip. You can heat them in the microwave for a few seconds in a paper towel, to warm them up, which helps. I sure hope you liked them!!
I didn’t soak THEm. I dipped THEm in the warm sauce to make THEM more pliable. One I did have trouble getting OUT did end up FALLING APART. The rest as I rolled cracked and broke open. I will TRY warming them in the microwave next time.
Thank you i will make the enchiladas tonight and add cream of mushroom soup to the green palmas chili , God bless you ,thank you
You are so welcome!! I sure hope you liked them!
Great Recipe and so easy, thank you. The las palmas green sauce is my favorite. I do have to admit though that sometimes im super lazy so i just add sourcream to directly to the chicken mixture. 😉
Nothing wrong with that! I am glad you liked it! Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much for this! i got this recipe.years ago from a las palmas can. sometimes they will have it on the label sometimes not and I couldnt remeber the measurements of the ingredients. Tgis is indeed one of.my favorite dishes – even tho’ it is ‘whitened up’.
i lived much of my adult life in chicago and aurora, il. now I am in total white country, with some sprinkles of color, but it is nothing like the availability of quality natural mexican ingredients. it is pegged as lil Mexico, as eceey corner had homemade tamales, salsa, GOOD salsa. Tamarindos, annd conchez pastries. I am sure you know that.. i miss quality Mexican food, the talent and pride.in thier food, never to disapoint our “authentic” Mexican food, veey festive on the outside, just enough to fool you to walk in, and see that everyone is white and none speak spanish. The didnt meet my lowest expectation, but A for effort – however an unfortunate example and reality for such a delicious, beautiful culture.
It doesnt matter to me, what percentage you are, or how much brown you have. you are celebrating, teaching and sharing a part of you with us. I am honored (and a bit pissed) fhat you have reminded me of all those things i missed.
about the recipe, crazy easy to make – delicious and yup, i did use the flour tortillas this eve.
KEEP CALM AND SALSA ON!!
Thank you so much for sharing that!! I appreciate it 🙂
The green chili sauce in these enchiladas is so yummy. It taste just like the homemade stuff without the effort. Very easy to put together and something my whole family likes!
I am not a fan of red enchiladas, so I was excited to try these. I will be adding these to our monthly menu! We paired it with your Spanish rice & the whole family loved it!
This was a winner with my picky kids! I loved the tip on the video about putting the sour cream into a bag to pipe on. How have I never thought to do that before!!!!
Super Easy! Super Delicious!
Made with everything I had on hand! Extra easy with Costco Rotisere Chicken that they take off the bone for you and sell in the package.
Perfect!! Thank you for sharing 🙂 I am so glad you liked it!
We have made this recipe many times, and its always so yummy! Sometimes, we like to use flour tortillas but I think they taste more authentic with corn.
5 stars for sure!
Thanks so much for sharing that!
I agree!! I like to use both, corn & flour 🙂 I’m glad you like them!