White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (2024)

by Stephanie April 15, 2024

These simple white chicken enchiladas are stuffed with tender chicken, cheese, and a simple and scrumptious homemade white enchilada cheese sauce and baked until perfection!

White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (1)

These enchiladas are anything but boring. They’re bursting with flavor, thanks to a combination of tender, shredded chicken, a creamy white sauce that’s smooth and comforting, and melty cheese that pulls everything together. Plus, they’re surprisingly easy to make. These have a little kick to them thanks to some diced jalapeno which you can certainly leave it out if desired!

What you need to make White Chicken Enchiladas:

  • Chicken – You can use leftover rotisserie chicken, poached chicken breasts, or even shredded chicken from a grocery store deli. I poached my chicken and shredded it for this recipe.
  • Jalapeno pepper – I like to add a finely diced jalapeno to my chicken mixture for a bit of a kick. If you don’t like spice or are serving to kids, you can leave it out!
  • Olive oil or flour – these will serve as the roux to thicken your white sauce!
  • Chicken broth
  • Spices! Cumin, paprika, garlic and onion powder, and salt. These will go both into your sauce and into the chicken filling.
  • Monterey jack cheese (and lots of it!)
  • Corn tortillas
  • Sour cream
  • Diced chilies
  • Fresh cilantro

White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (2)

Recipe Tips and Suggestions:

  1. To save time, you can buy a rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked shredded chicken from your grocery store, though I find it pretty easy to toss a few chicken breasts into a pot with some spices, poach, and shred. Either way works though!
  2. Related to the above, you can make your chicken in advance, shred, and keep in the fridge overnight if needed.
  3. For the jack cheese, make sure you buy a block of cheese rather than pre-shredded cheese as shredded cheese has added ingredients to avoid clumping that will result in a less-smooth cheese sauce!
  4. I prefer to use corn tortillas over flour tortillas for enchiladas. Corn is more authentic and I prefer the taste and texture over flour which can get sort of gummy for enchiladas.
  5. Make sure to heat your corn tortillas really well before building your enchiladas to avoid tearing them once you roll them up!

White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (3)

Looking for more enchilada recipes? Check these out!

Spicy Beef Enchiladas

Stovetop Chicken Enchiladas

White Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Vegetable Enchiladas

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time25 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Total Time45 minutes

These simple white chicken enchiladas are stuffed with tender chicken, cheese, and a simple and scrumptious homemade white enchilada sauce and baked until perfection!

Ingredients

For the cheese sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons butter (or olive oil)
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 4-ounce can diced green chilies

For the enchiladas:

  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • 3 cups Monterey jack cheese, shredded
  • 8-10 large corn tortillas, warmed

Instructions

  1. In sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and stir until smooth. Pour in the chicken broth and continue whisking until the sauce begins to thicken. Stir in the cumin, garlic and onion powders, and salt. Lower heat to low and stir in the sour cream, half and half, and diced green chilies. Keep sauce heated on low.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. While the sauce is warming, add the chicken to a saute pan and heat over medium high heat. Add the water, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and the jalapeno pepper. Stir the chicken mixture until it is heated and coated in the spices. Remove from the heat and mix in 1/2 cup of the sauce and 2 cups of cheese.
  3. In a 9x13 baking dish, spoon in some of the sauce to coat the bottom of the dish. Take a warmed tortilla and a couple of spoonfuls of the chicken mixture into the center of each tortilla and roll tightly. Place seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas and chicken mixture.
  4. Pour sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Top with foil and place into the oven. Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 5-10 minutes until bubbling and warm. If desired, broil for a minute to toast the cheese on top. Serve with freshly chopped cilantro if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 616Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 728mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 38g

White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (5)

Related posts:

Stovetop Chicken EnchiladasWhite Chicken and Spinach EnchiladasSkinny Chicken EnchiladasSpicy Beef Enchiladas

posted in: Chicken, Entrees, Mexican 5 comments »

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    5 Comments on “White Chicken Enchiladas”

  1. White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (10)

    Debra Byrd Reply

    I can’t wait to make these

    • White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (11)

      Stephanie

      I hope you enjoy them, Debra!

  2. White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (12)

    Dave Reply

    Olive oil or butter for the roux? The description and recipe differ. Or is the oil for heating the tortillas?

    • White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (13)

      Stephanie

      Hi Dave, you can use either. I tend to prefer butter for the roux, but olive oil also works. I just steam my tortillas in the microwave with a damp cloth to warm them. Hope that clarifies!

  3. White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (14)

    Jess Reply

    The sauce is super thin! Does this need to be cooked down even more?

White Chicken Enchiladas - Eat. Drink. Love. (2024)

FAQs

What to eat with white chicken enchiladas? ›

Serve these enchiladas with restaurant-style salsa, guacamole, and homemade tortilla chips and you have a real feast! They're also scrumptious with black beans and rice or a fresh corn salad.

Are enchiladas healthy for weight loss? ›

Nutrition Concerns

The main nutrition drawback with enchiladas is that they can potentially be high in saturated fat, depending on how you prepare them.

Why do Mexicans eat enchiladas? ›

The roots of enchilada date back to the Aztec Empire. Its long history goes way back to pre-Columbian days when eating foods wrapped in a tortilla was the most popular way to eat in the Aztec Empire, particularly in the region of Mexico by the Yucatan.

What is a good side dish to go with chicken enchiladas? ›

Table of Contents:
  • Mexican Rice.
  • Mexican Salad.
  • Lime and Coriander Rice.
  • Mexican Bean Salad.
  • Black Beans and Rice.
  • Mexican Black Beans.
  • Frijoles.
  • Chips and Salsa.

What is white enchilada sauce made of? ›

butter and flour – you will be using these to thicken up the sauce. chicken broth – if you are trying to cut down the sodium, you can use low or no sodium broth. sour cream – if you don't like sour cream you can use plain Greek yogurt or even softened cream cheese.

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 the healthiest Mexican food to order? ›

Order the grilled chicken, lean steak, or grilled fish on a baked corn tortilla. Those have 70% more fiber and less than half the fat of their white flour counterparts. Skip the chorizo, fried fish, and carnitas (fried pork or beef), which are higher in unhealthy saturated fat.

What Mexican food can I eat to lose weight? ›

Mexican foods that are lower in calories typically include options like pollo a la plancha (plate of chicken) and shrimp ceviche (a fresh seafood salad). Chicken or veggie tacos with lean protein and many vegetables are also low-calorie options.

Can I eat enchiladas every day? ›

Although there is some contention, some due to the cheese and meats in enchiladas, they are high in saturated fats. Nutrition experts like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, still recommend keeping your saturated fat intake to a minimum for optimal health.

Why are they called divorced enchiladas? ›

They are called 'divorced' enchiladas because one is covered in green salsa and the other in red salsa! Subscribe to our free CTP download, to be kept up to date with all cookery items.

What kind of sauce do they use for enchiladas? ›

Enchilada sauces include chili-based sauces, such as salsa roja, various moles, tomatillo-based sauces, such as salsa verde, or cheese-based sauces, such as chile con queso.

What country is enchiladas popular in? ›

Enchiladas are a traditional Mexican dish with a unique flavor and a very long history. Their delicious taste has made them a popular menu item at many Mexican restaurants. With the perfect combination of tortilla, meat, cheese, and sauce, enchiladas have become a symbol of a traditional Mexican meal.

What drinks go well with enchiladas? ›

Enchiladas and Mezcal co*cktails

Mezcal-based co*cktails are a great drink to pair with your favorite enchilada. Mezcal-based co*cktails taste smoky and have earthy and herbaceous notes that flawlessly compliment the rich, spicy flavors of enchiladas, creating a bold and flavorful combination.

What is the proper way to eat enchiladas? ›

1. Eating methods: Most diners eat burritos by hand because they are fully enclosed. An enchilada, however, is easier to consume with a fork and knife because the ends of the rolled corn tortillas are open and the dish is typically covered in sauce.

What are enchiladas traditionally served with? ›

Refried beans are served in Mexico, but Mexican rice is an American invention. Why serve them though? Because they're cheap and filling. Finish off two enchiladas with a side of rice and beans and you will be full, very full.

How are you supposed to eat enchiladas? ›

1. Eating methods: Most diners eat burritos by hand because they are fully enclosed. An enchilada, however, is easier to consume with a fork and knife because the ends of the rolled corn tortillas are open and the dish is typically covered in sauce.

What to serve with a Mexican meal? ›

10 Flavorful Sides to Go with a Taco Bar
  • Refried Beans. Refried beans, or "frijoles refritos," have been a staple in Mexican cuisine for centuries. ...
  • Traditional Mexican Rice. ...
  • Taco Slaw. ...
  • Seven-Layer Dip. ...
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad. ...
  • Zesty Black Bean Salad. ...
  • Grilled Corn on the Cob. ...
  • Jalapeño Poppers.
Jul 11, 2023

Are enchiladas made with white or yellow tortillas? ›

Compared to its yellow counterpart, white corn tortillas tend to be softer with a more tender texture. They also have a higher moisture content, which makes them more pliable. These corn tortillas can be easily rolled and folded without cracking or breaking — ideal for enchiladas and flautas.

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