Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This delicious one pot meal is made with only 6 ingredients, all of which are easily found in your local grocery store. Chicken enchilada casserole is a hearty, layered Mexican-inspired dish made with tender chicken, corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, and cheese. It’s slow cooked combining all the classic enchilada flavors in an easy, comforting casserole form.
This recipe is great for busy weeknights. Just pop it in the slow cooker in the morning. When you get home, shred the chicken, stir in the corn tortillas, add some cheese and olives. Cook for an additional hour, and get ready for a delicious meal. What I like best is, you have that enchilada flavor without the huge mess all over your kitchen from frying tortillas and rolling the enchiladas.
My family loves Mexican style food and this dish delivers! Give it a try and I think it will become a favorite of your family too!
Adapted from Sarah Olson at themagicalslowcookeker.com
Tips
Why use corn tortillas and not flour? Flour tortillas will make this dish doughy. They can’t hold up to the slow cooking. Use corn tortillas that are cut into fourths.
Can a different kind of meat be used? Yes. I make this dish with boneless skinless chicken breasts because I like the way they shred. However, you can use boneless skinless thighs if you prefer dark meat. Ground beef and precooked chicken (rotisserie chicken) will work too. Cut the initial cooking time in half. Cubed beef stew meat works great if you love beef enchiladas. The beef flavors the enchilada sauce very well.
Can green enchilada sauce be used? Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The consistency of the sauce will be more liquidly and make the enchiladas soggy.
What makes it a casserole? This dish is actually a deconstructed enchilada that is instead constructed in layers.
- After the chicken has cooked all day, it is shredded. Corn tortillas, half the cheese, and half the olives are then added. Stir and flatten out into a casserole.
- Add more cheese and olives on top. Cook on low for 40 to 60 minutes or until the center is hot.
- Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with Chicken Enchilada Casserole? Spanish rice is a nice complement to this meal. Refried beans work well too. And don’t forget to top the serving with a dollop of sour cream and cilantro. A side salad rounds out the meal. All that being said, this meal is so filling you really don’t need a side.