Creamy Hen Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a simple, creamy casserole. Tremendous straightforward to place collectively, and the avocado cream sauce makes this one particular. Critically, you’ll need this sauce on all the pieces. I like to save lots of a bit further and scoop it up with some tortilla chips—so good!

For extra enchilada love, strive our Beef Enchiladas or our Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas.

Why Our Recipe

• The creamy avocado sauce is purpose alone to make this recipe!
• Corn tortillas preserve this casserole from changing into soggy.
• Use rotisserie or leftover hen to whip up this dish with minimal prep work.

This recipe happened as a result of I needed to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing delicate to eat, and I like shocking her with taste. And thus, this casserole was born! We love this recipe as a result of it’s delicate, not soggy, and creamy, however not bland. Plus, you possibly can simply spice it up a bit extra with that jalapeño or some pink pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use high quality lengthy grain rice for the perfect texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic baggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Hen: Rotisserie hen works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. In case you’re utilizing uncooked hen, cook dinner it completely earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility means that you can greatest management the flavour. It’s an important chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely elective! Contemporary jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
• Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite gentle or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth degree you want.
• Avocados: You need an avocado that’s completely ripe. Attempt urgent on the very high of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it offers a bit, it needs to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute for those who don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you possibly can completely use flour tortillas for those who desire.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You possibly can simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for a bit kick.

Hen Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked hen. You’ve received a couple of choices to select from, so take your decide! We’ve used all of them.

Rotisserie Hen – many grocery shops these days promote cooked rotisserie chickens you can purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often bought as a “loss chief,” that means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the perfect bang to your buck relating to hen. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie hen pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Hen – take a look at the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked hen strips and chunks bought in baggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay hen breasts out right into a evenly greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by means of. Chop into chunks and use immediately, or freeze for later use.

Fast Skillet Hen – warmth a big heavy skillet over medium-high warmth. Add in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place hen breasts into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner 5 to 7 minutes per facet. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

In case you’re searching for extra warmth, seize a medium or sizzling salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You can even high with contemporary jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some pink pepper flakes on high for some coloration and warmth!

For a milder possibility, keep on with gentle salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as an alternative of the entire pepper. Or, omit the pepper fully.

Make-Forward Directions

This enchilada casserole can simply be made forward. Assemble and refrigerate earlier than baking, as much as 1 day upfront. Remember to retailer it lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to forestall it from drying out. Take away the masking and bake when able to eat.