Golden-brown baked Chicken Enchiladas garnished with fresh cilantro and crumbled cheese, ready to serve on a white marble surface.

Welcome to a truly classic comfort food! These Easy Red Chicken Enchiladas bring all the delicious, savory flavors you love straight to your dinner table. This recipe makes weeknight cooking simple, transforming humble ingredients into a satisfying meal. Get ready to create a memorable dish that your whole family will adore.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Making Chicken Enchiladas at home has never been easier or more delicious. This recipe is designed for busy parents and beginners, ensuring a stress-free cooking experience.

Quick & Easy Weeknight Meal: You can have dinner on the table in under an hour.
Family-Friendly Flavor: Everyone, even picky eaters, will enjoy the mild, cheesy taste.
Customizable Fillings & Toppings: Adjust to your family’s preferences with various add-ins.
Perfect for Meal Prep: Prepare components ahead of time or make a double batch for later.
Comforting and Satisfying: Indulge in warm, cheesy goodness that feels like a hug in a dish.

Ingredients

Gather these simple ingredients to create your fantastic Chicken Enchiladas:

1 ½ cups cooked shredded chicken: A great way to use leftovers.
2 cups easy enchilada sauce, divided: The heart of our red enchilada sauce.
8 corn or flour tortillas: Your choice for wrapping.
2 ½ cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese, divided: For cheesy perfection.
Salt and black pepper: To taste.
Optional toppings: Diced onions, chopped cilantro, sour cream, shredded lettuce, cotija cheese.

Notes & Substitutions

You have options for many of these components! These tips ensure your Chicken Enchiladas turn out perfectly every time.

Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a fantastic time-saver. You can also boil and shred chicken breasts or thighs.
Enchilada Sauce: Use a high-quality store-bought red enchilada sauce for convenience. Feel free to make an easy homemade version for a richer flavor.
Tortillas: Corn tortillas offer a traditional flavor, while flour tortillas are softer and less prone to tearing. Warm them thoroughly to make them pliable.
Cheese: Mexican-blend cheese melts beautifully. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Oaxaca cheese are also excellent choices.
Spice Level: Add a pinch of chili powder or a dash of hot sauce to the chicken mixture for a little extra kick.

Equipment

You won’t need many special tools for this recipe. Just grab these kitchen essentials:

Large mixing bowl
9×13 inch baking dish
Measuring cups and spoons
Spatula or tongs

Instructions

Let’s make these incredible Chicken Enchiladas! Follow these easy steps for a delicious result.

Prep Oven & Chicken: Preheat your oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken with ¼ cup of the red enchilada sauce and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Mix everything together thoroughly. Taste the chicken mixture and season with more salt and pepper as needed to achieve your desired flavor. This seasoned chicken is the delicious filling for our enchiladas.
Warm Tortillas: Warming your tortillas is key to preventing tears. If using corn tortillas, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 1 minute, flipping halfway through, until they are warm and pliable. For flour tortillas, place them on a plate and microwave for 1 minute, flipping halfway, until warm and flexible.
Assemble Enchiladas: Begin filling each warm tortilla. Distribute the shredded chicken mixture evenly among the eight tortillas. Then, sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded Mexican-blend cheese over the chicken in each tortilla.
Roll & Arrange: Tightly roll each tortilla to enclose the filling. Place the rolled tortillas seam-side down in your 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange them snugly in a single layer to ensure they bake evenly.
Sauce & Cheese: Pour the remaining 1 ¾ cups of enchilada sauce evenly over the rolled tortillas. Make sure all the chicken enchiladas are nicely coated. Finally, sprinkle the remaining 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese over the sauced tortillas.
Bake: Transfer the baking dish to your preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly around the edges. This baking time ensures everything is heated through and the flavors meld.
Serve: Carefully remove the dish from the oven. Let the enchiladas rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with your desired toppings and enjoy these wonderful Easy Red Chicken Enchiladas immediately.

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Achieve perfect Chicken Enchiladas every time with these helpful hints and fixes.

Preventing Soggy Tortillas: For corn tortillas, briefly fry them in a little oil before filling. This creates a barrier and prevents them from becoming mushy.
Make Ahead: Prepare the chicken filling and enchilada sauce a day or two in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator.
Even Rolling: Avoid overfilling your tortillas. This ensures they roll tightly and stay intact during baking.
Flavor Boost: Sauté diced onions or minced garlic before mixing them with the chicken for added depth of flavor.
Cheese for Melt: Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded. Freshly grated cheese melts smoother and tastes better.

Serving Suggestions, Storage & Variations

These Chicken Enchiladas are incredibly versatile.

Serving Suggestions

Pair your delicious enchiladas with classic sides or fresh toppings.

Classic Sides: Serve alongside fluffy Mexican rice and creamy refried beans for a complete meal.
Fresh Toppings: Garnish with pico de gallo, sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, fresh cilantro, or crumbled cotija cheese.
Light Options: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette provides a refreshing contrast.

Variations

Explore different flavors and fillings for your enchiladas.

Different Sauces: Experiment with green enchilada sauce, vibrant salsa verde, or a rich white queso sauce instead of red.
Meat Alternatives: Substitute the chicken with seasoned ground beef, tender pork carnitas, flavorful birria, or make them vegetarian with black beans and corn.
Add-ins: Enhance your filling with black beans, corn, diced bell peppers, or finely chopped jalapeños for extra texture and flavor.

Storage & Freezing

Enjoy your enchiladas later with these simple storage tips.

Refrigerate: Store leftover baked enchiladas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze Baked: Allow the baked enchiladas to cool completely. Wrap the entire dish tightly with plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat.
Freeze Unbaked: Assemble the enchiladas as directed but do not bake. Cover the dish tightly and freeze. Bake from frozen, adding extra time until heated through and bubbly.

Nutrition Information

Here is the approximate nutritional information per serving for these Chicken Enchiladas.

Nutrient	Amount
Serving Size	2 enchiladas
Calories	371 kcal
Carbohydrates	25 g
Protein	24 g
Fat	19 g
Saturated Fat	10 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	1 g
Monounsaturated Fat	0 g
Trans Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	50 mg
Sodium	800 mg
Potassium	130 mg
Fiber	4 g
Sugar	4 g
Vitamin A	1350 IU
Vitamin C	0 mg
Calcium	420 mg
Iron	1.1 mg

Please note: Nutritional information is an estimate based on ingredients and cooking methods. Values may vary.

FAQ

Got questions about making these delicious Chicken Enchiladas? We have answers!

Can I use store-bought enchilada sauce? Absolutely, a good quality store-bought red enchilada sauce makes this recipe incredibly quick and easy. It saves a lot of time without sacrificing flavor.
How do I prevent my corn tortillas from breaking? Always warm corn tortillas thoroughly before filling them. Wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving them helps make them pliable.
Can I make these spicy? Yes, you can easily add heat! Mix a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder into your chicken filling, or add diced jalapeños for a fresh kick.
What kind of chicken is best for enchiladas? Cooked and shredded chicken breast or thigh works wonderfully. Rotisserie chicken is a convenient choice that adds great flavor and saves prep time.

Conclusion

These Easy Red Chicken Enchiladas are the ultimate comfort food, perfectly balancing simplicity with incredible flavor. You’ll love how straightforward this recipe is, proving that delicious home-cooked meals don’t need to be complicated. So go ahead, whip up a batch, and enjoy a truly satisfying dinner that the whole family will adore. We can’t wait to hear how your Chicken Enchiladas turn out! Please leave a comment and rating below.

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