Creamy Hen Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a simple, creamy casserole. Tremendous simple 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 avoid wasting a bit of further and scoop it up with some tortilla chips—so good!

For extra enchilada love, attempt 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 turning into soggy.
• Use rotisserie or leftover rooster to whip up this dish with minimal prep work.

This recipe took place as a result of I wished to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing tender 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 tender, not soggy, and creamy, however not bland. Plus, you’ll be able to 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 most effective texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic luggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Hen: Rotisserie rooster works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. When you’re utilizing uncooked rooster, prepare dinner it totally earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility lets you finest management the flavour. It’s an excellent chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely elective! Recent 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 provides a bit of, it ought to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a superb substitute if you happen to don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you’ll be able to completely use flour tortillas if you happen to want.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You may simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for a bit of kick.

Hen Choices

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

Rotisserie Hen – many grocery shops these days promote cooked rotisserie chickens you could purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s normally bought as a “loss chief,” which means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the most effective bang in your buck relating to rooster. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie rooster 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 rooster strips and chunks bought in luggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay rooster breasts out right into a flippantly greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by. 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 rooster breasts into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner 5 to 7 minutes per aspect. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

When you’re in search of extra warmth, seize a medium or scorching salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You can even high with recent jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some pink pepper flakes on high for some shade and warmth!

For a milder possibility, stick to gentle salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as a substitute of the entire pepper. Or, omit the pepper utterly.

Make-Forward Directions

This enchilada casserole can simply be made forward. Assemble and refrigerate earlier than baking, as much as 1 day upfront. Make sure you 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.