Creamy Hen Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a straightforward, creamy casserole. Tremendous simple to place collectively, and the avocado cream sauce makes this one particular. Severely, you’ll need this sauce on every little thing. I like to avoid wasting a bit of 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.

This recipe happened as a result of I wished to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing gentle 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 gentle, 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 a superb high quality lengthy grain rice for the most effective 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 totally earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice lets you greatest management the flavour. It’s an incredible chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely non-obligatory! 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. Strive urgent on the very prime of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it offers a bit of, it needs to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good 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’ll be able to simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for a bit of kick.

Hen Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked hen. You’ve acquired just a few 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 that you could purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s normally offered as a “loss chief,” that means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the most effective bang in your buck with regards to hen. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie hen pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Hen – try the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked hen strips and chunks offered in baggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay hen breasts out right into a frivolously greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by way of. Chop into chunks and use instantly, 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 aspect. 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! It’s also possible to prime with contemporary jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some pink pepper flakes on prime for some coloration and warmth!

For a milder choice, follow 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 prematurely. Make sure to retailer it coated with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to forestall it from drying out. Take away the masking and bake when able to eat.