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. Critically, you’ll need this sauce on every thing. I like to avoid wasting 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 hold this casserole from changing into soggy.
• Use rotisserie or leftover hen 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 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 may simply spice it up a bit extra with that jalapeño or some crimson pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use a superb high quality lengthy grain rice for one of the best texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic luggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Hen: Rotisserie hen works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. When you’re utilizing uncooked hen, prepare dinner it completely earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can greatest 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. Strive urgent on the very high of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it offers a bit, it must be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute in the event you don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you may completely use flour tortillas in the event you want.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You’ll be able to 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 bought a number 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 that you could purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s normally bought as a “loss chief,” that means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it one of the best bang to your buck on the subject of 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 luggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay hen 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 via. 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. Prepare dinner 5 to 7 minutes per aspect. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

When you’re on the lookout for extra warmth, seize a medium or sizzling 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 crimson pepper flakes on high for some shade and warmth!

For a milder choice, 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 utterly.

Make-Forward Directions

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