Description
Mexican-inspired cream cheese chicken enchiladas promise rich, creamy comfort in every bite. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and zesty sauce create a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (0.47 L/16 fl oz) shredded chicken (rotisserie recommended)
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese (softened)
- ½ cup (118 mL/4 fl oz) sour cream
- 1 cup (113 g) shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
- 1 cup (113 g) shredded cheese (topping)
- 1 can (4 oz/113 g) diced green chilies
- 8–10 flour tortillas (medium-sized)
- 2 cups (473 mL/16 fl oz) enchilada sauce (red or green)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Chopped cilantro
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced jalapenos
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Prepare Kitchen Setup: Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent ingredient adherence.
- Create Filling Fusion: Combine shredded chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, green chilies, garlic powder, onion powder, and seasonings into a harmonious, creamy mixture that promises rich flavor complexity.
- Establish Sauce Foundation: Spread a thin enchilada sauce layer across the baking dish bottom, creating a moisture-rich environment for the upcoming culinary creation.
- Assemble Enchilada Rolls: Carefully distribute the chicken mixture into tortillas, rolling each into a tight cylinder and positioning them seam-side down within the sauced baking vessel, ensuring precise placement and uniform coverage.
- Enhance Flavor Profile: Generously drizzle remaining enchilada sauce over the rolled tortillas, guaranteeing complete moisture distribution and intensifying the dish’s overall taste experience.
- Cheese Transformation: Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese across the enchiladas, creating a golden, melting layer that will develop a crisp, appetizing crust during baking.
- Baking Process: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and filling to heat thoroughly, then remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until cheese becomes bubbly and golden-brown.
- Final Presentation: Garnish with fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, or sliced jalapenos to elevate visual appeal and introduce complementary flavor dimensions.
- Serving Suggestion: Plate immediately with accompanying rice and beans, transforming the dish into a complete, satisfying culinary experience.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Texture: Shred chicken finely and ensure it’s not too dry by using rotisserie or freshly cooked chicken with retained moisture for a creamy, tender filling.
- Prevent Tortilla Sogginess: Lightly toast tortillas before filling to create a protective barrier that stops excess sauce from making them mushy during baking.
- Control Cream Cheese Consistency: Soften cream cheese at room temperature and mix thoroughly to eliminate lumps, creating a smooth, even filling throughout the enchiladas.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust green chilies and add optional jalapeños or hot sauce to personalize heat intensity for different taste preferences and dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg