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. Significantly, you’ll need this sauce on every thing. I like to avoid wasting a bit additional 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 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 stunning 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 pink pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use high quality lengthy grain rice for the perfect 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. Should you’re utilizing uncooked hen, cook dinner it totally earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can finest management the flavour. It’s a terrific 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 stage you want.
• Avocados: You need an avocado that’s completely ripe. Attempt urgent on the very prime of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it offers a bit, it ought to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a superb substitute should 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 should you desire.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You may 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 received 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 you can purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often bought as a “loss chief,” which means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the perfect bang to your buck in the case of 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 bought in baggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay hen breasts out right into a calmly greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by means of. 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 facet. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

Should you’re in search of extra warmth, seize a medium or sizzling salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You too can prime with contemporary jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some pink pepper flakes on prime for some shade and warmth!

For a milder choice, stick to 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. You’ll want to retailer it lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to forestall it from drying out. Take away the overlaying and bake when able to eat.