Chicken Enchiladas With Salsa Verde  Recipe (2024)

Ratings

4

out of 5

4,961

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Stephen Martin

I have been making fabulous enchiladas from leftover roasted chicken breast for years. Store bought green enchilada sauce ishard to beat, particularly Hatch brand. An important step is, after browning the tortillas, to drag them through a shallow bowl of the green enchilada sauce.

Mix the shredded chicken, some green sauce, some onion, and some cheese before filling.

Betsy

Instead of dipping each tortilla in oil, you can instead microwave the stack of tortillas for 10-20 seconds, which will soften them up. Keep the stack covered with a kitchen towel to keep them moist as you take each one to roll up with the filling.

Lisa F

Queso Fresco is not meant to melt- it is often sprinkled over finished dishes for added flavor and texture. It is meant to have the same type of consistency as Feta cheese. In Mexican cuisine it is often served crumbled over black beans, enchiladas, soups, Chilaquiles, sopes, etc.

Donneek

It is so much easier to layer the tortillias with the meat like a lasagna, I usually do three layers cutting the tortillians in half and quarters to fit the pan. I've made it with beef and red mole sauce, and have used chicken and shredded pork butt with the chile verde. one square is the equivalent to three enchaladas.

I have added spinich or chard to the sauce before I blend it other favorites are frozen corn and mushrooms. It's a winner every time!

Sisters

Had no chicken--smashed up a can of pinto beans; no fresh chilis--used a can of Hatch fire-roasted chilis. Mixed the chilis and beans, seasonings, put a spoonful on a softened corn tortilla, added shredded cheese, rolled it up, into a greased baking dish, kept on until out of cheese, beans, and tortillas. Poured Hatch green enchilada sauce over it. Crumbled up queso fresco, put it on top. Baked at 350 for 30 minutes. HEAVEN! Ya use whacha got in the cupboard, right? =)

Anne

They turn to mush without oil and so don't come out of the pan whole.

LeeAnn

I put my cooked chicken breasts in the stand mixer, with paddle attachment, and it makes for perfectly shredded chicken. I do this for shredded pork as well.

BA Garcia

Tomatillos are best once they are charred in cast iron pan or in the oven along with onion, garlic, Serrano Chiles then processed. Put back in pan with some fat and fry a little to give it more dimension. Always fry tortillas to stand up to sauce and for texture. No melting cheese, top with Queso Fresco, onion and radish slices. Let sauce shine through....

Ed

I have on a couple of occasions used shredded Monterey Jack cheese, which melts well and has a nice flavor that marries well with the tomatillos.

MJ

One of the people I was cooking for has the soapy taste problem with cilantro so I omitted it, but the sauce still needed something, which turned out to be lime juice. I added about a tablespoon, which worked beautifully - apparently this is the best thing I've cooked in months, or so says my family. I'll definitely make it again.

Zac from VA

Not sure why the recipe calls for waiting until the cheese melts. Neither queso fresco nor cotija are melting cheeses - they're closer to cottage cheese or feta (respectively) that way.

kittypro

I always toss all the tomatillos, onions and garlic together, place on a foil lined sheet pan, and roast at 375 for 30-45 minutes. Then, put everything in a deep bowl, add the chiles and cilantro, and blend with an immersion blender. Makes cleanup easier. Roasting releases all the juices in the tomtillos and really perks up the flavor. Also, I always opt to triple the sauce. But I like it saucy, so just a personal preference. Good recipe that I have used many times!

Renee

The oil isn't to prevent the tortillas from sticking to the pan, it's to provide a binding for the sauce to the tortilla, without having the sauce penetrate the tortillas, so they don't get soggy. It's about layering flavors. Use the oil!

Jean Miller

In Austin we love enchiladas! This dish, however, is much easier as a layered casserole. Other weeknight hacks: canned tomatillos and a rotisserie chicken. Spread some of the tomatillo sauce in the baking dish. Follow with 4 tortillas, 1/2 the chicken, and 1/3 of the cheese, 1/3 of sour cream, and 1/3 of remaining sauce. Then 4 more tortillas and repeat. Top with final 4 tortillas and last 1/3 of cheese and sour cream. You can have this in the oven in 15 minutes. Fantastic and easy.

GeriR

Could this be made ahead and frozen?

rocky

We keep green chilaquiles sauce in the freezer and leftover chicken, so this came together super fast. Next time I might add chopped onion and maybe some sliced mushrooms. Tasty and fast!

John Golden

Bland and thin. So much better when tomatillos are roasted with vegetables and then puréed with chicken stock enriching the sauce and mixed with meat before rolling uo

Liz

How much salsa verde does the recipe make - in terms of substituting with store-bought salsa verde?

Liz P

These are a great use for the huge batch of tomatillo sauce that I made during summer and froze in jars. Straightforward, delicious recipe!

Pat

This was really bad. Tossed the leftovers. The sauce using roasted tomatillos went south with the addition of the serrano chili. And I love hot. Perhaps another pepper would have been better. Will not bother making again.Would double the tomatillos and substitute good flour tortillas if I did.

Castle Cook

I roasted the salsa verde ingredients (minus the cilantro) in the oven, broiled for a few minutes at the end to get a nice little char, and then added them, plus cilantro, to the blender. DELICIOUS!!!This was a hit!

d

Amazing recipe! Turned out so good especially the salsa verde! I did substitute flour tortillas for corn tortillas because flour has a bit more robust flavor profile and glad I did! Can’t wait to make again in the future

Elaine

I love this recipe! However, I use canned green enchilada sauce instead of the tomatillo-based recipe given here. This is my go-to left-overs recipe! Chicken, of course, but also beef, beans, pork. Yum!

Liz

how much canned sauce did you use?

Namesullycyn

We love Mexican recipes and anything with tomatillos. But these were kind of a disappointment. They were just ok. I could have used more sauce overall. I also might try the suggestion of first roasting the veggies—maybe that would make a difference. Personally, I would also add more spice—and I included the seeds!

Karen

I thought these were just okay, rather bland. I agree with the suggestion to roast the Tomatillos before using them in the salsa, but even so, I will not make this again as written.

Ras Daoud

This looks like a very good recipe. However, there is an error in the text. It says "if you want your sauce less spicy, then remove the seeds. Seeds have a lower concentration of capsicin than does the flesh of the pepper. That which they DO contain is absorbed in the seed coat by diffusion from the internal atmosphere of the berry (yes, peppers are berries).So, if you want a more piquant sauce, de-seed your peppers. (No thoughts on deveining.)

Ann

I took the tip to roast the sauce ingredients before blending and agree that it's even better. The tortilla step seemed stressful and I don't have a microwave so I tried this-- after I took the roasted veg out of the oven, I brushed each tortilla with a little olive oil and stacked them in a foil packet and put them in the still-warm oven while I made the sauce. It worked like a charm.

Sandra Talarico

While they were delicious, it was a lot of work. I made salsa verde several days prior (growing tomatillos this year). You could poach that chicken ahead of time as well (I did not). Frying tortillas calls for a lot of clean up on the stove. They were very, very good.

Shawn Oster

This recipe takes me back to my childhood growing up in Laredo, TX. We were a steak and potato family fresh from South Dakota until my neighborhood tia taught my mom a very similar recipe and we’ve been making it our own ever since. Still my favorite use of chicken or turkey leftovers.Since then I’ve learned many more regional versions but this is pure childhood comfort food for me.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Chicken Enchiladas With Salsa Verde  Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is salsa verde same as enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference between green enchilada sauce (verde sauce) and salsa verde is that enchilada sauce is cooked, and salsa verde is raw. Enchilada sauce also requires liquid (either stock or water), but salsa verde ingredients are simply blended together and eaten as is.

What is the secret to non soggy enchiladas? ›

To prevent your tortillas from tearing or becoming soggy, quickly fry each corn tortilla in any oil you like for about 10 seconds on each side, until it starts to get crispy but is still pliable. This will add a barrier that will keep the tortilla from absorbing too much sauce, and also adds a little extra flavor.

Do I bake enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

Most enchiladas are baked and covered with foil until heated through. Oven temperatures and baking times vary per recipe, but on average they cook in a 350°F oven for about 25 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the enchiladas after they are heated through.

Are chicken enchiladas better with green or red sauce? ›

If you are making enchiladas, you may be wondering, “Which sauce should I use?” This is an excellent question, and the most straightforward answer is whatever you prefer. If you are making beef enchiladas, it is more common to pair them with a red sauce, and chicken enchiladas usually have a green sauce.

Can you use salsa verde instead of green enchilada sauce? ›

No, they are not quite the same. Although you could use salsa verde for enchiladas, I don't really think you'd want to use enchilada sauce as a salsa. The ingredients in each are similar, as another person mentioned, but the consistency is not usually the same.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

Do you put sauce on the bottom of enchiladas? ›

Step 2: Fill then roll the cheese enchiladas

Scoop 1/2 cup enchilada sauce into the bottom of a nonstick sprayed baking dish then spread it into an even layer.

Which is better for enchiladas white or yellow corn tortillas? ›

Compared to its yellow counterpart, white corn tortillas tend to be softer with a more tender texture. They also have a higher moisture content, which makes them more pliable. These corn tortillas can be easily rolled and folded without cracking or breaking — ideal for enchiladas and flautas.

What kind of cheese do Mexican restaurants use in enchiladas? ›

Traditional Mexican enchiladas are usually finished with Mexican crema and queso fresco or cotija cheese, instead of the yellow cheese typical of Tex-Mex enchiladas.

What are the best tortillas for enchiladas? ›

Chicken Enchilada Recipe Variations
  • Use corn tortillas: To make Mexican-style enchiladas, use corn tortillas (homemade or store-bought) in place of flour tortillas. ...
  • Use green enchilada sauce: Instead of red enchilada sauce, try making green chicken enchiladas with my homemade green enchilada sauce recipe.

Why are my chicken enchiladas soggy? ›

If you are actually following a quality enchilada recipe, you should have already dipped your tortillas into your chosen sauce before baking. This process softens the tortilla and infuses it with flavor, so if you just dump the rest of the good stuff on top of your dish before baking, you are begging for a soggy mess.

How do you keep chicken enchiladas from getting soggy? ›

Usually when I've made them I just put sauce on top, not on the bottom, and just down the middle so the edges are exposed. And I make the sauce on the thick side so it is not too watery. I bake them in the oven too, and they are never too soggy, but you could just grill to minimise the sauce absorption.

Can you pre make enchiladas or will they get soggy? ›

If you would like to make a pan of enchiladas in advance, follow the recipe instructions through step 3 (assembling the enchiladas). Wrap the pan tightly with foil. Then you can either refrigerate the enchiladas for up to 3 days, then bake as directed.

What is the closest thing to enchilada sauce? ›

Ranchero sauce is another good option. It's similar to enchilada sauce in taste and texture. The biggest difference is that ranchero sauce has tomatoes, and is usually a tomato-based sauce, while enchilada sauce is usually made without tomatoes.

What is the difference between salsa and enchilada sauce? ›

Salsa vs Enchilada Sauce

These two sauces might overlap in their ingredients, but the key difference is that enchilada sauce is thin, smooth, and served hot. It's also considered an important part of dishes like enchiladas, while salsa roja is a cold table sauce that can be added to anything.

Can you swap enchilada sauce for salsa? ›

Salsa and enchilada sauce are completely different things. You can not make one into the other. Salsa usually has tomatoes along with fresh peppers. There are so many other things that can be added to salsa I won't even try to list them.

What's the difference between red enchilada sauce and green enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference between red and green enchilada sauce is the type of chili that was used. Red enchilada sauce is made with red chilies (in this recipe, ground red chilies or chili powder). Green enchilada sauce is made with green chilis, tomatillos, and sometimes jalapeños, so it tends to have a larger heat range.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 5742

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.