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Home Recipe Index Casseroles

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

★★★★★ 4.6 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Rachel Tiemeyer
By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 9/21/23Updated: 10/30/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Soon to be a family favorite! These easy, freezer-friendly Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas include lean chicken, hearty black beans, aromatic Tex-Mex spices and veggies, and gooey cheddar cheese, all wrapped in soft tortillas and smothered in a rich, flavorful red enchilada sauce. Be sure to double and freeze a batch for later.

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas baked in a white casserole dish.

 
Table of Contents
  • About This Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes & Variations
  • Tip: Freeze Leftover Tortillas
  • How to Make Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
  • Side Dish Ideas for Enchiladas
  • Freezing Enchiladas
  • Recipe FAQs
  • 25+ Amazing Mexican Recipes
  • Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

About This Recipe

Hands down, this recipe is my husband’s and my favorite enchilada casserole. It’s simple to throw together in about 10 minutes or prep it days in advance. I feel confident serving this on a weeknight or to guests in my home, along with some Chips and Guacamole and Mexican Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette.

If your crew isn’t a huge fan of enchilada sauce, make sure to check out our Baked Chicken Fajitas. Similar concept but without the sauce. And just as good. 🙂

Ingredient Notes & Variations

Gather the ingredients below for Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas. Don’t be afraid to take some short-cuts from the store on items such as red enchilada sauce, canned black beans, and taco seasoning packets.

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada  Ingredients measured out on a counter and labeled.

Notes on Ingredients:

  • Tortillas – I made a choice to make this recipe a little easier by using flour tortillas than the traditional corn tortillas. That’s because the corn tortillas need to be warmed first so they don’t fall apart and dipped in the enchilada sauce before rolling. It’s messier and takes longer. But, if that’s your thang, go for it! I also like using whole wheat tortillas because they are a little healthier.
  • Spice Level: You can adjust the spice level of this recipe by the ingredients you use. If you don’t like things to be too spicy, I would suggest buying “mild” for the salsa, taco seasoning, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. When I tested with mild salsa, medium chiles, and medium enchilada sauce, it was pretty spicy for my kids. (My husband and I loved it, though.)
  • Gluten-Free Swaps: If you’d like to make this recipe GF, use an enchilada sauce that’s gluten-free like Siete brand. Use 8-inch gluten-free flour tortillas (I’ve found that the corn tortillas are too small and fall apart easily.)
  • To Make It Healthier: If you want to up the nutrition ante on this casserole, use whole wheat organic tortillas (like Stacy’s Organic Tortillas found in health food stores), use an all-natural enchilada sauce (like Siete brand) or make your own, and cut back on the cheese a little. You could also add in diced bell peppers when sautéing the onions to include more veggies.

Note: Find our full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and directions at the bottom of this post.

Tip: Freeze Leftover Tortillas

If you have leftover tortillas, did you know you can freeze them? Here is the best way to freeze tortillas for later.

How to Make Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Prep

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of the dish (and reserve the rest).

Saute Onions and Chicken

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add chicken and saute for 4 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.

Diced onion sauteing in a black skillet.
Cut up chicken sauteing with diced onion in a skillet.

Cook Filling

Sprinkle the taco seasoning and garlic over the chicken/onion mixture and stir to coat. Stir in black beans, green chiles, and salsa and simmer for about 4 minutes, until sauce thickens and reduces.

Sauteed chicken, diced onion, and minced garlic sauteing in a skillet with taco seasoning just dumped in.
Cheesy Chicken Enchilada filling ingredients in piles in a skillet: cooked taco-seasoned chicken, green chiles, black beans, and salsa.
Cheesy chicken enchilada filling ingredients all mixed in a skillet.

Build Casserole

Arrange the tortillas on a flat surface. Top each tortilla with a generous 1/2 cup chicken/bean mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese. Roll up tortillas and place them seam-side down, side-by-side in the baking dish. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top of the enchiladas. Then, sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly over the top.

Chicken enchilada filling in a 1/2-cup measuring cup being put on a tortilla with other rolled up enchiladas in a baking dish next to it.
A hand spreading shredded cheddar cheese on top of chicken enchilada filling on a tortilla.
A hand rolling up a tortilla with chicken enchilada filling and shredded cheddar cheese in it with a casserole dish of rolled up tortillas and red enchilada sauce next to it.

Bake

Bake enchiladas for about 15 minutes, until heated through and top is golden.

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas in a casserole dish before baking.
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas baked in a white casserole dish.

Side Dish Ideas for Enchiladas

Avocado salsa in a white bowl with chips surrounding it.

Avocado Salsa

Fiesta chopped salad in a white bowl with serving spoons.

Fiesta Chopped Salad

chips and guac

Chips and Guacamole

Mexican chopped salad in a white bowl.

Mexican Chopped Salad

Freezing Enchiladas

What might surprise you is that these chicken enchiladas make a great freezer meal. Simply follow the directions below, and you’ll have a healthy freezer meal waiting for you to cook on a busy night down the road!

Freeze For Later: Pour 1/2 cup enchilada sauce in bottom of 9×13-inch freezer-safe casserole dish. Prep the casserole, following Steps 2-4 in the recipe at the bottom, but don’t bake. Either snap on an air-tight lid or wrap the casserole in multiple layers of plastic wrap or foil, squeezing out any excess air. Label and freeze the casserole for up to 3 months.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw enchiladas in the refrigerator for approximately 24 hours. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake enchiladas for 15 minutes, or until bubbling on the edges and cheese is golden brown on top. If the enchiladas are somewhat frozen when cooking, cover them in foil and bake longer until hot in the center.

Baking dish covered with aluminum foil and labeled Chicken Enchiladas.

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze enchiladas?

Yes, you can freeze chicken enchiladas before baking, if you use flour tortillas. (We have found that corn tortillas fall apart when freezing and thawing.) Wrap the enchilada casserole tightly in foil or plastic wrap and freeze. Thaw and bake when you’re ready to enjoy.

Can I make chicken enchiladas ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the enchilada casserole ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

How do I reheat leftover enchiladas?

You can reheat leftover enchiladas in the oven or air fryer at 350°F until heated through, or microwave small portions in 20-second increments until warmed through. Cover them with foil when reheating in the oven to prevent drying out.

Are chicken enchiladas spicy?

The level of spiciness depends on the enchilada sauce, salsa, green chilis, and any added spices. Go with “mild” spice level if you’re sensitive to heat.

How long do I bake enchiladas at 400°F?

Since everything is already fully cooked in an enchilada casserole, you only need to bake it until it’s hot throughout and bubbly on the edges, about 15-20 minutes.

A cheesy chicken enchilada on a plate with a dollop of sour cream on top and a lime wedge on the side.
Collage of Mexican dishes.

25+ Amazing Mexican Recipes

Looking for more easy, mouthwatering Mexican recipes? Be sure to browse through our round-up of 25+ Amazing Mexican Recipes!

Some of our reader favorites include:

    • Creamy Chicken Taquitos

    • Fiesta Chopped Salad

    • Mexican Soup

    • Taco Bar

    • Chicken Chimichangas

25+ Amazing Mexican Recipes

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas baked in a white casserole dish on a wooden table.
★★★★★ 4.6 from 5 reviews

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

These easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas include lean chicken, hearty black beans, aromatic Tex-Mex spices and veggies, and gooey cheddar cheese, all wrapped in soft tortillas and smothered in a rich, flavorful red enchilada sauce. Soon to be a family favorite!

Yield: 6 large enchiladas (4 servings) 1x
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 30 minutesTotal: 40 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later
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Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (15-16 ounces) red enchilada sauce (rec: Siete Enchilada Sauce)
  • 2 teaspoons avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles, juice and all
  • 1/3 cup salsa (rec: Mateo’s Salsa, mild or medium)
  • 6 (8-inch) flour tortillas (rec: Stacy’s Organic Whole Wheat Tortillas)
  • 1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (sub: Monterey Jack)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of the dish (and reserve the rest).
  2. Saute Onions & Chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add chicken and saute for 4 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
  3. Cook Filling: Sprinkle the taco seasoning and garlic over the chicken/onion mixture and stir to coat. Stir in black beans, green chiles, and salsa and simmer for about 4 minutes, until sauce thickens and reduces.
  4. Build Casserole: Arrange the tortillas on a flat surface. Top each tortilla with a generous 1/2 cup chicken/bean mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese. Roll up tortillas and place them seam-side down, side-by-side in the baking dish. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top of the enchiladas. Then, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese evenly over the top.
  5. Bake: Bake enchiladas for 15 minutes, until cheese is golden.

Freeze For Later: Pour 1/2 cup enchilada sauce in bottom of 9×13-inch freezer-safe casserole dish. Follow Steps 2-4. Either snap on an air-tight lid or wrap the casserole in multiple layers of plastic wrap or foil, squeezing out any excess air. Label and freeze the casserole for up to 3 months.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw enchiladas in the refrigerator for approximately 24 hours. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake enchiladas for 15 minutes, or until bubbling on the edges and cheese is golden brown on top. If the enchiladas are somewhat frozen when cooking, cover them in foil and bake longer until hot in the center.


Notes/Tips

    • I made a choice to make this recipe a little easier by using flour tortillas than the traditional corn tortillas. That’s because the corn tortillas need to be warmed first so they don’t fall apart and dipped in the enchilada sauce before rolling. It’s messier and takes longer. But, if that’s your thang, go for it! I also like using whole wheat tortillas because they have more fiber and are bigger than the corn tortillas. I highly recommend using Stacy’s Organic Whole Wheat Tortillas because of their clean ingredients. I find these at health food stores.
    • Spice Level: You can adjust the spice level of this recipe by the ingredients you use. If you don’t like things to be too spicy, I would suggest buying “mild” for the salsa, taco seasoning, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. When I tested with mild salsa, medium chiles, and medium enchilada sauce, it was pretty spicy for my kids. (My husband and I loved it, though.)
    • Gluten-Free Swaps: If you’d like to make this recipe GF, use an enchilada sauce that’s gluten-free like Siete brand. Use 8-inch gluten-free flour tortillas (I’ve found that the corn tortillas are too small and fall apart easily.)
    • To Make It Healthier: If you want to up the nutrition ante on this casserole, use whole wheat organic tortillas (like Stacy’s Organic Tortillas found in health food stores), use an all-natural enchilada sauce (like Siete brand) or make your own, and cut back on the cheese a little. You could also add in diced bell peppers when sautéing the onions to include more veggies.
    • Where We Get Our Chicken: We get our meat from ButcherBox. The chicken is organic and curated from small, trusted farms. We highly recommend this service to source healthy meat–like uncured bacon, wild salmon, and grass-fed beef–and have used it for years ourselves. Read my honest review here.

© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: Mexican Method: Baked

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Photos and video by Whitney Reist of Sweet Cayenne.

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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. AvatarMandy says

    Posted on 5/14/14 at 4:45 pm

    Getting ready to try these!! Would it work okay to use 6″ soft taco size tortillas, and just use a couple more of them? That’s what I had on hand. Thanks!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 5/14/14 at 6:29 pm

      I’m sure it’d be great!

      Reply
  2. Avatarreji says

    Posted on 3/31/14 at 11:08 am

    I really liked this recipe but do u know how many calories is there in one serving?

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 3/31/14 at 1:38 pm

      I don’t, but you can enter in the recipe at Spark People and check. There are a lot of free apps that do this too. One of these days we won’t be wrangling kids at home while blogging and can compute nutrition info for all our recipes, too. 🙂

      Reply
  3. AvatarBonnie says

    Posted on 8/5/13 at 1:04 pm

    Thanks for sharing this recipe. I made them last night and they were a big hit at our house. It will become a new staple for us.

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 8/5/13 at 7:27 pm

      So glad to hear it went over well, Bonnie! Thanks for letting me know and thanks for reading.

      Reply
  4. AvatarThe Better Baker says

    Posted on 1/11/13 at 2:14 pm

    Wanted to let you know I’m featuring this yummy recipe as my personal favorite at Weekend Potluck linky party. C’mon over and grab the Featured Button. =) http://www.thebetterbaker.blogspot.com/2013/01/gooey-grape-salad-weekend-potluck-49.html

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 1/11/13 at 6:16 pm

      Awesome, thanks so much! Sure will.

      Reply
  5. AvatarThe Better Baker says

    Posted on 1/8/13 at 7:13 pm

    Oh these look fantastic. Healthy too! Thanks a million for linking up at Weekend Potluck….I am printing this recipe to try one day soon. MMM good!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 1/8/13 at 8:03 pm

      Thanks so much! It’s one of our favorites.

      Reply
  6. AvatarAlisha says

    Posted on 12/19/09 at 3:28 am

    Oops – I meant that we've read the book many times. 🙂

    Reply
  7. AvatarAlisha says

    Posted on 12/19/09 at 3:27 am

    Sorry – I just now checked your blog again! Oops! Yes, it's my husband, and we own that book – many times since my husband's last surgery! In fact, we just made a big batch of the pumpkin muffins! Love the recipes in it. I definately agree that it's different with each person – I feel like we've gone the complete circle that everyone talks about – medicine, to the "all natural/diet/nutrition based/Jordan Rueben" method, and then when a flare up comes up again, you realize again that it IS autoimmune, despite whatever you do, and end up on medicine again. *Sigh* 🙂 I'd love to be able to cook the same meal for the three of us – insoluable fiber included!

    Reply
  8. AvatarRachel says

    Posted on 11/28/09 at 8:14 pm

    Alisa,

    Sorry…I reread your original comment and realized that it is your husband who has Crohn's (not your child). Regardless, I know it's hard when someone you love has to struggle with this.

    Rachel

    Reply
  9. AvatarRachel says

    Posted on 11/28/09 at 8:12 pm

    Alisha,

    I'm so sorry to hear about your son. I know how difficult a Crohn's diagnosis can be, especially when you have to watch your child go through it. From what I understand, everyone is different, especially when it comes to foods that are tolerated. Jack can eat beans…in fact, at this point, he eats just about anything. However, I realize that beans and other high-fiber foods, can wreak havoc on a Crohn's digestive system–especially during flares. One book I've found especially helpful is called "What to Eat with IBD" by Tracie M Dalessandro. She is an RD and has Crohn's herself. She gives great suggestions for foods that are healing for the gut and foods that are harmful. And, she includes quite a few recipes, as well. Hope that helps! Please feel free to email me sometime (rachelcasteel@hotmail.com). I'd love to connect more.

    Reply
  10. AvatarAlisha says

    Posted on 11/26/09 at 11:59 pm

    Did your son eat these? I'm always looking for new recipes to cook since my husband has Crohn's Disease as well – usually beans tear him up inside – if your son ate them, did you do anything special to his? Thanks!

    Reply
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