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 the whole lot. I like to avoid wasting just a little 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 motive alone to make this recipe!
• Corn tortillas maintain this casserole from turning 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 needed to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing mushy 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 mushy, not soggy, and creamy, however not bland. Plus, you’ll be able to simply spice it up a bit extra with that jalapeño or some crimson pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use a great high quality lengthy grain rice for the most effective 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. If you happen to’re utilizing uncooked hen, cook dinner it completely earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility lets you greatest management the flavour. It’s an incredible chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely optionally available! Contemporary jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
• Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite delicate or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth stage 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 provides just a little, it needs to 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’ll be able to completely use flour tortillas in the event you choose.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You’ll be able to simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for just a little kick.

Hen Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked hen. You’ve obtained a couple of 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 which you can purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often offered as a “loss chief,” which means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the most effective bang to your buck with regards to 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 offered 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 way of. Chop into chunks and use instantly, 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

If you happen to’re on the lookout for extra warmth, seize a medium or scorching salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! It’s also possible to high with recent jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some crimson pepper flakes on high for some colour and warmth!

For a milder possibility, follow delicate salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as a substitute 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. Make sure you retailer it coated with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to stop it from drying out. Take away the protecting and bake when able to eat.