These Cheesy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas make for a quick and filling weeknight meal that the entire family will love it!

chicken enchiladas topped with avocado

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Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Cheesy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas, made with corn tortillas, shredded chicken, a mix of cheeses, green chiles and a delicious and rich sauce!

Perfect for a hearty weeknight meal that’s packed with Mexican flavor.

Chicken Enchiladas are one of my favorite Mexican Recipes. You can never go wrong when making them!

How To Make Creamy Chicken Enchiladas – Step By Step

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Wrap tortillas in paper towels and heat them in the microwave on HIGH just until softened and warm; set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon oil, onions and jalapenos. Sauté the onions and jalapeno until softened. Add chicken, green chilies (with juice), smoked paprika and red pepper flakes. Then, add cup chicken broth, stir and bring the mixture just to a boil. Remove from the heat; set aside.
  3. In a different large skillet set over medium heat, melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook one minute, whisking continuously, and add the remaining 1¾ cup chicken broth. Continue stirring and cooking 2 minutes. Then, add the remaining can of green chilies with juice.
  4. Reduce the heat to low and stir in 2 cups of the mixed cheeses, sour cream, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika and cilantro. Stir and cook just until cheese is melted.
  5. Spoon about 2 tablespoons chicken mixture into the middle of a tortilla, cover with 1 tablespoon shredded cheese and roll it up. Place seam-side down into the sprayed dish and repeat with the remaining tortillas (or as many as will fit in the dish).
  6. Pour the cheese mixture over the tortillas and top with additional shredded cheese, then bake until hot & bubbly and the cheese is just beginning to brown.
  7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle additional fresh cilantro. Serve with your favorite toppings.
creamy chicken enchiladas step by step process shots
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avocado on top of creamy chicken enchiladas
overhead shot of creamy chicken enchiladas

Creamy Enchilada Sauce

Red sauce has its place in the world of enchiladas, but sometimes it can be too thin or so overwhelming in flavor that you can’t taste the other ingredients.

Instead, this recipe has a rich and creamy white sauce! It’s a sour cream based sauce, light in flavor but with a hint of heat from the green chilies. So good!

Serving Suggestions

These chicken enchiladas are so good, and all you need as a side is some refried beans and Mexican rice. Or if you want something lighter, serve with a leafy green salad.

Here are some more side dish ideas:

avocado and chopped tomatoes on top of enchiladas
spatula cutting into dish

How to Store Leftover Enchiladas

  • Refrigerate: To keep the enchiladas up to 2 days in the refrigerator, tightly cover the pan with foil before storing.
  • Freeze: To freeze the enchiladas for up to 3 months, tightly wrap the entire pan with foil, crimping to seal around the edges to prevent freezer burn.
  • Reheat: To reheat (bake), remove plastic wrap, cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover; continue to bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until completely cooked through.
enchilada on plate
creamy chicken enchilada on plate with beans

Tips!

  • You can use a rotisserie chicken for this recipe, easy and delicious!
  • You can use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas. Flour can get a bit soggy, but still delicious!
  • Many people like to substitute sour cream with plain greek yogurt for a healthier option. You can definitely do the same in this recipe. Just use an equal amount of yogurt in place of the sour cream.
  • To shred the chicken, use two forks. Or if you have a stand mixer (using the paddle attachment), put your chicken in the mixing bowl and mix until shredded.
side shot of enchilada

More Mexican Recipes we love

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe Card

Cheesy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

4.70 from 13 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Becky Hardin
creamy cheesy chicken enchiladas featured image
These Cheesy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas make for a quick and filling weeknight meal that the entire family will love it!

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Ingredients 

  • 3 cups chicken meat 1 rotisserie chicken shredded or cut into
  • ½- inch pieces
  • 2 cups chicken broth divided
  • 2 tablespoons canola or olive oil divided
  • 1 medium onion (2 cups) diced
  • 1 jalapeno ribs and seeds removed
  • 2 4 ounce cans diced green chilies with juice
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika divided
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup grated Monterey Jack Cheese
  • ½ cup grated Pepper Jack Cheese
  • 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • Kosher salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • 12 8-inch flour or corn tortillas

Toppings:

  • Picanté sauce Taco sauce or salsa
  • Shredded cheese
  • Chopped Tomatoes
  • Chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions 

  • Heat oven to 350°F and adjust oven rack to middle position.
  • Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Wrap tortillas in paper towels and heat them in the microwave on HIGH just until softened and warm; set aside.
  • In a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon oil, onions and jalapenos. Sauté the onions and jalapeno about 4-5 minutes or until softened. Add chicken, 1 can green chilies (with juice), ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika and red
  • pepper flakes. Stir and cook 1 minute. Add ¼ cup chicken broth, stir and bring the mixture just to a boil. Remove from the heat; set aside.
  • In a different large skillet set over medium heat, melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook one minute, whisking continuously, and add the remaining 1¾ cup chicken broth. Continue stirring and cooking 2 minutes.
  • Add the remaining can of green chilies with juice.
  • Reduce the heat to low and stir in 2 cups of the mixed cheeses, sour cream, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika and cilantro. Stir and cook just until cheese is melted.
  • Taste and, if desired, season with salt and pepper.
  • Spoon about 2 tablespoons chicken mixture into the middle of a tortilla, cover with 1 tablespoon shredded cheese and roll it up. Place seam-side down into the sprayed dish and repeat with the remaining tortillas (or as many as will fit in the dish).
  • Pour the cheese mixture over the tortillas and top with additional shredded cheese.
  • Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes or until hot & bubbly and the cheese is just beginning to brown.
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle additional fresh cilantro. Serve with your favorite toppings.
  • Enjoy!

Video

Calories: 561kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 26gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 794mgPotassium: 361mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 850IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 425mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.70 from 13 votes (11 ratings without comment)
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8 Comments
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Jennie Colomer
Jennie Colomer
June 2, 2021 6:07 pm

Amazing recipe. The whole family loved it. Thanks again, Becky.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 10, 2021 2:27 pm
Reply to  Jennie Colomer

Thank you for sharing, Jennie!

Helen Betts
Helen Betts
March 6, 2020 7:37 pm

This turned out quite well, despite the fact that I had some doubts as the sauce seemed a bit too thin. I did spice it up, though, with a habanero chili (really hot!) and by using much more spice than called for. I also shredded the chicken in my food processor since I find it far too time consuming to do with a fork or by hand. I never could figure out what to do with the additional 1 tablespoon of oil ;-).5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
March 9, 2020 7:13 pm
Reply to  Helen Betts

I’m glad you still enjoyed it! Your additions sound amazing, I’ll have to try it!

Kirsten
Kirsten
February 28, 2020 10:23 am

That looks delicious! I love how bright the tomatoes and avocados make it look! Hope you’re having a great week!
xoxo, Kirsten | https://hellofromthemiddleofnowhere.blogspot.com

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
March 1, 2020 4:28 pm
Reply to  Kirsten

Thank you, Kirsten!!

Mary
Mary
February 24, 2020 10:04 am

Enchiladas look so scrumptious!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
March 1, 2020 4:43 pm
Reply to  Mary

Thank you, Mary!