Enchiladas are identified in my relatives to be the greatest convenience foods. I grew up all my lifestyle having them in a wide range of distinct techniques: purple sauce, inexperienced chile, a tomatillo salsa variation, avocado and even sour product. In my opinion, all enchiladas are deserving of ingesting.

The first time I produced these refried bean chicken enchiladas, a single of my besties and fellow food items bloggers, Sarah, and I devoured them following a long working day of photography and recipes. Our minds ended up teetering on the verge of delusional and delirious, but our bellies had been happier than at any time.

Back again when Tony was participating in baseball I would make him turkey meatballs, healthier chicken parm, pepper jack and chicken pasta, and of study course, these gorgeous enchiladas when he’d occur residence from touring. For the reason that he was an athlete I manufactured confident that my recipes were the two satisfying, filling and tasty. Rapid-ahead. numerous a long time and I’m nonetheless whipping up nourishing, delectable eats for him and our two kiddos!

These chicken enchiladas are significantly the great comfort foodstuff to feed the total household or a team of close friends. They’re freezer-helpful, way too, so whip up a batch and take pleasure in any time.

Ingredients in these healthy chicken enchiladas

These delectable chicken enchiladas are quick to customise and are the ideal way to use up leftover chicken. Here’s anything you’ll have to have to make them:

  • Do-it-yourself enchilada sauce: this is the most interesting component of the recipe. Generating your possess enchilada sauce is less complicated than you can consider. Just tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, onion, rooster broth (or vegetarian broth), apple cider vinegar, and a few spices. You are heading to be building it once more and once again! And finest yet, you can make it even though you are cooking your chicken (if need be) so you get two points accomplished at after.
  • Rooster: you will incorporate cooked, shredded rooster straight to the enchiladas, so this is the ideal way to use up any leftovers! Get all of our tips for cooking excellent chicken in this article, and shredding it here. You can also use a rotisserie chicken if you’d like.
  • Refried beans: I appreciate, enjoy, enjoy making use of refried beans in my enchilada recipes for the reason that of the extra diet, fiber and protein. In addition it can make the enchiladas virtually soften in your mouth. Black bean refried beans are a most loved.
  • Cheese: I didn’t go crazy with the amount of money of cheese in this recipe. Frankly, it isn’t required many thanks to the great creamy beans and flavorful enchilada sauce.
  • Tortillas: I really like to use comfortable corn tortillas, but sense cost-free to use any tortillas you’d like!
  • To garnish: include some avocado, fresh new cilantro and diced onion on leading for the perfect chunk each individual time.

unrolled chicken enchilada on a board

Uncomplicated component swaps

Since these chicken enchiladas use plenty of uncomplicated substances, they are also quick to customise!

  • Go vegetarian: truly feel absolutely free to leave out the rooster and include a can of black beans or even some roasted veggies. You’ll want to test and make positive your refried beans are also vegetarian.
  • Incorporate veggies: I endorse incorporating the following: zucchini, bell pepper, corn, onion, cooked sweet potato or butternut squash. I would chorus from incorporating more than 1 cup of veggies so that you stay clear of overstuffing the enchiladas.
  • Make them dairy free: use your most loved dairy no cost/vegan shredded cheese.
  • Retain them gluten absolutely free: be positive to use gluten cost-free corn tortillas, or a unique gluten absolutely free tortilla (see a notice on tortillas underneath).
  • Choose your sauce: for relieve, you can also use a 28 ounce can of your favorite enchilada sauce as a substitute of earning it by yourself.

unbaked healthy chicken enchiladas in a pan

Choose the proper tortillas

As I described, I like to use corn tortillas for the flavor and simple rolling ability. If you want to use a unique type of tortillas, continue to keep these notes in intellect:

  • For flour tortillas: you may perhaps need to use 8-10 as an alternative of 12 and will want to a bit boost filling, cheese & sauce in every single tortilla.
  • For grain free tortillas: be careful with these as they may perhaps be more challenging to roll depending on the model and what they are built of.

easy chicken enchiladas in a pan topped with avocado

Guidelines for assembling ideal chicken enchiladas

Do-it-yourself enchiladas can appear a bit overwhelming with the filling, rolling, and so forth. But they’re SO uncomplicated and delightful with a number of very simple ideas:

  • Warm your tortillas. You can do this in the microwave for about 20 seconds so they are easier to roll. You can splash a minimal drinking water on them in advance of microwaving to make them additional pliable.
  • Really don’t overfill. Fill them with just about 1/4 cup of the refried bean & chicken combination so that they stay together and never burst at the seams.
  • Lay them correctly. Remember to area them seam-facet down so that the filling stays inside of, and organize them tightly future to each and every other in your pan to aid them continue to be jointly.

refried bean chicken enchiladas in a pan

Can I make them ahead of time?

Totally! I’ve bundled instructions for how to freeze hen enchiladas underneath, but you can also assemble the enchiladas just one working day in advance of time and store them coated in the refrigerator. Bake them for about 10-15 minutes for a longer period once you’re ready to prepare dinner them, and then serve!

chicken enchiladas topped with avocado on a plate

How to make the ideal rooster enchiladas

  1. Make your sauce. In a medium pot sauté your onion and garlic, stir in the spices, then include the tomato sauce, paste, and broth. Deliver it all to a boil then lower the heat and permit it simmer for 15-20 minutes to thicken up. The moment it’s ready stir in the apple cider vinegar and increase salt & pepper to flavor.
  2. Prep your pan. Grease a 9×13 inch pan with a minor oil, then unfold 3/4 cup of the enchilada sauce on the base of the pan.
  3. Assemble enchiladas. Warm your corn tortillas, then add refried beans, shredded hen, cheese and enchilada sauce to each individual just one. Roll them up and place them seam-facet down in the pan. Repeat for all of the tortillas.
  4. Major & bake. Pour the relaxation of the enchilada sauce over the tortillas, sprinkle with the remaining cheese, and bake.
  5. Garnish & provide. Best the enchiladas with clean avocado, cilantro & onion if you’d like, and add my well-known spicy cilantro jalapeño yogurt sauce to acquire them to the next stage!

healthy chicken enchiladas on a plate next to diced onion and cilantro

Two methods to freeze chicken enchiladas

These uncomplicated chicken enchiladas can be frozen two various methods for the excellent meal prep evening meal! They’re the best meal to put together for new dad and mom or anyone that could use a property cooked meal. Here’s how to freeze them:

  1. Bake initially, then freeze. You can both bake them to start with, then cool to home temperature, divide them in freezer harmless containers and then freeze. Or you can bake them, bring them to space temp, and then freeze the full pan. Just make sure you double wrap the pan so the enchiladas do not dry out. This is assuming you are freezing the overall pan. After all set to reheat, thaw it out. Then bake, coated at 350 degrees F for 30-45 minutes or until eventually heated by means of.
  2. Freeze right before baking: To freeze just before baking, basically assemble the enchiladas as prepared in the guidelines, then double wrap with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Once prepared to bake, thaw out then bake according to recommendations.

chicken enchiladas topped with cilantro on a plate

A lot more tacos & enchiladas

Get all of our taco & enchilada recipes listed here!

I hope you adore these dreamy refried bean rooster enchiladas! If you make them be certain to leave a remark and a score so I know how you favored them. Enjoy, xo!

This article was at first revealed on September 23rd, 2015, and republished on February 20th, 2022.