So simple yet extremely rich, creamy and absolutely delicious! An unbelievably easy sour cream chicken enchilada casserole recipe that it can be a weeknight recipe.
Editor's Note: Originally published April 6, 2014. Now updated with re-edited text and photos. Instructions were are also reworded to clarify points.
I'm a Mexican food hound... meaning I love it ALL. But a lot of my Mexican cooking tastes similar because I love the taste. I'll call it spicy taco-ish.
And most of my chicken dishes have some of that red chili taste, also. This is a different good. Very good but not the "kicktail" Mexican I'm known for and not spicy.
Based on a geniouskitchen.com recipe Simple Sour Cream Enchiladas but I don't know the origin since essentially the same recipe appears in many places.
The geniouskitchen.com version is from 2005 but I found one all the way back to 2001, but is just a posted recipe on a board so who knows the real origin.
My Rating
Yep really that good. Wifo loved it too.
Recipe Tips for Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
I have clarified the instructions a provided a more step by step instructions that will make it easier to get it perfect first time and every time.
The main differences in the various versions of this recipe was the amount of chicken.
The first time I did this recipe it was with 1 pound of chicken. It is quite acceptable, but I recommending 1 ½ pound with a range of 1-2 pounds. We love meat here.
This is not spicy. Feel free to spice it up if you wish but this is Mexican for the whole family including the little ones as written.
Other Great Mexican Dishes
Healthier Chicken Enchilada Casserole in 60 Minutes
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Preheat oven to 375 convection or 400 conventional.
Trim and dice about 1 (or 2) pound skinless boneless chicken breast into about ½ inch or smaller pieces. Dice one medium onion.
Add one tablespoon oil to a large fry pan over medium-high heat and when hot add chicken and onion together. Cook until chicken is done. About 5 minutes. (I checked the chicken with an instant read thermometer for 165. Only for the paranoid, it will also be cooked in the oven.)
Spray a 9 by 13 baking dish with PAM. Heat 8 tortillas (8 inches) in a microwave for 15-20 seconds to soften. Assemble the enchiladas. On a tortilla add about ¼ cup of chicken/onion (more if you increased the chicken) and about two tablespoons of Monterrey Jack cheese. Place this not in the center but about at the ⅓ mark then roll over the short end and roll tightly. Place seam down in the baking pan. Repeat until done.
In a medium saucepan melt four tablespoons ( ½ stick) butter over medium heat. When melted, add ¼ cup flour.
Whisk together and cook for a few minutes then add one can chicken broth and continuously whisk until thickened then a few minutes more.
Remove from heat and add 1 cup sour cream and 1 (4 ounces) can chopped green chilis
Pour over the assembled enchiladas. Top with 1 cup Monterrey Jack cheese.
Bake until golden brown and bubbling. About 20 minutes.
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Easy Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb chicken breast - diced or shredded. Use 1-2 pounds.
- 1 onion - medium
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 8 flour tortillas - 8 inch each
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese - shredded
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 15 ounce chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 ounce chopped green chilis
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 convection or 400 conventional.
- Trim and dice about 1 ½ pound skinless boneless chicken breast into about ½ inch or smaller pieces. Dice one medium onion. You can use anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds of chicken.
- Add one tablespoon oil to a large fry pan over medium-high heat and when hot add chicken and onion together. Cook until chicken is done. About 5 minutes. (I checked the chicken with an instant read thermometer for 165. Only for the paranoid, it will also be cooked in the oven.)
- Spray a 9 by 13 baking dish with PAM. Heat 8 tortillas (8 inches) in a microwave for 15-20 seconds to soften.
- Assemble the enchiladas. On a tortilla add about ¼ cup of chicken/onion (more if you increased the chicken) and about two tablespoons of Monterey Jack cheese. Place this not in the center but about at the ⅓ mark then roll over the short end and roll tightly. Place seam down in the baking pan. Repeat until done.
- In a medium saucepan melt four tablespoons ( ½ stick) butter over medium heat. When melted, add ¼ cup flour. Whisk together and cook for a few minutes then add one can chicken broth and continuously whisk until thickened then a few minutes more.
- Remove from heat and add 1 cup sour cream and 1 (4 ounces) can chopped green chilis
- Pour over the assembled enchiladas. Top with 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese.
- Bake until golden brown and bubbling. About 20 minutes.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- Use 1-2 pounds of chicken. It could be as little as 1 pound or as much as 2 pounds. Diced or shredded. Get you chicken where you can. Cook as directed or use precooked.
- The tortillas will be much more flexible if warmed slightly in the microwave.
- This is a bit bland so you can spice it up with some cayenne pepper or cu min.
- I like the Monteray Jack cheese here but use what you want.
- Cook to a nice brown top.
Nutrition
Originally published April 6, 2014
Leah
Dr Dan
I started out looking for something to do with my Freezer burned chicken. Found your recipe!! Wow! The wonderful smells coming out of the chicken. And that was only doing the first part. This morning got up, shredded the chicken added all the seasonings. My husband couldn’t wait so we sampled it on tortilla chips with cheese and a jalapeño- chicken nachos. Then tonight I used the chicken in your sour cream chicken enchiladas- I just skipped down to the sauce. It made a great combo. There’s enough chicken left over so we are thinking chicken tacos later this week. So glad I found your blog!! Can’t wait to try some more of your recipes. Thank you.
Suzanne
Has anyone frozen this particular recipe? I need to know! This is in my make list in a couple days if I can freeze and would I freeze before I bake or after I bake? Thx!!!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Suzanne,
Welcome to the blog.
This is not something I have done but it should be fine frozen. I would freeze before cooking.
I have done lasagna, where I will cook at 350 covered with foil for about one hour, uncover and cook until browned nicely. I suspect it would be about the same here but this is thinner. So less time covered.
One rule of thumb I have heard in the past is to add about 20 minutes to the cooking time. Not covered. I would normally cook the lasagna about 40 minutes covered and then uncover until browned. So that seems about right.
Dan
Judy Uhl
Forgot to come back and rate this recipe! It's awesome. Fairly quick and easy and tastes great! Where's the margaritas??
Jill M
Hi Dan: Made this last night and it turned out really good. This is the first time that I made enchiladas that did not fall apart. Very Tasty. The only problem that I had was that the bottoms got a little overdone, and I apparently rolled them a little too tight and some of the tortillas were a little doughy and not completely done. We have 4 left and I want to have them again tomorrow night with the yellow rice that I prepared and wondered it I should put them back in the oven and cook them a little longer. If so, how? Thanks. Love the dogs.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Jill,
I would reheat them in the oven. I would put them higher the oven so the bottom doesn't cook much. The doughy tortillas won't do well in a microwave.
Dan
mark b
As always Doc, you have a lot of amazingly simple recipes that are easier and better tasting than the so called "pros". Thanks again.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Mark,
Glad you enjoyed it. It is very tasty.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Kim
I’ve recently started cooking several chicken breasts each week (with salt, pepper, onion powder, minced garlic, and olive oil) to use with multiple meals, and this is my FAVORITE recipe to use it in! I love that I can assemble it in the morning to save time in the crazy evening hours too. My 15 month old and five year old both love it, and my husband eats multiple helpings with salsa to add a little heat. Thanks for a great recipe!
DrDan
Hi Kim,
Welcome to the blog.
I do love simple recipes like this that can be made ahead. And since it is not a "spicy" Mexican, even the kids will love it. Glad you enjoy it.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Charlene
Oh my, these sound so good! To bad it is midnight now, otherwise we would be eating them for dinner! Maybe tomorrow…….. Thank you so much for all the great recipes you share!
Sue
have made this substituting plain Greek yogurt for the sour cream - was absolutely delicious.
My husband loves it.
DrDan
Hi Sue,
Welcome to the blog.
I never thought about using yogurt here but it is a common substitute for sour cream.
Glad it worked well for you.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Rebecca
I made this recipe for the first time about a year ago. It was such a big hit that we have it at least once a week! I have made it for many friends and family and it is always the talk of the dinner! I follow your recipe exactly and I wouldn’t change a thing! I’ve used both rotisserie chicken as well as cooked my own chicken breasts and shredded them. It tastes amazing either way!!! Thank you so very much for this recipe!! My hat goes off to you!!!
DrDan
Hi Rebecca,
This is still one of my favorites.
Glad it works so well for you
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Alice Keister
Used to buy this type enchiladas at El Chico in Nashville, but it went out of business. I was crying! But then I found your recipe and cooked it tonight. I topped it with lots of jalapenos, and it was fabulous! Thank you for saving me! ;-)
Jill M
Hi Dan: Made this tonight and it turned out really good. This is the first time that I made enchiladas that did not fall apart. Very Tasty. The only problem that I had was that the bottoms got a little overdone, and I apparently rolled them a little too tight and some of the tortillas were a little doughy and not completely done. We have 4 left and I want to have them again tomorrow night with the yellow rice that I prepared and wondered it I should put them back in the oven and cook them a little longer. If so, how? Thanks. Love the dogs.
JoAnne S.
I love this recipe my difference was in that I cooked the chicken in my slow cooker with a bit of broth seasoned with habanero lime, chili powder and red pepper. After it's done (about 3 hours on high) I took it out but left the juice, shredded the chicken and put it back in with some diced onion and green chili. I served it with homemade black bean and corn salad.
DrDan
Hi JoAnne,
It sounds great. Thanks for the note.
Dan
Pam S
I made this today to take to a neighbor with a broken foot. Currently in the oven so I haven't tasted it yet, but it smells amazing! I cooked 4 chicken breasts in the crock pot with a can of green chili enchilada sauce, then used my mixer th quickly shred the chicken, then poured some of the broth it cooked in to keep the chicken nice and moist. I had enough to make at least 2 dozen enchiladas (using the small size of flour tortillas -- about 6 inch diameter, I think), so I doubled the sauce and actually had a lot of sauce left over, so that is going in the freezer along with some left over chicken so I can quickly and easily put this together again another night. Thanks for a great recipe!
Shantell
I made this receipe and it was hella good I use green bell peppers instead of onions and plus the butter for the sauce I use 2 sticks and a half of stick and two cans of green chilies and it was awesome and I season my chicken with season salt, onion powder and pepper and let my chicken marinated in the ice box for an hour.
matt
It came out flippin awesome though i did not add onions i added shiitaki mushrooms minced up and i also added oregano inside the tortilla along with salt n pepper see i have a granny who has dementia n oregano helps protect the brain along with the pepper on the side i had mexican rice along with black neans .. the beans also add protection to the brain... now the kicker here os what i added to the beans ... added a dash of tumeric curcumin along woth black pepper... combo is known as a superfood because it increases the bioavailability by 2000x meaning the nutrients from the whole meal is increased by 2000x surpassing the blood n brain barrier kiling off the plaques n bad pritiens caught up in the brain causing alzheimers -dementia... i also added chili powder which habe its health benefits all by itaelf though in the sauce i did add minced jalapenos... the enchiladas came out to be the best fudgin dam enchiladas i had... see i study herbology.... toxicology human anatomy bio chemistry spiritual advancement and bio chemistry i know eating food versus eating a pill is a major difference n what im doing here is fightibg her memory problems aka alzheimers n dimentia ... thankyou for this recipee though i had no microwave it still came out great honestly think it came out better not even throwin it in the microwave i just straight u threw it in the oven at 250 for about 5-7 mins then i cranked it up to 500 took awhile to get their but once it did check up on it every 5-7 mins first 7 mins check up every 5... youl know when its right cause itl look right -_0 anyrate thats all you guys have a good one ty for recipe :) ttyl
Linda Certuche
I made this for supper. I did substitute boneless, skinless thighs for breast and my own home-canned chicken broth. I also used sharp cheddar. I think this is a good start but next time I will add more chilies. We found it a little bland. I think next time I will chop the chicken more and add a little of the sauce to the filling. We definitely will have this again but I will tinker with it a little. We all enjoyed this dish. I served refried beans with it. My husband says "Make it again, just add more chilies." I think jalapenos would have been a good addition. I especially like that it wasn't made with canned soups which have too much salt.
Bernie
Can this be made ahead of time? Does it re-heat well without separating?
Lorane
This is the absolute best sour cream chicken enchiladas recipe I have tried. Followed the recipe almost to the letter but added sharp cheese as well sharp is a favorite here in our household. Turned out perfect! Thanks
Hanna E Pate
So delicious! I'll have thirds!
Shanna Casey
This was good I think I would add a bit more broth to make it a little thinner but good
Barbara H
This is an excellent recipe! I stumbled on your website and just love the concept! I made this last night - trying to do some different, quick after work meals... my husband was surprised how good it was and gave it a 5. I cut back on the butter to 2 tablespoons and used light sour cream, and added black beans to the chicken. Will make this again. Thanks for your good work here!!
Laura R
I made this and it turned out great! I have celiac so used white corn tortillas, brown rice flour, and a GF brand of chicken broth to make it safely gluten free. I also used 1 lb chicken and a can of black beans on the inside so it would appeal to my husband more. So Yummy! When I make big casseroles like this, I make an 8x8 pan that day, and freeze half in a foil pan for another time. I accidentally bought light sour cream (half fat) and it still turned out good.
DrDan
Thanks for the gluten free instructions. I do love a good casserole.
Thanks for the note and the rating
DrDan
Pam
Woo hoo! It definitely looks delicious and rich with all the cheese, butter and sour cream. Yum!!!
DrDan
It is a tad unhealthy but my wife calls "5" so I will see it repeatedly
Thanks for the note
Dan