Best Green Enchiladas

Cheesy and gooey these are the BEST green enchiladas. Did I mention they are also super quick and easy? 

Mom’s green enchiladas are always a big hit! They’re loaded with seasoned shredded chicken, sour cream, LOTS of cheese, and topped with a green chile sauce. Consider pairing these with Refried Beans, Roasted Salsa Verde, or Favorite Beef Tacos.

Mom’s Famous Green Enchiladas

This is a yummy recipe in my “I need to share these Mexican inspired recipes on the blog because people keep asking for them” series.

I have so many delicious Mexican recipes in my repertoire, but for now, let’s talk enchiladas. While I absolutely adore red enchiladas, these green chile enchiladas have a special place in my heart. My mom would make these all of the time, and we always devoured them!

They’re still a hit at our house, especially with my husband.

How to Make Green Enchiladas

To start, you’ll need about a pound of seasoned shredded chicken. Rotisserie is a great option if you’re in a time crunch. If you’ve got some extra time, I highly recommend using a slow cooker or pressure cookie (hi Instant Pot!) to make your own. I’ve noted my recipe for the chicken down below, make sure to check it out!

For the filling you need THREE simple ingredients: chicken, cheese and sour cream. Again, shredded chicken is best. As far as the cheese goes, I prefer using a blend of cheddar and monterey jack. Now, I know people can be picky when it comes to sour cream, but I promise it’s delicious in this recipe and absolutely necessary. It makes the enchiladas extra creamy inside. You can use regular or light.

Fill tortillas with chicken, cheese, and sour cream mixture

Roll ’em up and place them in a deep baking dish

Top with green enchilada sauce (Hatch is my favorite)

Sprinkle with cheese and sliced green onions

Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for 15 minutes or until the top gets a little crispy

Let the enchiladas rest for 8 minutes before cutting and serving

Garnish with some freshly chopped cilantro for a little extra zing

Serve these green enchiladas up with a side of rice and beans or chips and guac! They’ll disappear in no time! P.S. this is a great recipe to make ahead and bake several hours later, or even the next day! It’s also a great dish to bring to neighbors or those in need of a comforting meal 🙂

Recipe FAQ

What to serve with it? Enchiladas go great with any mexican food! Try pairing it with our flavorful spanish rice, our mexican black beans, quick and easy mexican pizzas, instant pot salsa chicken, or our chicken enchilada soup

How do you thicken green enchilada sauce? You can add a simple roux made of flour/cornstarch and vegetable oil. Then on the stove warm the enchilada sauce and gradually mix in the roux. This will thicken it without changing the taste.

Best cut of chicken for green enchilada? You should definitely try to use chicken breasts, but if need be you can use chicken thighs. The trick to excellent chicken in chicken enchiladas is to use pre-seasoned chicken, rather than just seasoning it in the enchilada. 

Can you use corn tortillas? Corn tortillas are more traditional and won’t get as soggy, but flour tortillas I would say are more kid-friendly. 

Could you use salsa verde/tomatillo salsa instead of green enchilada sauce? Enchilada sauce is typically cooked whereas salsa verde is raw in the fact that it is just blended ingredients like tomatillos and jalapenos etc. If you like the flavor better than go for it and use green salsa! You may want to thicken it, it just depends on what salsa you choose to use.

Storing Info

How to make ahead? You can make and roll the enchiladas ahead of time and keep tightly wrapped with foil in the fridge for 2 days before baking.

STORE the enchiladas in the fridge in an airtight container until you are ready to REHEAT them in the microwave. If you would like to you can reheat them in the oven if it’s like an entire pan of enchiladas.

If you would like to double the recipe and FREEZE a batch ahead of time it’s super simple. Make them in a freezer safe and probably a disposable pan and then cover with the lid and make sure that it is airtight before placing it in the freezer.

Freeze for up to 3 months and then bake as normal, probably adding an additional 5-10 minutes.

How long do they last? Green enchiladas can last in the fridge for about a week. Just keep an eye out for your tortillas looking too soggy. We can’t promise that the flavor will be the best after 4 days.

For more recipes, check out:

• Easy Red Enchiladas
• Crazy Delicious Beef Enchiladas
• Enchilada Cups
• Chicken Enchilada Soup
• Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

4-6 servings

Mom's Green Enchiladas

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 1 hour

Mom’s green enchiladas are always a big hit! They’re loaded with seasoned shredded chicken, sour cream, LOTS of cheese, and topped with a green chile sauce.

Print Recipe

Ingredients:

For the filling:

• 7-8 soft flour tortillas (soft taco size)
• 3/4 c. sour cream (regular or light)
• 3 c. shredded chicken (a little more or less won’t hurt)
• 1 c. shredded cheddar and monterey jack blend

For the topping:

• 1 (15 oz.) can green chile enchilada sauce
• 1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar and monterey jack blend
• 1/3 c. diced green onion
• 2 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the bottom of a deep 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray, set aside.
2. Spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons of sour cream into the center of each tortilla, top about 1/3 cup of chicken, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of cheese. Roll up (you don’t need to tuck the ends) and place seam down into the baking dish.
3. Top with enchilada sauce, cheese and green onion. Wrap tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake covered for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes or until the top gets crispy.
4. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 8 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

• For the chicken: 4 medium boneless skinless chicken thighs + 1 large chicken breast. In the bowl of a slow cooker or Instant Pot, saute 1/4 c. diced yellow onion and 2 cloves minced garlic. Add chicken, 1/2 c. chicken broth, 2 tbsp. diced green chiles, 1 tsp. kosher sea salt, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1/2 tsp. paprika, 1/2 tsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. coriander, 1/4 tsp. oregano, 1/4 tsp. crushed dried chipotle chiles. If using a traditional slow cooker, cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4. If using the Instant Pot, use the manual mode and pressure cook for 15 minutes. Shred with two forks and toss in about 3 tbsp. of the liquid.

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