Easy Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas Casserole

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Guys, fall is meant for awesome Slow Cooker and Crockpot Recipes like Crock Pot Enchiladas that can be cooked while you’re getting other things done. Bonus is the magical and delicious aroma that fills the house as you wait for your supper to finish.

This frugal Enchilada Casserole is packed with authentic Mexican flavor that you just can’t beat. And slow cooker recipes mean less mess and fewer dishes, which is always a winner in my book. 

This Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole recipe is perfect allllll year long, just like with this Crockpot Chicken Fajitas.

What I really love about casseroles is they’re sooooo versatile. You can substitute ingredients for whatever you have on hand, you can add your favorite ingredients, and they’re a wonderful way to hide in some extra veggies for your kids. Toss some extra cheese in, and they’ll never know. 

New to the world of crockpot cooking? Check out this comprehensive guide filled with valuable tips, creative techniques, and clever tricks to maximize the potential of your Slow Cooker.

What Is An Enchilada?

Enchilada is a Spanish word for something that is “in chili.” Typically, it’s a corn tortilla that is wrapped around a filling and has a delicious sauce covering it. You can fill your enchilada with various ingredients like meats, beans, cheese, potatoes, and vegetables. 

Why Make Crock pot Chicken Enchiladas

• Frugal meal – this uses many ingredients you already have.
• Meal prep – easy dinner solution for those busy days and great served with delicious Refried Beans.
• Feeds a crowd – casseroles are great for potlucks, game day gatherings, parties, and an easy one-pot meal.
• Time-Saving – In our fast-paced lives, time is often our most precious commodity. This casserole comes to the rescue by allowing you to savor the flavors of a home-cooked meal without the time-intensive preparation.

Looking to simplify your meal prep? Explore this assortment of fantastic Dump and Start Crockpot Recipes featuring a variety of hassle-free dinner options.

Ingredient Notes

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – Opt for quality boneless skinless chicken breasts to ensure a tender and flavorful result. You can also use chicken thighs. If you are in a rush, use a store-bought rotisserie chicken and jump to the step to assemble it in the slow cooker.
• Enchilada Sauce – You’ll need a generous jar or canned enchilada sauce to create this dish’s rich and spicy base, or use homemade enchilada sauce. Choose your preferred level of heat.
• Corn Tortillas – Use corn tortillas, cut into strips or a mix of wheat and corn if not following a gluten-free diet, to form the hearty layers in the casserole. Avoid using flour tortillas as they tend to become soggy
• Black Beans – Incorporate black beans, drained from a can, for added protein, fiber, and a satisfying bite in every serving.
• Chipotle Pepper Flakes (Optional) – If you desire a hint of smoky heat, consider adding chipotle pepper flakes to your liking.
• Cheese – Cheese lovers, rejoice! While the recipe calls for shredded cheddar cheese, experimenting with different cheese varieties can take it up a notch. Sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, or a Mexican cheese blend can introduce exciting new dimensions to the dish.
• Sliced Black Olives – Add sliced black olives, drained and divided, for a burst of briny flavor and a pleasing visual touch to the finished dish.

Sooo, are you ready to learn how to make Crock pot chicken enchiladas? Grab those chicken breasts and the other ingredients, and I will show you…

How To Make Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas

1. Place chicken breasts in the crockpot and top with enchilada sauce. You can also bake or boil the chicken if you prefer. We prefer sticking to the slow cooker insert for minimal cleanup.
2. Cover and cook chicken on High for 4 hours.
3. Take chicken breasts out and shred the chicken using two forks.
4. Return shredded chicken to crockpot and stir in corn tortillas, black beans, chipotle flakes (if using), and half the cheese and half the black olives.
5. Top with remaining cheese and olives.
6. Cover and cook on low for 50-60 minutes until the cheese melts.

Expert Tips

• Do you prefer to have chicken you can slice instead of shred? Then cook the chicken for a shorter amount of time.
• Can’t shred it easily with forks? Easy Fix: Use a mixer. Add into a bowl and use a hand mixer or use your stand mixer to shred it. Especially useful if you are doing big quantities.
• Be sure to always check the internal temperature of your chicken with a meat thermometer. When the temperature reaches 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C, the chicken is cooked and safe to eat.
• You can use chipotle paste instead of chipotle pepper flakes.
• When reheating your Slow Cooker Enchiladas, you may want to add some extra enchilada sauce to help prevent the chicken from drying out. 
• Before serving, turn the slow cooker off and let the casserole sit for about 10 minutes. This lets some of the liquid be absorbed and will help give it more of a casserole-like texture.
• Slow Cookers and crockpots can cook at different temperatures. Check your make and model, and consult the manual for recommended cooking times. 

Delicious Variations

While this crock pot chicken enchiladas casserole is super delicious the way it is, feel free to try some of these variations. 

• Swap the meat – use chicken thighs, turkey breast, or pork.
• Spice it up – add some hot sauce, diced jalapeños, or poblaño peppers or bell peppers for other flavors.
• Add favorite toppings – serve with guacamole, sour cream, diced tomato, fresh cilantro, lime juice, fresh-made pico de gallo, Mexican rice, quinoa, or corn.

Prep And Storage

Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas are the perfect meal prep solution. They’re a delicious meal for the whole family to enjoy and are wonderful paired with your favorite Mexican side dishes. 

• Make Ahead – This recipe is so easy to make. You can prepare the ingredients in advance and store them in the slow cooker insert in the refrigerator until you’re ready to start cooking in the slow cooker.
• Reheat – If you want to reheat your Chicken Enchilada Casserole, try one of these options: 
  • Oven – place casserole in an oven-safe dish, cover it with foil, and bake at 425 degrees F / 218 degrees C for about 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C.
  • Microwave – put the casserole in a safe container, cover it with a damp towel, and reheat for about a minute or until warm. 
  • Stovetop –Heat oil in a pan, then add the casserole and heat until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C. 
• Store – Make ahead and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
• Freeze – Use this Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole recipe as an awesome freezer meal prep solution. Make this recipe beforehand, then freeze, thaw, and reheat when needed. Add your cooled meal to an air-tight container, close it, and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Meal Prep – You can easily double or triple this recipe to use for later. It is great to add to a salad, too. We also like to prepare the shredded chicken in advance and freeze it so when we want to make this quicker we have it on hand.

How To Incorporate Shredded Enchilada Chicken Into Different Dishes

Our clear favorite is to add it to this recipe, but you can incorporate enchilada chicken into different dishes and make Mexican food, like these recipes:

• Enchilada Bowls – Serve the shredded enchilada chicken over a bed of rice or quinoa, and top it with your favorite enchilada toppings like cheese, sour cream, and chopped cilantro.
• Tacos and Burritos – Use the enchilada chicken as a flavorful filling for tacos or burritos. Add your choice of toppings, such as lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and salsa.
• Enchilada Soup – Transform it into a hearty enchilada soup by mixing it with chicken broth, diced tomatoes, black beans, and corn. Top with tortilla strips and cheese.
• Taco Pasta Salad – Make a Mexican-inspired salad with chicken as the protein. Combine it with pasta, Doritos, shredded cheese and tomato.
• Quesadillas – Spread the enchilada chicken between tortillas and cheese to make mouthwatering melty cheese quesadillas.
• Stuffed Peppers – Use the chicken as a filling for bell peppers, top with cheese, and bake until the peppers are tender.

FAQs

Similar Crockpot Recipes

Looking for more EASY, delicious, and flavorful recipes? I’ve got you covered. Check out my full collection of Crockpot recipes, or start a few of my most popular recipes:

• Crockpot Salsa Chicken.
• Crockpot Chicken Fajitas.
• Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta.
• Crockpot Breakfast Casserole.
• Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs.
• Slow Cooker Whole Chicken.
• Korean Slow Cooker Short Ribs.
• Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs.
• Crockpot Jerk Chicken.
• Slow Cooker Venison Stew.

Serve Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas With:

• Dump and Start Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa – For a nutritious and protein-packed grain that makes for a great side dish. Quinoa’s nutty flavor and fluffy texture complement the flavors of the enchiladas while providing an extra dose of protein and fiber.
• Homemade Adobo Guacamole – Creamy and delicious, it adds a cool contrast to the dish.
• Best Dang Mango Pineapple Salsa – A refreshing salsa adds a burst of freshness.

Recommended Tools

• An awesome slow cooker.
• A mixing spatula for evenly spreading the enchilada sauce and cheese layers.
• The best ever sea salt flakes for that perfect finishing touch to enhance the flavors of your enchiladas.
• For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 8 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving of this.

Thank you for reading my slow cooker chicken enchiladas recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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