Spicy Southwestern Chicken Enchiladas

Easy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas Recipe (Ready in 30 Minutes!)

Craving a quick, delicious, and satisfying meal? Look no further than these incredibly flavorful green chile chicken enchiladas! This recipe is a guaranteed dinner winner, ready on your table in just 45 minutes or less. The best part? You can customize this enchilada recipe using either homemade ingredients or convenient store-bought options, depending on your available time.

I personally love smothering them in my homemade tomatillo salsa verde, a vibrant sauce that takes only 25 minutes to prepare. However, if you’re short on time, feel free to use your favorite jarred enchilada sauce for an equally delicious and effortless meal that everyone will enjoy.

Green chili chicken enchiladas topped with diced avocado, cilantro and sliced radishes.

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Green Chile Enchiladas
  • Kelly’s Recipe Tips
  • Storage and Meal Prep Tips
  • What to Serve with Green Chicken Enchiladas
  • Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

These green chile chicken enchiladas quickly became a household favorite. They’re incredibly easy to whip up on a busy weeknight, and I often get a head start on the preparation earlier in the day, fitting it in between school drop-offs and other activities. I typically use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to keep the process simple, then generously smother everything in a mild
homemade green enchilada sauce and top it off with a generous amount of melted cheese.

Whether I make them with my homemade green chile sauce or use a store-bought variety, the results are always fantastic. You really can’t go wrong either way!

If you’ve already tried my
chicken enchiladas with red sauce, consider this the green-sauce version that we frequently enjoy. It offers a slightly tangier and brighter flavor profile with just the right amount of spice (nothing overwhelming!). The green sauce provides a delightful contrast to the rich, smoky flavors of a classic red sauce, yet it remains equally comforting and satisfying.

Ingredients

Note: The photo below showcases all the ingredients required if you plan on making the green enchilada sauce from scratch (which I highly recommend!). If you’re opting for store-bought sauce, you can skip the tomatillos, chiles, and a few other sauce-specific ingredients.

All the ingredients needed to make green chili chicken enchiladas in glass bowls.
  • Chicken: You’ll need approximately 3 cups of cooked, chopped, or shredded chicken for this recipe. To keep things simple, I often use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Leftover cooked chicken also works perfectly! Alternatively, you can prepare your own using my easy
    roast chicken recipe.
  • Onion + garlic: A quick sauté of diced yellow onion and fresh garlic adds a wonderfully savory foundation to the enchilada filling.
  • Spices: Just a teaspoon each of oregano and cumin adds warmth and depth to the chicken mixture without overpowering the distinct green chile flavor.
  • Tortillas: You can choose either corn or flour tortillas for this recipe. I usually prefer flour tortillas because they’re soft, easy to roll, and hold up well under the generous amounts of sauce and cheese. (If you’re a fan of corn tortillas, be sure to try my
    homemade corn tortillas recipe!). If you want to go the extra mile, I also have a recipe for
    soft flour tortillas that you can make from scratch.
  • Green enchilada sauce: You can use your preferred store-bought brand or create your own from scratch. I love using my homemade
    tomatillo salsa verde, made with roasted tomatillos, green chiles, onion, garlic, and a touch of lime juice for added brightness. When using store-bought sauce, I often choose brands like Las Palmas, Hatch, or La Victoria.
  • Cheese: I’m a firm believer in extra-cheesy enchiladas, so I generously top mine with 2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese blend before baking. Monterey Jack, cheddar, or even pepper jack are all delicious options. After they’re hot and melted straight from the oven, I finish them off with a sprinkle of crumbled cotija cheese for a salty, tangy kick (though this is entirely optional!).

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Green Chile Enchiladas

Sautéed onions and garlic in a nonstick skillet.
  1. Sauté the aromatics. Begin by cooking the onion and garlic in a bit of olive oil over medium heat until softened and fragrant. Don’t leave the stovetop unattended during this step, as the garlic can burn quickly. Stir frequently to ensure even cooking.
Shredded rotisserie chicken in a skillet with sautéed onions and garlic, cumin and oregano.
  1. Add the oregano, cumin, and chopped chicken and stir to combine thoroughly.
Green chicken enchilada filling in a skillet.
  1. Add a splash of sauce. Pour in ½ cup of your green enchilada sauce and stir until the chicken is well coated. This step helps keep the filling juicy and flavorful. Remove the pan from the heat.
Pouring green salsa from a liquid measuring cup into a baking dish.
  1. Ladle 1 cup of enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. This prevents the enchiladas from sticking and helps the tortillas develop that desirable saucy and bubbly base.
A flour tortilla topped with shredded chicken and green enchilada sauce being assembled on a wooden cutting board, with a bowl of sauce and a pan of chicken nearby.
  1. Dip, fill, and roll. Working with one tortilla at a time, dip each into the remaining green enchilada sauce to coat it evenly. Then, lay the coated tortilla on a cutting board. Spoon a generous amount of the chicken mixture onto the lower third of the tortilla, roll it up tightly, and place it seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
Rolled flour tortillas with chicken filling in a white baking dish.
  1. Repeat the process until all the tortillas are filled and nestled snugly side by side in a single layer within your baking dish.
Unbaked enchiladas topped with shredded cheese.
  1. Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas, sprinkle generously with cheese, and bake in a preheated 425°F (220°C) oven for approximately 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the enchiladas are heated through.
Melted cheese atop green Chile enchiladas in a white baking dish.
  1. Once baked, load up on your favorite toppings – think fresh pico de gallo, sliced jalapeños, crisp radishes, or a squeeze of lime. My family loves to go all-out with toppings, taco-night style!
Melty cheese atop green enchiladas topped with diced avocado, sliced radishes, cilantro and cojita cheese.

Kelly’s Recipe Tips

  • Don’t skip the toppings! I absolutely love finishing these enchiladas with crumbled cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, diced avocado, and thin slices of radish. You can also add chopped tomatoes, sliced black olives, or a generous dollop of sour cream.
  • If your tortillas are cracking while you’re rolling, try warming them up. Wrap a stack in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds to make them more pliable and easier to handle.
  • Want to sneak in some extra veggies? Feel free to add pre-cooked spinach, sautéed mushrooms, corn kernels, black beans, or roasted zucchini to the filling. Just be careful not to overstuff your tortillas, which can cause them to tear.

Storage and Meal Prep Tips

These green enchiladas make fantastic leftovers! Store any remaining enchiladas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through.

To freeze: This recipe is perfect for freezing and is one of my favorite go-to meal prep options! Assemble the enchiladas in a freezer-safe dish, but don’t bake them yet. Go ahead and pour the sauce evenly over the top, then sprinkle on the cheese – yes, even the cheese! Cover the dish tightly with foil and freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw the enchiladas overnight in the refrigerator, then bake as directed in the recipe. Because they’ll be going into the oven cold, you may need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time to ensure they’re heated through.

Salsa verde enchiladas in a baking dish topped with avocado, radishes, cilantro and cojita cheese. Chips and salsa are nearby.

What to Serve with Green Chicken Enchiladas

These cheesy, saucy enchiladas are definitely the star of the show, but I always like to round out the meal with a few simple side dishes, especially when I’m feeding my hungry family! Here are some of my go-to pairings:

  • Cuban black beans
    – Easy, flavorful, and packed with protein. My kids and husband love them with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
  • Elote corn salad
    – Creamy, tangy, and the perfect complement to anything Mexican-inspired. It’s a summer staple in my house.
  • Tortilla chips + salsa or my protein guacamole
  • Mexican rice
    or Cilantro-lime rice
  • Black bean and corn salad

And for dessert, strawberry cheesecake chimichangas! 

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Main Course

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

These green chile chicken enchiladas are packed with tender shredded chicken, smothered in mild green enchilada sauce, and topped with melty cheese. I’ve included a homemade tomatillo salsa verde (ready in 25 minutes!) or you can use your favorite store-bought green enchilada sauce.
Author:
Kelly Senyei