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mexican enchiladas in a baking dish.

Green Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 772kcal
Author: Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie
These green chicken enchiladas are so good! The absolutely perfect Mexican dish to prepare any night of the week. Add this chicken enchiladas recipe to your usual meals and it will quickly become a favorite!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Ingredients

For the Chicken

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (or 3 cups rotisserie chicken)
  • 1 onion halved
  • 4 cloves garlic diced
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

For the Salsa Verde (Green Sauce)

  • 1 pound fresh tomatillos husked, rinsed and cut into quarters (canned are okay to use)
  • 1 onion peeled and chopped
  • 1 clove garlic peeled and chopped
  • 2 serrano chiles seeds removed; stemmed and chopped
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the Enchiladas

  • ½ cup canola oil
  • 12 corn tortillas yellow or white
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 1 cup sour cream crème fraiche or Mexican crema
  • 1 cup queso fresco or cotija cheese, crumbled
  • 2 fresh tomatoes diced
  • ½ sweet yellow onion peeled and diced
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside for now.

For the Chicken

  • If using chicken breasts or thighs, place chicken in a large saucepan with onion, garlic, and salt. Cover with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until chicken is cooked through, approximately 15 minutes.
    2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1 onion, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon kosher salt
    chicken in a pan with onions and garlic.
  • Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let cool. Use two forks to shred the meat or cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes.
    shredded chicken on a cutting board.
  • If using rotisserie chicken, simply remove the meat from the skin and bones, and shred the meat or cut it into 1-inch cubes.

For the Green Sauce (Salsa Verde)

  • Combine all the salsa verde ingredients in a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Add a little water to smooth, if necessary.
    1 pound fresh tomatillos, 1 onion, 1 clove garlic, 2 serrano chiles, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
    a food processor filled with green sauce.
  • Salt and pepper, to taste.
    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For Assembly

  • First prepare the tortillas: In a medium sauté pan set over medium-high heat, heat the oil until it shimmers. Use tongs to place a tortilla in the hot oil. The oil should be hot enough for the tortilla to bubble immediately. Heat the tortilla for 10 seconds per side, or until it is lightly browned. Transfer the tortilla to a cooking rack placed over a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Work quickly.
    12 corn tortillas, ½ cup canola oil
    a tortilla is being cooked in a pan on a stove.
  • Place ½ cup green sauce (salsa verde) in the bottom of the prepared pan/dish and spread it around the dish.
    a baking pan filled with green pesto.
  • Place 2 tablespoons of chicken, 1 teaspoon of green sauce (salsa verde), and 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese into a tortilla. Roll it up and place it seam-side down in the dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, placing them right next to each other in the pan.
    2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
    chinese spring rolls on a wooden cutting board.
  • Spoon green sauce over the top of the rolled enchiladas and sprinkle with half the crumbled cheese
    1 cup queso fresco
    stuffed enchiladas in a baking dish with feta cheese and pesto.
  • Place the enchiladas in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the middle enchiladas are heated through and the cheese is melted.
  • Remove the enchiladas from the oven, but leave the heat on, and spoon green sauce over the enchiladas, down the length. Place them back in the oven for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the enchiladas from the oven and drizzle with sour cream or Mexican crema. Sprinkle with the remaining crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, and fresh cilantro. Serve immediately.
    1 cup sour cream, ½ sweet yellow onion, 2 fresh tomatoes, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
    mexican enchiladas on a plate with a fork.

Video

Notes

Recipe adapted from The New York Times Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde.
Storage: Store green chicken enchiladas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 2enchiladas | Calories: 772kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 169mg | Sodium: 2145mg | Potassium: 1168mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1278IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 476mg | Iron: 2mg