White Chicken Enchiladas

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This easy recipe for White Chicken Enchiladas is deliciously savory and the perfect option for a weeknight dinner! Made with shredded chicken, flour tortillas, sour cream, green chiles, and topped with a white cheese sauce, this quick Mexican-inspired recipe is great for Cinco de Mayo or any other day of the year! 
 
Top view of white chicken enchiladas in white dish
 
When I first made these white chicken enchiladas back in 2012, I had seen the recipe on Pinterest. They were all over the place! It was hard to tell who actually “made them first!”  I tried the recipe out on my family before I made them for the luncheon with my friends. My family loved them. I did make a couple of changes to the recipe I found, but when don’t I? That’s the beauty of recipes, making them your own.

White Chicken Enchiladas

Creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside… These white chicken enchiladas are my go-to when I’m looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe. Enchiladas are the ultimate comfort food, especially when they’re baked in a cheesy creamy sauce. When is Mexican food not a good idea? The answer is: It’s always a good idea.
 
Enchiladas on plate with fork and garnishments
 

Why You Should Make This Recipe

You’re going to want to make this easy dinner recipe because it’s versatile, quick, and perfect for meal prep. Just make a big batch of these white chicken enchiladas and you’ll be set for a few days. Another great thing about this recipe is that it cooks in about 30 minutes which means it’s perfect if you are short on time.

What do you put inside enchiladas?

You can put a mixture of things in enchiladas! There are both plant-based and meat options for the fillings. You can add a variety of beans, rice, protein, veggies, and so much more to enchiladas.

 

Ingredients for White Chicken Enchilada Casserole

  • Tortillas: I used flour tortillas for this recipe because they tend to be bigger and they roll up really well. You can use corn tortillas.
  • Chicken: Cooked shredded chicken is ideal for this recipe, but you could even use cubed or chopped chicken, too.
  • Chicken broth: Used to make a roux for the sauce. You can also substitute with vegetable broth.
  • Butter: For the roux. 
  • Flour: All-purpose flour is needed for this recipe, but you could also use gluten free all-purpose flour, too.
  • Green chiles: I used canned diced green chiles for this recipe.
  • Sour cream: Sour cream is used for the cheese sauce. You could try to substitute with unsweetened plain yogurt.
  • Cheese: Monterey Jack
  • Olives: Sliced black olives. These can be found in either cans or glass jars at grocery stores.

What is the best cheese for enchiladas? 

I personally enjoy Monterey Jack cheese for enchiladas because it’s creamy, subtle, and has a slight sweetness to it. Another great cheese option for enchiladas would be Pepper Jack.

Optional Ingredients and Toppings

Black olives, cilantro, jalapeños, salsa, and red pepper flakes. You can even add white beans to the insides of the enchiladas for extra fiber and protein.

How to Make White Chicken Enchiladas

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°Fahrenheit. Spray a 9X13 pan with oil spray. 

Shredded chicken on one half of tortilla

Step 2: Divide chicken and half of cheese to fill tortillas. Place the chicken and cheese mixture into the flour tortilla, then roll enchilada style.

Four enchiladas in white dish

Step 3: Make the cheese sauce. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in flour to make a roux.

Step 4: Add chicken stock and whisk until combined.Top view of sauce for enchiladas

Step 5: Add green chiles and sour cream to the roux. Remove from heat.

Step 6: Pour the sauce over the enchiladas, cover, and bake in the oven.

Enchiladas in white dish covered in cheese sauce

Step 7: Uncover and add remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is melted. 

Cheese sauce on top of white chicken enchiladas

Do you bake enchiladas covered or uncovered? 

Bake them both ways! I like to cover the enchiladas in foil while cooking they cook, but once the cheese sauce is added, I like to keep them uncovered for extra crispiness.

Two enchiladas on plate with fork

Why are my chicken enchiladas soggy? 

A lot of the times, chicken enchiladas become soggy because they are not baked uncovered. Make sure your pan is big enough, too, to avoid overcrowding the enchiladas.

Tips

  • Leftovers: Store the leftover enchiladas in an airtight store container and place in the refrigerator for three to four days. When ready to reheat, you can simply reheat them in the oven or warm them in the microwave.
  • To freeze: Transfer the white chicken enchiladas to a freezer-safe storage bag or container and place in the freezer for up to six months. 
  • If you don’t have shredded cheese, you can grate your own.

 

 

Graphic for white chicken enchiladas

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Don’t forget where you found the recipe for the perfect White Chicken Enchiladas! Pin it before you go!

 

 

Cilantro Lime Rice

Sides for White Chicken Enchiladas

 

 

 

Two enchiladas on plate with fork and knife

More Mexican Recipes You’ll Love

 

 

Enchiladas in white dish

Let’s whip up a batch of these yummy White Chicken Enchiladas!  M.

 
Two enchiladas on plate with fork and knife
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe

White Chicken Enchiladas

This easy recipe for White Chicken Enchiladas is deliciously savory and the perfect option for a weeknight dinner! Made with shredded chicken, flour tortillas, sour cream, green chiles, and baked with a white cheese sauce, top them with your choice of toppings, or eat them just like they are!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Chicken
Cuisine: American/ Mexican
Keyword: (sour cream sauce), best sides for enchiladas, easy white chicken enchiladas, recipe for white chicken enchiladas, w/out cream cheese, white chicken enchilada casserole, white chicken enchilada recipe, White Chicken Enchiladas, with green chilies, with sour cream, with white cheese sauce
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 773kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel

Ingredients

  • 8 burrito sized flour tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 3 T. butter
  • 3 T flour
  • 1 – 4oz can diced green chilies
  • 8 ounces of sour cream
  • 8 oz pkg Monterrey Jack cheese shredded
  • 1 – 4oz can sliced black olives drained

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Evenly divide chicken and half of cheese to fill tortillas. Roll enchilada style, place in prepared pan.
  • In a small saucepan melt butter, add flour to make a roux.
  • Add chicken stock and whisk until combined. Cook until thick and bubbly.
  • Add green chilies and sour cream, remove from heat.
  • Pour over enchiladas. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Uncover add remaining cheese and bake another 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

Notes

I find that I like to add a little salt to the cheese sauce, but it is totally a personal preference. If you like them spicier, add some cayenne pepper to the sauce.
Ideas for toppings: black olives, cilantro, avocado, lime, salsa, hot sauce, tomatoes, pico de gallo, jalapeños

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 773kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 1705mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 7g

This recipe was originally posted on February 28, 2012. It was updated to improve user experience and re-shared on April 13, 2021.

 
Enchiladas covered in sauce with olives on white plate
 
 
recipe adapted from Joyful Momma’s Kitchen
 
 

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12 Comments

  1. I made these last night and they were a huge hit. I wanted enchiladas but not the normal red sauce, these were perfect.

  2. What an amazing and easy recipe for chicken enchilidas. This is going to be a huge hit here for my family. Thank you for this great recipe idea!

  3. Absolutely loved this recipe for enchiladas! My kids prefer this version to versions I’ve made with red sauce, so it’s my go-to recipe! Thank you!

  4. Enchiladas are my absolute favourite food! I love this recipe, and it is going to be a regular in my house!

  5. I have always loved white chicken enchiladas but have never made them. I am going to be trying this recipe this week.

  6. These are amazing and so flavorful! My family and I loved this recipe! I’ll definitely be making this again!

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