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Chicken enchiladas are a classic comfort food, but let’s be honest – rolling tortillas one by one can feel like a lot. This Chicken Enchilada Casserole gives you all the flavor and coziness without the time-consuming prep.
It’s layered, baked, and loaded with melty cheese, beans, tender shredded chicken, and sauce. All the good stuff – none of the fuss.
Whether you’re feeding your family on a weeknight or looking for a freezer meal to prep ahead, this one delivers big flavor, satisfying texture, and just the right amount of spice.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe
- No rolling required – Just layer it in your casserole dish and bake!
- Customizable – Use what you have on hand—pinto beans, canned corn, chicken breast, or leftover veggies (peppers, onions).
- Great to make-ahead – This makes a perfect freezer meal or potluck dish.
- Melty cheese + tortillas = the best kind of comfort food
- Can be adapted for a slow cooker – See tips below!
What You’ll Need For This Easy Enchilada Casserole:
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium white/yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 tbsp canned jalapeños or green chiles
- 30 oz canned pinto beans (or black beans), rinsed and drained
- 1 cup canned corn
- 4 cups cooked shredded chicken (I used chicken breast)
- 3 cups red or green enchilada sauce (I used red)
- 12 small flour or corn tortillas, halved
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (you can use only Monterey Jack or only cheddar)
- Optional toppings: avocado, cilantro, green onion, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips
Boost the Flavor
Add a pinch of salt, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder to the filling to deepen the flavor and give it that homemade taste—even if you’re using a store-bought enchilada sauce.
How to Make Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- In a pan, heat olive oil. Sauté onion and bell pepper for 6–7 minutes until softened.
- Stir in jalapeños, pinto beans, corn, shredded chicken, 2 cups of enchilada sauce, and season with salt, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder to taste.
- Pour ½ cup enchilada sauce into the baking dish.
- Add a layer of halved tortillas, followed by ⅓ of the chicken mixture, and sprinkle with a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
- Repeat the layers of tortillas, chicken, sauce, and cheese two more times, finishing with sauce and a generous sprinkle of melty cheese on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Uncover and bake another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
Slow Cooker Option
You can make this in a slow cooker too!
Layer everything the same way in a greased slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours. Just know the texture will be softer and scoopable—not sliceable—but still so good.
FAQs
Yes! Assemble it, cover tightly, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
Definitely. This is a perfect freezer meal. Freeze it unbaked (wrapped well) and thaw overnight before baking.
Sure! Add more jalapeños, hot sauce, or use a spicy enchilada sauce.
Corn tortillas add a rustic flavor; flour tortillas give a softer bite. Use what you love!
I like to mix cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese for that gooey, melty finish.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use ground turkey or beef instead of chicken.
- Make it vegetarian with extra beans and roasted veggies.
- Try green enchilada sauce for a tangy twist. I usually use store-bought.
- Swap dairy cheese for your favorite dairy-free alternative.
- Add extra veggies like zucchini or spinach for more nutrients.
More Mexican-Inspired Recipes from the Blog
- Grilled Chicken Skewers with Cabbage Slaw
- Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Glaze
- Grilled Pesto Chicken Kebabs
- Cowboy Caviar
- Three Bean Salad
- Easy Grilled Mahi Mahi
Final Thought
Meals like this look complicated, but truly—they’re not. A few simple steps, a trusty casserole dish, and ingredients you probably already have in your pantry or fridge, and you’re on your way to a dinner that feels special without taking all day.
If you make this, don’t forget to tag me @cookinglslrecipes—I’d love to see your version!
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium white or yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped, gren works as well
- 2 tablespoons canned jalapeños or green chiles
- 30 ounces canned pinto beans, or black beans or a mixture of both, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup canned corn
- 4 cups cooked shredded chicken, chicken breast works great
- 3 cups red or green enchilada sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 12 small flour or corn tortillas, halved
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, could use only cheddar or only Monterey Jack
Optional toppings:
- chopped cilantro, diced red onion, green onion, avocado, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips
Spices, optional but recommended:
- Salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 6–7 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the canned jalapeños, pinto beans, corn, shredded chicken, and 2 cups of the enchilada sauce. Season with salt, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder to taste. Mix well, then remove from heat.
- Pour ½ cup of the remaining enchilada sauce into the bottom of the casserole dish and spread evenly.
- Layer about 6 tortilla halves to cover the bottom. Spread ⅓ of the chicken mixture on top. Sprinkle with ⅓ of the cheese.
- Repeat layers two more times: tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese. Finish with the remaining ½ cup enchilada sauce and a generous sprinkle of cheese on top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with toppings of your choice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
