Make a delicious Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole with only 5 simple ingredients! This popular Tex-Mex dish makes the perfect weeknight dinner and is packed with flavor. With layers of tortillas, shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, and cheese all baked together to golden perfection, your family will love this easy yet flavorful dinner!
There’s just something about shredded chicken, corn tortillas, and gooey cheese that’s hard to resist. Think warm, cheesy enchiladas coated with perfectly seasoned red sauce. Yum!
We’ve taken chicken and cheese enchiladas and deconstructed them into a chicken enchilada lasagna of sorts. This recipe takes less than 10 minutes to prepare since it uses leftover shredded chicken. Super simple!
Ingredients and Substitutions:
- Enchilada Sauce: Use your favorite red or green enchilada sauce, and choose hot, medium, or mild to fit your tastes. Make a batch of homemade enchilada sauce or purchase store-bought. Whatever is easiest for you!
- Tortillas: We prefer corn tortillas since they hold up well to baking. (Note: we use tortillas not tortilla chips.)
- Chicken: Shredded leftover rotisserie chicken makes this casserole easy. If you don’t have rotisserie chicken, any shredded (cooked) chicken works.
- Rotel: Use your favorite variety of tomatoes and green chiles to give this enchilada bake a little or a lot of heat. Make sure to drain the liquid before adding the Rotel so the casserole isn’t watery.
- Cheese: Our pick is sharp cheddar cheese but feel free to use your favorite. For this dish, we use pre-shredded cheese straight out of the bag.
How to Make Chicken Enchilada Casserole:
This easy enchilada casserole takes no time at all to assemble. After that, the longest part is waiting for it to bake.
Scroll to the recipe card below for full instructions and ingredient amounts!
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, and lightly spray an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Pour ½ cup of enchilada sauce into the bottom of the pan. Next lay 10 tortilla quarters over the enchilada sauce followed by ⅓ of the chicken, ⅓ of tomatoes and green chiles, and ½ cup of cheese. Repeat this process two more times.
- For the final top layer, add the remaining 10 tortilla quarters followed by the remaining enchilada sauce, and ½ cup of cheese. Cover the dish with a piece of aluminum foil lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 30-40 minutes then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Allow the casserole to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Tips for Success:
- Make sure to use cooked chicken in your casserole.
- Use a combination of shredded cheese like Monterey Jack, Cheddar, and Colby Jack for a different flavor variety.
- Consider adding more spice with jalapeños or diced green chiles to give an extra kick to the casserole.
- Toasting or lightly frying your tortillas first can prevent them from becoming soggy. This works well with flour tortillas.
- Add some fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley to add extra flavors to the finished dish!
- Cut up bell peppers into thin strips and layer them between layers of chicken – they’ll cook down nicely while giving a slightly crunchy texture.
- Spray the aluminum foil before baking so the cheese doesn’t stick as it melts.
Storage Options:
Refrigerator: Store lazy enchilada casserole leftovers in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
Freezer: Chicken enchilada bake freezes well. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and the casserole stays fresh for about 2 months.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave on half power until warmed through or in the oven until hot.
Can You Use Beef In An Enchilada Casserole?
Yes, you can use beef in place of chicken. Ground beef or shredded beef would make a great substitute for chicken, but you may need to adjust the seasonings. Taco seasoning or fajita seasoning makes an easy option. Add beans, rice, or other vegetables to make it a complete meal.
Can You Make This Casserole With Flour Tortillas?
Yes, you can make this casserole with flour tortillas. We usually use corn tortillas but flour tortillas also work well.
What Do You Serve With Chicken Enchilada Casserole?
- Spanish Rice.
- Refried Beans.
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad.
- Guacamole.
- Salads (Caesar, garden, etc.).
- Salsa.
- Mexican Rice.
- Jalapeño Poppers.
Other Tex-Mex Recipes You May Love:
Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole
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Ingredients
- 19 ounces red enchilada sauce
- 10 corn tortillas cut into fourths
- 1 pound cooked chicken any variety
- 10 ½ ounces Rotel
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded (2 cups total)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, and lightly spray an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
For the First Through Third Layers:
- Make each layer by pouring ½ cup of enchilada sauce into the bottom of the pan. Next lay 10 tortilla quarters over the enchilada sauce followed by ⅓ of the chicken, ⅓ of the Rotel, and ½ cup of cheese. Do this 2 more times.
For the Final Layer:
- Add the remaining 10 tortilla quarters followed by the remaining enchilada sauce, and ½ cup of cheese. Cover the dish tightly with a piece of aluminum foil lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the sauce bubbles then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Allow the casserole to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
- Scroll up and see the post for tips, FAQs, and storage options.
Megan Rowsey
Tuesday 17th of April 2018
This looks so yummy! I'm going to bookmark this so I can make it next weekend when I have company over.
John
Wednesday 18th of April 2018
Thank you, Megan! Kim and I hope you like the casserole and wish you a lovely day :)
sandy
Tuesday 17th of April 2018
This recipe sounds delicious and so easy to make! It's going on my meal plan for next week. Thanks for sharing!
John
Wednesday 18th of April 2018
Thank you, Sandy! Kim and I hope you like the casserole. Have a wonderful day :)
Leigh Suznovich
Tuesday 17th of April 2018
This looks amazing!! I love casseroles like this and it is definitely going on the meal plan.
John
Wednesday 18th of April 2018
Thank you, Leigh! We hope you enjoy the casserole. Have a lovely day :)
Belle
Tuesday 17th of April 2018
Yum! That seriously looks amazing! I need to try that!
Belle | www.OneAwesomeMomma.com
John
Wednesday 18th of April 2018
Thank you, Belle! We hope you enjoy it :)