Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Name: Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups White rice (cooked); 3 Chicken breasts (cooked and shredded); 20 oz Red enchilada sauce; 11 oz Corn kernels (can, drained); 2 cups Colby Jack cheese (shredded); Salt and pepper (to taste); Chopped parsley (optional)

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We are all about casserole recipes at Mess for Less, and this might just be our new favorite. This super easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole is made with tender chicken, zesty enchilada sauce, and melted cheese. It contains all of your favorite Mexican food favorites.

Since this casserole is so easy to make, it's perfect for busy weeknights. You'll love how you can customize it with your choice of toppings. In just 30 minutes, you can have this cheesy casserole on the table! For more yummy enchilada flavor, try our Beef and Bean Chicken Enchilada Dip.

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Chicken and Rice Enchilada Casserole
Ingredients For Chicken Enchilada Casserole
How to Make Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe
Tips for Making Enchilada Casserole With Chicken
FAQs For Chicken Enchilada Bake
Chicken Enchilada Recipes
Amazon Essentials
Mexican Recipes
📖 Recipe

If you love easy, family-friendly Chicken And Rice Recipes, this one's for you!

Chicken and Rice Enchilada Casserole

Chicken enchilada casserole is a great recipe for when you have limited time to prepare a meal but still want to serve your family a warm and delicious dinner. It is the ultimate comfort food, full of bold Mexican flavors in every bite. Cheese makes everything better, and it certainly adds a lot to this casserole and to this Chicken Cornbread Casserole Recipe.

The melty cheese pairs perfectly with the shredded chicken and flavorful enchilada sauce. If you like things a little more spicy in your chicken recipes, you can adjust the spice level. You can also add any favorite toppings, such as avocado or sour cream, to really make this recipe your own.

chicken ehncilada casserole in plate with parsley

Ingredients For Chicken Enchilada Casserole

White rice - Cook the rice according to package directions. You can also use leftover rice.
Chicken breasts - This recipe calls for cooked and shredded chicken. You can use rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken.
Red enchilada sauce - Canned for ease. Feel free to use mild, medium, or hot, depending on your taste.
Corn kernels - Canned and drained or frozen and thawed.
Colby Jack cheese - Shredded. If you are not a fan of Colby Jack, you can use cheddar cheese, Mexican, or Monterey Jack cheese.
Salt and pepper - To taste.
Parsley or scallions - These are optional for garnish.

How to Make Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe

Are you ready to make this cheesy Mexican casserole and enjoy the flavors of tender shredded chicken, rich enchilada sauce, sweet corn, and a generous helping of gooey Colby Jack cheese? This fiesta in a casserole dish is simple to make, so let's get started!

You'll pour all your ingredients (except for ½ of the cheese we will use later) into a large bowl like this one. Mix everything together until it is combined. Then, just pour this mixture into a greased 9x13 casserole dish. I like this one because it comes with a lid for easy storage.

Remember that cheese that you set aside? Sprinkle it over the casserole to top it off. Then bake this easy casserole until it is golden and bubbly. When it comes out of the oven, feel free to add some chopped parsley or scallions for a fresh, colorful touch.

Tips for Making Enchilada Casserole With Chicken

Tip 1:

This casserole is all about ease and versatility. Feel free to use whatever cheese you have on hand - cheddar, Monterey Jack, or even a Mexican blend are great in this recipe.

Tip 2:

If you anticipate having a busy day, you can prepare the chicken and rice in advance. Then, when it's time to assemble the casserole, it's less time-consuming.

Tip 3:

Do you like things a little spicy? Then add some chopped jalapeños as a garnish to this recipe. You can also change up the heat level in the enchilada sauce.

fork in plate of chicken enchilada casserole

FAQs For Chicken Enchilada Bake

Can I Use Rotisserie Chicken In This Recipe?

Yes! Rotisserie chicken is a great time-saver and works perfectly here. You can shred a whole one yourself or grab pre-shredded rotisserie chicken from stores like Costco - it's quick, easy, and full of flavor.

Can I Use a Different Type Of Rice?

Yes, you can. We used white rice, but brown rice works great for a healthier twist. You can even use cauliflower rice if you're avoiding carbs. It's easy to switch things up without losing flavor.

How Do I Store Chicken Enchilada Casserole?

Let the casserole cool completely, then cover it or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat from frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm it up when ready to enjoy.

Chicken Enchilada Recipes

Chicken enchilada recipes are popular because there are endless ways to prepare them. You can use the chicken enchilada flavors to make a soup or stew. Even the cooking methods can be switched up. Feel like making chicken enchiladas in the crockpot? You can do that with a slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole! Want to make this classic Mexican dish a little more diet-friendly? Check out the Weight Watchers version below. There is truly a chicken enchilada recipe for every craving and cooking style!

Amazon Essentials

If you want to make this casserole then you will need some basic equipment. Luckily, you can find everything you need on Amazon and have it delivered straight to your door. You may already have a sturdy baking dish. For this recipe, we used a classic 9x13 glass pan. I use mine for various casserole recipes, so it is a good pan to have in the cabinet. As I get older, I appreciate the electric can opener I used to open the cans I used in this recipe.

Casserole Dish, 9x13 Lasagna Baking Dishes for Oven, Ceramic Baking Pan Deep with Handles, Oven Safe and Durable Bakeware, Lasagna Pan for Home&Kitchen Decor Gifts Pyrex Sculpted Tinted (9x13) Glass Baking Dish with BPA-Free Lid, Oblong Bakeware Glass Pan For Casserole & Lasagna, Dishwasher, Freezer, Microwave and Pre-Heated Oven Safe, Smoke sungwoo Extra Long Silicone Oven Mitts, Durable Heat Resistant Oven Gloves with Quilted Liner Non-Slip Textured Grip Perfect for BBQ, Baking, Cooking and Grilling - 1 Pair 14.6 Inch Black OXO Good Grips Nylon Flexible Turner - Black Hamilton Beach Electric Automatic Can Opener with Auto Shutoff, Knife Sharpener, Cord Storage, and SureCut Patented Technology, Extra-Tall, Red 36 PCS Large Food Storage Containers with Lids Airtight(18 Containers with 18 Lids) - BPA Free Plastic Meal Prep Containers Set, Leakproof Kitchen and Pantry Organization - with Labels & Pen

Mexican Recipes

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