BEST Chicken Enchiladas Recipe (3 WAYS) | Sip Bite Go
The best chicken enchilada recipe with homemade sauce is RIGHT HERE. Learn to prep the filling and either air fry, Traeger smoke, or bake chicken enchiladas to cheesy, Mexican-inspired comfort food goodness… Let’s go! | sipbitego.com
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time35 minutesmins
Total Time45 minutesmins
Course: lunch, Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican, tex mex
Keyword: Air fryer enchiladas, Baked enchiladas, Chicken enchiladas, Enchilada recipe, How to make chicken enchiladas, Smoked enchiladas
(Optional) Sauteed Onions and Peppers Enchilada Filling
½tbspolive oil
1red onioncut in half and sliced in 1” strips
1orange peppercut in half and sliced in 1” strips
½tbspsalt
1tbspbutter (substitute olive oil
Dinner Serving Side ideas for Chicken Enchiladas
Cilantro Lime Rice
Mexican Ricesee my guide to making it in this fajitas side dishes post
Smashed avocado
Griddled onions
Smoked corn on the cob
Griddled corn on the cob
Salsa
Sour cream
Cotija cheese
Cheddar cheese
Lime wedges
Shredded lettuce with jalapeno ranch dressing
Beanssee how to freeze refried beans
Instructions
How To Make Enchilada Sauce
Simmer onion, garlic, and olive oil for about 10 minutes in a pot on the stove on medium heat, stirring regularly, until onion is translucent.
Add all seasonings (chili powder, cumin, oregano, brown sugar, salt) to sautéed onions and garlic and let the flavors infuse together for about 30 seconds on medium-low heat.
Add tomato sauce and chicken stock to the red enchilada sauce spices in the pot. Simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes on medium-low heat. Cool to room temperature and blend smooth if desired (I don’t find it necessary, but you can).
(Optional) Make Sauteed Onions and Peppers Filling
TIMING NOTE: Sauté onions and peppers while cooking the red enchilada sauce.
Heat a burner on the stove to medium-high heat. Add a large pan or large skillet, and all ingredients (except for the butter) to make the onions and peppers. Sauté for ~5 minutes, stirring regularly.
Add butter and stir regularly while cooking for another 5-10 minutes until done to your liking.
ASSEMBLE Chicken Enchiladas
PREP NOTE: Make sure you have your enchilada sauce and cooked chicken ready to go. See the Sip Bite Go recipes for tasty pan grilled chicken breast, griddled chicken breast, smoked chicken breast, and sous vide chicken breast.
Mix chicken enchilada filling ingredients. The first thing to do is assemble the chicken enchilada fillings inside the flour tortillas. In a large bowl, mix together the cooked chicken breast, cooked / thawed corn kernels, sauteed onions and peppers, and half the cheddar cheese.
Lay out a large tortilla and add ¼ of the mixture in a line in the center leaving about 2” on each side without filling. Fold in the two sides and then roll the tortilla. Set with the flap side down, so it stays closed. Secure with toothpicks if desired, but remember to take them out before serving.
OPTION 1 - BAKE Chicken Enchiladas In Oven
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
PREP to bake chicken enchiladas. Add half the enchilada sauce to the bottom of a deep oven-safe. Add chicken enchiladas on top. Top with the rest of the sauce (cover chicken enchiladas all over). Drizzle with a little olive oil if desired. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese.
Oven bake chicken enchiladas at 375 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Cool and enjoy with a sprinkle of cilantro and sides.
OPTION 2 - SMOKE Chicken Enchiladas on the Traeger pellet grill
Make Traeger smoked enchiladas on the pellet grill by preheating the smoker to 350 degrees F.
PREP to smoke chicken enchiladas. Add half the enchilada sauce to the bottom of a deep pan that can go in the pellet smoker. Add enchiladas on top. Add the rest of the sauce on top, covering chicken enchiladas all over. Drizzle with a little olive oil if desired. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese.
Smoke chicken enchiladas at 350 degrees F for 30-45 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Cool and enjoy with a sprinkle of cilantro and sides.
OPTION 3 - AIR FRY Chicken Enchiladas
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F for 5 minutes.
With air fryer chicken enchiladas, I don't add sauce to the bottom. Instead, brush a little olive oil on parchment paper and add the enchiladas on top. Then add a layer of sauce and cheese.
Air fry chicken enchiladas at 375 degrees F for about 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Cool and enjoy with a sprinkle of cilantro and sides.