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Make ahead Dinners Ideas: Easy Chicken Enchilada Recipe

January 14, 2014 by Maria @ Close to Home

I like finding a make-ahead dinner recipe, but when you can do all the work once and make an extra casserole for another night, I am in love. This make ahead dinner recipe for Easy Chicken Enchiladas is really not that time-consuming and well worth the effort of rolling another pan of enchiladas. My kids loved these and I am eating leftovers, well 2 enchiladas for lunch while I am typing this.

easy chicken enchiladas

My husband cooked 2 chickens on his rotiserre this weekend so we had a great start for this recipe. However, you can buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, make your own shredded chicken in the oven or crock pot. Our store sells yesterday’s rotisserie chicken for a discount. The hardest part of this recipe was shredding the chicken. This is a great recipe to feed a crowd, as it will feed 10 people with a single recipe.

Now don’t let your blood pressure go high just looking at the ingredient list. This is an easy Chicken enchilada recipe, I did not say healthy. I used low-fat  and low sodium ingredients when I could find them. I buy the healthy select condensed soups, but the cheddar I could not find that variety. I used skim milk, low-fat sour cream and cheeses. I also used spring mix lettuces instead of iceberg.

chicken enchiladas 3

Once you have the chicken shredded, you can have 2 pans of chicken enchiladas, 21 to be exact in just minutes. I made the first pan, put it in the oven and then made the extra pan for the freezer to save time.

 

IMG_0260

I also used corn tortillas as I thought that was more authentic. They were a little smaller than the 8 inches recommended in the regular recipe so I uses less filling in each.

Make ahead dinner ideas

Be sure to label your extra tray of easy chicken enchiladas so you remember how to make them.. This recipe requires a defrost, wondering if you could just bake them longer frozen??? Any one have thoughts on that?

easy chicken enchiladas

Should have used Pan lining Paper like my video from Reynolds.. I just soaked the pan overnight.

chicken enchiladas 2

What a yummy recipe I might even try adding a can of rinsed black beans next time. Oh wait I have a pan waiting for me in the freezer.

Yield: 8

Easy Chicken Enchilada Recipe

Make dinner ahead for tonight and another day with these simple chicken Enchilada recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 rotisserie chicken or 6 cups of chicken shredded
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilis
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup condensed, undiluted low sodium
  • 1 can cheddar cheese soup undiluted
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 1 8 oz low fat cream cheese , room temp
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsps garlic powder
  • 2 tsps oregano
  • 20 tortillas, 8 inch
  • 4 cups mexican blended cheese

Instructions

  1. Remove meat from bones; discard bones. Shred chicken with two forksand set aside. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, soups, milk and seasonings. Transfer 3-1/2 cups to another bowl; add chicken and cream cheese.
  2. Spread 1/4 cup soup mixture into each of two greased 13-in. x 9-in baking dishes. Place 1/3 cup (1/4 for corn tortillas) chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in baking dishes. Pour remaining soup mixture over tops; sprinkle with cheese.
  3. Bake one casserole, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Cover and freeze remaining casserole for up to 3 months. Be sure to label the casserole with the date and cooking instructions
  4. To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through and cheese is melted. Yield: 2 casseroles (5 servings each).

Nutrition Information:


Amount Per Serving: Calories: 852 Saturated Fat: 19g Cholesterol: 158mg Sodium: 1719mg Carbohydrates: 54g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 7g Protein: 52g
© Maria @ Close to Home
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Main Course

What is your favorite Double Duty Dinner recipe?

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Filed Under: main dish, make ahead meal, recipe Tagged With: chicken, mexican recipes

About Maria @ Close to Home

A forty something Mom who enjoys cooking, crafting, entertaining and traveling. I love sharing our adventures and sharing family friendly products to make your day to day easier too.

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Comments

  1. Elena says

    January 23, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    Looks so yummy! Thank you for the recipe

  2. Amber B says

    January 17, 2014 at 11:03 am

    that looks delicious! I am always looking for new things to cook. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Maria @ Close to Home says

    January 17, 2014 at 4:45 am

    Thx using new recipe app on word press will add it sorry for confusion

  4. Laurie says

    January 16, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    You mentioned cream cheese in the directions on step one but cream cheese is not in the list of ingredients?

  5. Danielle Murgia says

    January 15, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    These look delicious! I love that I can make it and freeze one.

  6. Jamie says

    January 15, 2014 at 11:33 am

    Yum!! Those look great for a potluck or for helping someone out with a meal when they’re not feeling well, etc. Saving this one!!

  7. tara pittman says

    January 14, 2014 at 1:43 pm

    This is a family favorite in my house. I know what is for dinner this week

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