Make ahead Dinners Ideas: Easy Chicken Enchilada Recipe

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. If you prefer to make a tex mex casserole instead try our Deliciously Easy Mexican Lasagna ,  Chicken Enchilada Quiche Recipe  or Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe

Easy Chicken Enchilada Recipe

Best Way to Shred Chicken for Recipes

Make Chicken At Home

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 instant pot,  oven, or crockpot.

Buy Cooked Chicken at the Store

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.

How to Make Ahead Chicken Enchiladas

How Many Chicken Enchiladas per Recipe?

Once you have the chicken shredded, you can have 2 pans of chicken enchiladas, 21 to be exact in just minutes.

Can I freeze Chicken Enchiladas?

Of course, you can.  I made the first pan, put it in the oven and then made the extra pan for the freezer to save time.  Just be sure to allow the enchiladas to cool, then wrap them tightly. 

Be sure to label your extra tray of easy chicken enchiladas so you remember how to make them

What type of tortillas for Chicken Enchilada Recipe?

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 use less filling in each.

How Do I Cook Frozen Chicken Enchiladas?

For this recipe, they ask for you to defrost them first.

Wondering if you could just bake them longer frozen??? Any one have thoughts on that?

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

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.

Easy Chicken Enchiladas! 

Easy Chicken Enchilada Recipe

Yield: 20 Enchiladas

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Make dinner ahead for tonight and another day with these simple chicken Enchilada recipe

Print

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:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 929 Total Fat: 47g Saturated Fat: 20g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 22g Cholesterol: 183mg Sodium: 2064mg Carbohydrates: 71g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 2g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 54g

What is your favorite Double Duty Dinner recipe?