Chicken Enchiladas

Make the enchilada sauce up to three days ahead; the flavors will meld and only get better.

Chicken Enchiladas
Photo: Alison Miksch
Hands On Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs 15 mins
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

  • Sauce

  • 4 Anaheim chiles or 3 large jalapeño peppers

  • 3 poblano peppers

  • 6 plum tomatoes, halved

  • 1 onion, cut into wedges

  • 7 garlic cloves, unpeeled

  • 1 (28-oz.) can tomato sauce

  • 2 cups chicken broth

  • 1 tablespoon ground chipotle chile pepper

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • Enchiladas

  • 1 (8-oz.) block Monterey Jack cheese

  • 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas

  • 4 cups shredded deli-roasted chicken

  • 1/2 (8-oz.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

  • 2 avocados, chopped

  • 1/2 cup torn cilantro leaves

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Directions

  1. Prepare Sauce: Preheat broiler with oven rack 5 inches from heat. Broil first 5 ingredients on a foil-lined baking sheet, 6 minutes or until peppers blister and char. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Peel and seed peppers; peel garlic. Reduce oven temperature to 375°.

  2. Bring tomato sauce, next 5 ingredients, broiled vegetables, and 1 tsp. salt to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, 35 minutes. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes. Process with a handheld blender or in batches in a food processor or blender until smooth.

  3. Prepare Enchiladas: Shred 2 oz. Monterey Jack cheese to yield 1/2 cup. Cut remaining Monterey Jack cheese into 12 (4- x 1/2-inch) sticks.

  4. Spread 1 cup enchilada sauce in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated lightly with cooking spray. Spread a thin layer of sauce on 1 tortilla. Place 1/3 cup chicken and 1 Monterey Jack cheese stick on edge of tortilla, and roll tortilla. Place in baking dish, seam side down. Repeat with remaining tortillas, chicken, and cheese sticks. Pour 2 1/2 cups sauce over tortillas. Chill remaining sauce for another use. Bake enchiladas at 375° for 30 minutes.

  5. Top enchiladas with shredded Cheddar and shredded Monterey Jack cheese; bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes.

  6. Meanwhile, combine avocado, next 2 ingredients, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt; serve with enchiladas.

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