Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas - Traditional New Mexico Recipe (2024)

By Amy @ Positively Splendid

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As a native New Mexican, there is no ingredient that truly transports me back to my childhood quite like green chile. Growing up, green chile chicken enchiladas were a staple in our family menu, and I now love to prepare them for my own family. In traditional New Mexico style, these enchiladas are stacked instead of rolled, and they are covered in a generous layer of creamy green chile sauce. The end result? Green chile chicken enchiladas with a smoky, spicy, downright delectable flavor. Let’s dig right in!

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas - Traditional New Mexico Recipe (3)

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

Stacked chicken and cheese enchiladas covered in smoky, spicy green chile sauce. A New Mexico favorite!

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Course Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine Mexican, New Mexican

Servings 12 servings

Calories 221 kcal

Ingredients

For the sauce

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 cups milk at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped green chile
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano

For the casserole

  • 2 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground red chile powder
  • 2 tablespoons chopped green chile
  • 1/4 cup minced onion
  • 12 6 " corn tortillas quartered
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

Instructions

For the sauce

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, and cook until toasty, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Gradually whisk in the chicken stock, stirring well to avoid any lumps. Stir in the milk, salt, green chile, and oregano, and cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, about 15 minutes, stirring often.

For the filling

  • Place the chicken in a medium sauce pan with a lid. In a small bowl, combine the chicken stock and flour, whisking well to combine. Pour the stock and flour mixture over the chicken, and stir to combine. Add the salt, red chile powder, 2 tablespoons chopped green chile, and minced onion, and stir to combine. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes until bubbly, stirring often.

To assemble the enchiladas

  • In a greased 9x13 pan, ladle in 1/4 of the prepared green chile sauce. Layer 16 of the tortilla quarters on top of the sauce so that they form a layer that covers the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the prepared chicken mixture and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the cheese. Cover with 1/2 cup of sauce. Top with an additional 16 tortilla quarters, and then layer on the remaining chicken mixture, 1/2 cup of cheese and an additional 1/2 cup of sauce. Top with the remaining tortilla quarters, and then cover with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

  • Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, until thickened and bubbly. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with lettuce and tomatoes.

Keyword Enchiladas, Green Chile

For this recipe, I use green chile that we roast and freeze each fall, but if you don’t live in the southwest, Bueno sells frozen green chile in many parts of the county, or the canned variety will work, too.

I like to garnish with a bit of shredded lettuce and cherry tomatoes. If desired, a bit of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt does a great job to tame the heat a bit!

By the way, my super easychopped cooked chicken recipe is perfect for using in these green chile chicken enchiladas.

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas - Traditional New Mexico Recipe (6)

Looking for some more yummy chicken recipes? Check out these other delicious ideas!

Chicken Pot Pie

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas - Traditional New Mexico Recipe (7)

Oven-Fried Chicken Strips

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas - Traditional New Mexico Recipe (8)

Chicken and Black Bean Tostadas

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas - Traditional New Mexico Recipe (9)

FOR EVEN MORE OF MY FAVORITES, CHECK OUT THEPOSITIVELY SPLENDID SHOP ON AMAZON!

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas - Traditional New Mexico Recipe (10)

Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.

EVEN MORE GREAT IDEAS JUST FOR YOU!

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Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas - Traditional New Mexico Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to non soggy enchiladas? ›

To prevent your tortillas from tearing or becoming soggy, quickly fry each corn tortilla in any oil you like for about 10 seconds on each side, until it starts to get crispy but is still pliable. This will add a barrier that will keep the tortilla from absorbing too much sauce, and also adds a little extra flavor.

Where did green enchiladas originate? ›

Enchiladas originated in Mexico, where the practice of rolling tortillas around other food dates back at least to Aztec times. The people living in the lake region of the Valley of Mexico traditionally ate corn tortillas folded or rolled around small fish.

Is green Mexican sauce the same as green enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference between green enchilada sauce (verde sauce) and salsa verde is that enchilada sauce is cooked, and salsa verde is raw. Enchilada sauce also requires liquid (either stock or water), but salsa verde ingredients are simply blended together and eaten as is.

Do traditional enchiladas use flour or corn? ›

Corn tortillas are traditional for enchiladas, but flour tortillas also work. Choose 7- or 8-inch flour tortillas or 6-inch corn tortillas—they fit best in most pans. Recipes vary, but for a 3-quart rectangular casserole dish, you will need about eight flour or corn tortillas. Get colorful!

Is it better to cook enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

Assemble the remaining enchiladas. Then spread any remaining sauce evenly over the top of the enchiladas, followed by any extra cheese. Bake. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are cooked through and the tortillas are slightly crispy on the outside.

Should I bake enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

Arrange enchiladas, seam-side down, in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with taco sauce and remaining 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool briefly before serving.

Are enchiladas authentic to Mexico? ›

Enchiladas are a traditional Mexican dish with a unique flavor and a very long history. Their delicious taste has made them a popular menu item at many Mexican restaurants. With the perfect combination of tortilla, meat, cheese, and sauce, enchiladas have become a symbol of a traditional Mexican meal.

What is an authentic enchilada made of? ›

This Mexican enchiladas recipe is the real thing. Corn tortillas are dipped in a homemade sauce, fried, filled with Mexican queso fresco, then topped with sour cream, lettuce, and tomato. My mother-in-law is from Mexico and taught me to make this delicious dish.

What is the difference between American enchiladas and Mexican enchiladas? ›

Dishes such as enchiladas can be authentic or of the Tex-Mex variety. Authentic Mexican enchiladas have a variety of ingredients wrapped and often fried. They can be topped with cheese, chicken, lettuce, or sauces. Tex-Mex enchiladas are typically baked and are made with beef and cheese.

How to thicken green enchilada sauce? ›

Or alternately, you can thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry (equal parts cold water and cornstarch whisked together, then added to the sauce once it has reached a simmer). Storage instructions: Let the sauce cool to room temperature.

Are enchiladas better with red or green sauce? ›

If you are making enchiladas, you may be wondering, “Which sauce should I use?” This is an excellent question, and the most straightforward answer is whatever you prefer. If you are making beef enchiladas, it is more common to pair them with a red sauce, and chicken enchiladas usually have a green sauce.

Why do flour tortillas get soggy in enchiladas? ›

Tips for keeping your flour tortillas from getting soggy in enchiladas. Try preheating your enchilada pan in the oven before you start cooking. Adding your tortillas intoan already-warm pan instead of a cold one will help them start cooking and getting crispy right away, rather than risking sogginess.

Do you brown tortillas before making enchiladas? ›

In Mexico, before anything else, corn tortillas are quickly fried until they just start to crisp up and take on a little bit of color. Only then are they filled and rolled into enchiladas.

How do you make enchiladas crispy and not soggy? ›

Bake the enchiladas before adding sauce

Another thing you can try is baking your enchiladas after filling them until the tortillas are just be-ginning to get brown and starting to crisp. Then, add your cheese and sauce on top and bake them again until the cheese is melted.

How do you keep tortillas from getting mushy in enchiladas? ›

You have to dip them in hot cooking oil before filling and rolling them. Don't put so much sauce on them that it soaks the enchiladas. And importantly, don't leave them in the oven too long so that the tortillas get mushy.

How do you keep corn tortillas soft for enchiladas? ›

Frying your tortillas in a hot skillet is another great way to soften your tortillas. Add enough oil, like avocado oil or olive oil, to cover the bottom of your skillet. Add tortillas when the oil starts to bubble and cook each side of the tortilla for 10-20 seconds. Use a paper towel to remove excess oil.

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