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Easiest Green Enchilada Casserole

This Green Enchilada Casserole is one of our best Mexican Chicken casseroles.  This is Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole has all the amazing green chile flavors that you will love.  And you can make this  Green Chile Enchilada Casserole in just over 40 minutes. 

 
 

There are probably thousands of recipes for a Green Enchilada Casserole but this is my all-time favorite.    I love it not only because of the incredible taste but it is so easy, no rolling tortillas.   And this easy Mexican Chicken Casserole can be prepared in advance and refrigerated or froze to heat up later.

 

Mexican chicken casserole

 

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In New Mexico, chiles are abundant.  I do believe the state’s motto is “Red or Green?”.     This is a question that is asked anytime you order enchiladas since everyone has their favorite sauce.  Red enchilada sauce is made from the dried chiles that have matured to the point they have turned red and green enchilada sauce is made from fresh chiles.  You can even order your enchiladas “Christmas” meaning half red and half green for those that either can’t decide or that just love both equally.

 

Hatch green chile Mexican Cornbread

 

When the green chiles are harvested, they are sold everywhere (even our local and chain grocery stores) and they are roasted on the spot.  Outside every location that sells green chiles, a huge roaster is set up.  It is a huge wire drum that rotates and as the chiles toss around they pass by a flame strip that is burning on the bottom of the drum.  This roasts them and the skin turns black (just like roasted red peppers) and peels away from the meat of the chile.    And the smell is heavenly.    The entire valley smells like roasted green chiles.    I so love chile harvest time!

 

When I lived in New Mexico I would buy a huge bag of these chiles, have them roasted and freeze them in small batches to use throughout the year.   We would then have fresh green chiles all winter.  But even if you don’t live in New Mexico  Hatch Green Chiles can be purchased online and shipped to you.

 

Easy Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • Olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • 1 cup roasted green chiles, chopped
  • 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded
  • 10.5 ounce can of cream of chicken soup
  • 10.5 ounce can cream of celery soup
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 dozen corn tortillas
  • ½ pound cheddar cheese or Monterrey jack cheese, shredded
  • Pico de Gallo

 

How to make Green Enchilada Casserole:

This is an easy version without having to make green chile sauce but it contains those amazing green chiles.

 
green chile chicken enchilada casserole
 

Start your green chile chicken enchilada casserole by cooking 2 chicken breasts. You could either place them in water and boil until done or roast them in the oven.   A rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken or turkey would also work wonderfully.    Shred the chicken using two forks or meat shredding claws.   You should have about 4 cups of shredded cooked chicken or one pound.
 

 
Saute the chopped onion in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a dutch oven over medium heat.   Saute until the onion is translucent.
 
Mexican chicken casserole
 

Add chopped garlic and saute for one additional minute.   The best way to use fresh garlic in our opinion is to use a garlic peeler and this green Garlic Chopper.   The garlic peeler makes it so easy to peel garlic cloves and this Garlic Chopper easily chops 2-3 cloves at a time.
 

Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
 
Add one cup of chopped green chile, mix well, and continue to cook until it’s heated throughout.   If you can’t find chopped green chile in your area, fresh green chile can be found on Amazon.    Or you could substitute 505 green chile or canned green chile.
 
Mexican chicken casserole
 

Add cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup and 1/2 cup of water.   Stir to mix well and add shredded chicken.    Continue to cook until everything is heated throughout.

 
Green enchilada casserole
 

Slice one dozen tortillas into fourths.   Heat a comal or flat griddle and spray with cooking spray.
 

Tortillas on a comal for green enchilada casserole
 

Place tortilla fourths onto the heated comal or griddle.   Heat until soft but not crispy then flip to heat both sides.      Remove from the comal, set aside on a dish and keep hot.
 

Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
 

Spray a 9 X 13 baking dish with a cooking spray.  Spoon about one-third of the chicken mixture to just cover the bottom of the pan.  Sprinkle with one-third of the cheese and top with one-half of the tortilla chips.
 

green chile chicken enchilada casserole
 

Repeat and then top the last layer of tortillas with the remaining third of the chicken mixture and top with cheese.  Place in a preheated 350-degree oven and bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
 

green chile chicken enchilada casserole
 

Remove this Mexican chicken casserole from oven and top with chopped cilantro, optional.  Serve with homemade pico de gallo or salsa and plenty of tortilla chips.
 

 

We enjoy this Green Enchilada Casserole topped with our homemade pico and with tortilla chips.  Also, refried beans would be delicious with this dinner.

 

Other Mexican Recipes:

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Print Recipe
5 from 13 votes

Green Enchilada Casserole

Green Enchilada Casserole is our best Mexican Chicken casserole. It's a Green Chile Enchilada Casserole or Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole that is so easy.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: green chile chicken enchilada casserole, Green Chile Enchilada Casserole, Green Enchilada Casserole, Mexican chicken casserole
Servings: 6
Calories: 318kcal
Author: Evelyn

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Saute onion in a small amount of olive oil in a dutch oven or large pot until translucent.
  • Add garlic, stir and cook for about 1 minute. Add green chilies, soups and chicken and about 1/2 cup water.
  • Heat thoroughly and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cut the tortillas into fourths and heat in batches in a skillet using a spray cooking oil such as Pam until just soft and heated
  • Spray a 9 X 13-inch casserole dish with a cooking spray
  • Spoon in sauce mixture to just barely cover the bottom of the pan. Layer with tortillas, sauce mixture, cheese and continue layering, ending with the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.
  • Bake uncovered in a 350 oven until cheese is bubbly about 20 minutes

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 400mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 446IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 294mg | Iron: 2mg

 

Recipe Rating




Jamie Sherman

Monday 20th of April 2015

Seriously, I could eat enchiladas in one form or another every day! Definitely a family favorite!

Ericka

Saturday 11th of August 2012

This was a tasty recipe, and a simple to make weeknight meal! Thanks!

Natasha

Friday 20th of April 2012

looks good!Thanks for sharing

Kadie

Monday 16th of April 2012

I love green chilies in my enchiladas! They have the perfect amount of heat. Yours are fantastic.

Allyson

Friday 13th of April 2012

Oh, I love these green enchiladas! They are really yummy!