Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Dinner Recipes Make Life Simple
- Perfect for Busy Weeknights
- A Creamy and Comforting Flavor
- Customize to Your Heart’s Content
- Tips for the Best Enchiladas
- Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes Recipe
- Notes & Tips
Key Takeaways
This simple white chicken enchilada recipe is your new go-to for a stress-free, delicious meal. It combines tender shredded chicken, a creamy green chili sauce, and plenty of melty cheese, all wrapped in a soft tortilla. Ready in under an hour, it’s a perfect example of how easy chicken dinner recipes can be both comforting and quick. With make-ahead tips and easy customization options, this dish is sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Hey there, I’m Betty from Betty Cooks! If you’re searching for truly easy chicken dinner recipes that deliver on flavor without keeping you in the kitchen all night, you’ve found a winner. These white chicken enchiladas are the epitome of a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal that feels special but is deceptively simple to make. The creamy sauce, the gooey cheese, and the flavorful chicken filling come together in perfect harmony. I promise, this is one of those easy dinner recipes you’ll turn to again and again.
Easy Dinner Recipes Make Life Simple
Let’s be honest, after a long day, the last thing you want is a complicated recipe with a mountain of dishes. That’s where simple, reliable dishes like this shine. This recipe uses straightforward ingredients you likely already have, and the method is fail-proof. From shredding a store-bought rotisserie chicken to whisking together a quick stovetop sauce, every step is designed for efficiency. It’s the perfect example of how quick and easy recipes can still result in a homemade meal that tastes like you spent hours.
Perfect for Busy Weeknights
We all need those reliable quick dinner ideas in our back pocket for hectic evenings. The beauty of this enchilada bake is its flexibility. You can prep the filling ahead of time, or even assemble the entire dish in the morning and pop it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. When dinner time rolls around, just slide it into the oven, and in 25 minutes, you have a bubbling, cheesy, satisfying meal on the table. It’s a lifesaver for busy families and proves that delicious easy chicken dinners don’t require constant effort.
A Creamy and Comforting Flavor
What sets these enchiladas apart is the luxurious, creamy sauce. Unlike traditional red enchilada sauce, this white version is rich, tangy from the sour cream, and has a gentle kick from the green chiles. It envelops the tender chicken and tortillas, creating a cohesive, comforting bite in every forkful. The combination of Monterey Jack and cream cheese in the filling adds an incredible depth of flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes this dish so special. It’s a fantastic chicken recipe for anyone who loves creamy, cheesy goodness.
Customize to Your Heart’s Content
One of the best things about simple dinner recipes is how easily you can make them your own. Not a fan of too much heat? Use mild green chiles. Want to add some veggies? Stir in some sautéed spinach or corn into the chicken mixture. You can even swap the flour tortillas for corn tortillas for a gluten-free version. Feeling adventurous? Top your baked enchiladas with fresh pico de gallo, sliced avocado, or a drizzle of hot sauce. This recipe is a wonderful canvas for your personal taste.
Tips for the Best Enchiladas
For the ultimate enchilada experience, here are a couple of my pro-tips from Betty Cooks. First, warm your tortillas slightly before rolling—it makes them more pliable and less likely to tear. A quick 10 seconds in the microwave between damp paper towels does the trick. Second, don’t skip letting the baked enchiladas rest for 5-10 minutes after they come out of the oven. This allows the sauce to set slightly, making them much easier to serve in neat, beautiful portions. These little steps make a big difference in your final dish!
Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes: Simple White Chicken Enchiladas
Ingredients
For the Enchilada Filling
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken works great!)
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
- 3 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Additional
- 8-10 flour tortillas (medium size)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional toppings: diced tomatoes, sliced avocado, extra sour cream
Instructions
Prepare the Filling
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, 1 cup of Monterey Jack cheese, cream cheese, green chiles, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
Make the Creamy Sauce
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
- Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbly.
- Gradually whisk in chicken broth until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in sour cream, green chiles, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Assemble and Bake
- Spread about 1/2 cup of the sauce evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon about 1/3 cup of chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up tightly and place seam-side down in the baking dish.
- Pour remaining sauce evenly over the top of the enchiladas.
- Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly and edges are lightly golden.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro and optional toppings.
Leave a Comment