Dreamy White Chicken Enchiladas Recipe: Comfort Food Magic

Comfort meets culinary magic in these creamy white chicken enchiladas that promise to steal the show at any dinner table.

Soft tortillas wrapped around tender, seasoned chicken create a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Melted cheese blankets each enchilada, turning a simple meal into an extraordinary experience.

The smooth, rich sauce adds a luxurious touch that elevates every single bite.

Packed with protein and bursting with zesty seasonings, these enchiladas deliver satisfaction in every forkful.

Weeknight dinners or weekend gatherings will never be the same once you master this mouthwatering recipe.

Prepare to fall in love with a dish that brings warmth and joy to your plate.

How to Build and Bake These Enchiladas

• Warm Up the Oven

Get your oven ready by heating it to 350F and lightly coating a baking dish with cooking spray.

• Create Chicken Filling

Mix shredded chicken with cheese, sour cream, and green chilies in a big mixing bowl until everything is well combined.

• Roll the Enchiladas

Spoon the chicken mixture into tortillas, rolling them tightly and placing them seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.

• Whip Up the Creamy Sauce

Melt butter in a saucepan, then add flour and cook briefly. Slowly pour in chicken broth, whisking until the sauce becomes smooth and thick. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream, cheese, and seasonings until silky.

• Cover and Dress

Pour the white sauce over the enchiladas, ensuring they’re completely covered. Sprinkle extra cheese on top.

• Bake to Perfection

Pop the dish in the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until the cheese melts and becomes golden and bubbly.

• Serve and Enjoy

Let the enchiladas rest for a few minutes. Add fresh cilantro, jalapeños, or tomatoes if you want extra flavor. Serve hot and savor every bite!

Add Some Flair to Your Chicken Enchiladas

• Prepare the enchiladas up to the baking stage, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake directly from the refrigerator, adding 10-15 minutes to the cooking time.
• Swap chicken with shredded turkey, pulled pork, or black beans for vegetarian guests. Ground beef works wonderfully for a heartier version.
• Dial up the heat by adding diced jalapeños to the chicken mixture or using pepper jack cheese instead of mild monterey jack. For milder palates, use mild green chilies and reduce spicy seasonings.
• Replace all-purpose flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend in the white sauce. Use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas to make the entire dish gluten-free friendly.
• Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, choose low-fat cheese, and opt for lean chicken breast to create a healthier version of this classic comfort dish.

Serve Enchiladas With Fresh and Zesty Sides

• Fiesta Plate Companions: Fresh salsa or pico de gallo adds bright, zesty flavors that complement the creamy enchiladas perfectly.
• Zesty Side Kick: Mexican rice or cilantro-lime rice creates a delicious base that soaks up the rich white sauce and adds texture to the meal.
• Cool and Creamy Accent: Dollop extra sour cream or fresh guacamole on top to balance the enchiladas' warm, cheesy goodness and provide a cooling contrast.
• Refreshing Beverage Pairing: Serve with an ice-cold margarita or Mexican beer to enhance the authentic southwestern dining experience and cut through the richness of the dish.

Keep Enchiladas Fresh After the First Meal

• Store leftover enchiladas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure proper sealing to maintain freshness and prevent moisture loss.
• Wrap individual enchiladas or the entire dish tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Warm enchiladas in the oven at 350F for 15-20 minutes to restore crispy edges and melty cheese. Avoid microwave to prevent soggy tortillas and uneven heating.
• Assemble enchiladas completely, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking. This allows flavors to meld and makes weeknight dinner planning effortless.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 550 kcal

Servings: 6

Everything That Goes Into White Chicken Enchiladas

• Shredded Chicken: Tender meat that adds protein and richness, choose rotisserie or freshly cooked chicken for best flavor.
• Monterey Jack Cheese, Cheddar Cheese: Creamy melting cheeses that create a gooey texture, select high-quality block cheese and shred fresh.
• Sour Cream: Adds tangy creaminess and helps bind the filling, opt for full-fat version for richer taste.
• Green Chilies: Introduces mild heat and depth, use fresh or canned for convenient flavor boost.

• Flour Tortillas: Soft wrapper that holds the filling, select fresh, pliable tortillas without cracks.

• Butter: Creates smooth base for sauce, use unsalted for better control of saltiness.
• All-Purpose Flour: Thickens sauce and provides silky texture, ensure it's fresh and lump-free.
• Chicken Broth: Provides liquid and enhances savory profile, choose low-sodium for better seasoning control.
• Garlic Powder: Adds subtle aromatic flavor, use fresh if possible for more intense taste.
• Onion Powder: Contributes underlying sweetness and depth, complement with fresh herbs if desired.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and elevate overall taste, use freshly ground pepper.

• Fresh Cilantro: Bright, fresh herb that adds color and zesty finish.
• Jalapeños: Optional spicy topping for heat lovers.
• Diced Tomatoes: Fresh, juicy topping that provides color and light acidity.

Tools to Make Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas

• 9×13-inch Baking Dish: Perfect for holding and baking your enchiladas evenly.
• Large Bowl: Essential for mixing chicken, cheese, and other filling ingredients.
• Medium Saucepan: Needed for creating the creamy white sauce.
• Whisk: Critical for smoothly blending sauce ingredients and preventing lumps.
• Cheese Grater: Helps shred fresh cheese for maximum flavor.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions.
• Spatula: Useful for spreading sauce and transferring enchiladas.

Dreamy White Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

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4.8 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Creamy white chicken enchiladas bring Mexican comfort straight to dinner tables with irresistible cheesy goodness. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and zesty sauce combine for a mouthwatering meal that will satisfy hunger and delight senses.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups (480 ml) cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
• 1 cup (240 ml) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup (240 ml) shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 flour tortillas (8-inch size)
• ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
• 1 (4 oz or 113 g) can diced green chilies (optional)
• 4 tablespoons (60 ml) unsalted butter
• 4 tablespoons (60 ml) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (480 ml) chicken broth
• 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream
• 1 cup (240 ml) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) onion powder
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
• Sliced jalapenos (optional)
• Diced tomatoes (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with cooking spray.
2. Filling Creation: Combine shredded chicken, cheese blend, sour cream, and green chilies in a mixing bowl, ensuring thorough incorporation of ingredients.
3. Tortilla Wrapping: Distribute chicken mixture along the center of each tortilla, rolling tightly and positioning seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
4. Sauce Development: In a saucepan, melt butter and integrate flour, cooking briefly to eliminate raw flour notes. Gradually introduce chicken broth, whisking continuously until the mixture transforms into a smooth, slightly thickened consistency.
5. Sauce Refinement: Remove from heat and fold in sour cream, remaining cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, creating a uniform, creamy sauce.
6. Final Assembly: Cascade the white sauce evenly over the enchiladas, ensuring complete coverage, then crown with additional shredded cheese.
7. Baking Process: Transfer to preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts into a golden, bubbling surface.
8. Serving Presentation: Allow enchiladas to rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with optional fresh cilantro, jalapeños, or diced tomatoes before serving.

Notes

• Warm tortillas slightly before filling to make them more pliable and reduce the risk of cracking during rolling.
• Whisk the white sauce continuously to avoid lumps and achieve a smooth, creamy texture that coats the enchiladas evenly.
• Use a mix of melting cheeses like Monterey Jack and cheddar for optimal flavor and gooey consistency.
• Adjust green chili and jalapeno quantities to match personal heat preferences, making the dish adaptable for mild or spicy lovers.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 20g
• Cholesterol: 70mg