Chicken Enchiladas With Salsa Verde  Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Stephen Martin

I have been making fabulous enchiladas from leftover roasted chicken breast for years. Store bought green enchilada sauce ishard to beat, particularly Hatch brand. An important step is, after browning the tortillas, to drag them through a shallow bowl of the green enchilada sauce.

Mix the shredded chicken, some green sauce, some onion, and some cheese before filling.

Betsy

Instead of dipping each tortilla in oil, you can instead microwave the stack of tortillas for 10-20 seconds, which will soften them up. Keep the stack covered with a kitchen towel to keep them moist as you take each one to roll up with the filling.

José

Lisa F

Queso Fresco is not meant to melt- it is often sprinkled over finished dishes for added flavor and texture. It is meant to have the same type of consistency as Feta cheese. In Mexican cuisine it is often served crumbled over black beans, enchiladas, soups, Chilaquiles, sopes, etc.

Donneek

It is so much easier to layer the tortillias with the meat like a lasagna, I usually do three layers cutting the tortillians in half and quarters to fit the pan. I've made it with beef and red mole sauce, and have used chicken and shredded pork butt with the chile verde. one square is the equivalent to three enchaladas.

I have added spinich or chard to the sauce before I blend it other favorites are frozen corn and mushrooms. It's a winner every time!

Sisters

Had no chicken--smashed up a can of pinto beans; no fresh chilis--used a can of Hatch fire-roasted chilis. Mixed the chilis and beans, seasonings, put a spoonful on a softened corn tortilla, added shredded cheese, rolled it up, into a greased baking dish, kept on until out of cheese, beans, and tortillas. Poured Hatch green enchilada sauce over it. Crumbled up queso fresco, put it on top. Baked at 350 for 30 minutes. HEAVEN! Ya use whacha got in the cupboard, right? =)

Anne

They turn to mush without oil and so don't come out of the pan whole.

LeeAnn

I put my cooked chicken breasts in the stand mixer, with paddle attachment, and it makes for perfectly shredded chicken. I do this for shredded pork as well.

BA Garcia

Tomatillos are best once they are charred in cast iron pan or in the oven along with onion, garlic, Serrano Chiles then processed. Put back in pan with some fat and fry a little to give it more dimension. Always fry tortillas to stand up to sauce and for texture. No melting cheese, top with Queso Fresco, onion and radish slices. Let sauce shine through....

Ed

I have on a couple of occasions used shredded Monterey Jack cheese, which melts well and has a nice flavor that marries well with the tomatillos.

MJ

One of the people I was cooking for has the soapy taste problem with cilantro so I omitted it, but the sauce still needed something, which turned out to be lime juice. I added about a tablespoon, which worked beautifully - apparently this is the best thing I've cooked in months, or so says my family. I'll definitely make it again.

Zac from VA

Not sure why the recipe calls for waiting until the cheese melts. Neither queso fresco nor cotija are melting cheeses - they're closer to cottage cheese or feta (respectively) that way.

kittypro

I always toss all the tomatillos, onions and garlic together, place on a foil lined sheet pan, and roast at 375 for 30-45 minutes. Then, put everything in a deep bowl, add the chiles and cilantro, and blend with an immersion blender. Makes cleanup easier. Roasting releases all the juices in the tomtillos and really perks up the flavor. Also, I always opt to triple the sauce. But I like it saucy, so just a personal preference. Good recipe that I have used many times!

Renee

The oil isn't to prevent the tortillas from sticking to the pan, it's to provide a binding for the sauce to the tortilla, without having the sauce penetrate the tortillas, so they don't get soggy. It's about layering flavors. Use the oil!

Jean Miller

In Austin we love enchiladas! This dish, however, is much easier as a layered casserole. Other weeknight hacks: canned tomatillos and a rotisserie chicken. Spread some of the tomatillo sauce in the baking dish. Follow with 4 tortillas, 1/2 the chicken, and 1/3 of the cheese, 1/3 of sour cream, and 1/3 of remaining sauce. Then 4 more tortillas and repeat. Top with final 4 tortillas and last 1/3 of cheese and sour cream. You can have this in the oven in 15 minutes. Fantastic and easy.

GeriR

Could this be made ahead and frozen?

rocky

We keep green chilaquiles sauce in the freezer and leftover chicken, so this came together super fast. Next time I might add chopped onion and maybe some sliced mushrooms. Tasty and fast!

John Golden

Bland and thin. So much better when tomatillos are roasted with vegetables and then puréed with chicken stock enriching the sauce and mixed with meat before rolling uo

Liz

How much salsa verde does the recipe make - in terms of substituting with store-bought salsa verde?

Liz P

These are a great use for the huge batch of tomatillo sauce that I made during summer and froze in jars. Straightforward, delicious recipe!

Pat

This was really bad. Tossed the leftovers. The sauce using roasted tomatillos went south with the addition of the serrano chili. And I love hot. Perhaps another pepper would have been better. Will not bother making again.Would double the tomatillos and substitute good flour tortillas if I did.

Castle Cook

I roasted the salsa verde ingredients (minus the cilantro) in the oven, broiled for a few minutes at the end to get a nice little char, and then added them, plus cilantro, to the blender. DELICIOUS!!!This was a hit!

d

Amazing recipe! Turned out so good especially the salsa verde! I did substitute flour tortillas for corn tortillas because flour has a bit more robust flavor profile and glad I did! Can’t wait to make again in the future

Elaine

I love this recipe! However, I use canned green enchilada sauce instead of the tomatillo-based recipe given here. This is my go-to left-overs recipe! Chicken, of course, but also beef, beans, pork. Yum!

Liz

how much canned sauce did you use?

Namesullycyn

We love Mexican recipes and anything with tomatillos. But these were kind of a disappointment. They were just ok. I could have used more sauce overall. I also might try the suggestion of first roasting the veggies—maybe that would make a difference. Personally, I would also add more spice—and I included the seeds!

Karen

I thought these were just okay, rather bland. I agree with the suggestion to roast the Tomatillos before using them in the salsa, but even so, I will not make this again as written.

Ras Daoud

This looks like a very good recipe. However, there is an error in the text. It says "if you want your sauce less spicy, then remove the seeds. Seeds have a lower concentration of capsicin than does the flesh of the pepper. That which they DO contain is absorbed in the seed coat by diffusion from the internal atmosphere of the berry (yes, peppers are berries).So, if you want a more piquant sauce, de-seed your peppers. (No thoughts on deveining.)

Ann

I took the tip to roast the sauce ingredients before blending and agree that it's even better. The tortilla step seemed stressful and I don't have a microwave so I tried this-- after I took the roasted veg out of the oven, I brushed each tortilla with a little olive oil and stacked them in a foil packet and put them in the still-warm oven while I made the sauce. It worked like a charm.

Sandra Talarico

While they were delicious, it was a lot of work. I made salsa verde several days prior (growing tomatillos this year). You could poach that chicken ahead of time as well (I did not). Frying tortillas calls for a lot of clean up on the stove. They were very, very good.

Shawn Oster

This recipe takes me back to my childhood growing up in Laredo, TX. We were a steak and potato family fresh from South Dakota until my neighborhood tia taught my mom a very similar recipe and we’ve been making it our own ever since. Still my favorite use of chicken or turkey leftovers.Since then I’ve learned many more regional versions but this is pure childhood comfort food for me.

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Chicken Enchiladas With Salsa Verde  Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use salsa verde instead of enchilada sauce? ›

You can use store-bought green chile enchilada sauce or salsa verde for this recipe. I like the options from Hatch, Las Palmas, and Frontera. Or, to make it from scratch, try this homemade salsa verde made with tomatillos, green chile peppers, and garlic (it's amazing).

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.

What is enchilada verde sauce made of? ›

What is green enchilada sauce made of? Green enchilada sauce, or verde sauce, primarily consists of tomatillos, green chilies, onions, garlic and lime juice. Sometimes spices such as cumin are included, as well as cilantro.

Should you bake enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until hot.

What's the difference between enchilada sauce and salsa verde? ›

The biggest difference between the two condiments is that enchilada sauce is made of cooked ingredients whereas salsa verde is concocted of raw ingredients (Don't worry, we'll get into what those ingredients are soon). Another key difference is the consistency.

Is salsa verde similar to green enchilada sauce? ›

No, they are not quite the same. Although you could use salsa verde for enchiladas, I don't really think you'd want to use enchilada sauce as a salsa. The ingredients in each are similar, as another person mentioned, but the consistency is not usually the same.

Do you put enchilada sauce on the bottom of the pan? ›

Scoop 1/2 cup enchilada sauce into the bottom of a nonstick sprayed baking dish then spread it into an even layer. Warm a few corn tortillas in a damp paper towel as outlined above, then one at a time place a tortilla on a plate or cutting board then sprinkle a small handful of cheese in the center.

What cheese is best for enchiladas? ›

Pepper jack is great too. Queso fresco is soft, not greasy when it melts, cotija adds a dry saltiness to green enchiladas, combine with Jack which is like asadero, mozzarella, or queso quesadilla. If you don't have options, buy a blend and add pepper jack. Use a fresh cheese, like panela or canasta.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

Is red or green enchilada sauce better for chicken enchiladas? ›

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.

Which is hotter red or green enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference between red and green enchilada sauce is the type of chili that was used. Red enchilada sauce is made with red chilies (in this recipe, ground red chilies or chili powder). Green enchilada sauce is made with green chilis, tomatillos, and sometimes jalapeños, so it tends to have a larger heat range.

Which of the following items is the main ingredient in salsa verde? ›

The main ingredient in salsa verde is tomatillo. Also known as a “Mexican husk tomato”, the tomatillo is related to the traditional red tomato, but—as you may have guessed—it's green.

Why are my homemade enchiladas soggy? ›

Too much of a good thing

According to Kitchen Seer, classic enchiladas should be fried a little before stuffing and baking. This toughens up an otherwise soft tortilla which would become drenched in whatever sauce is used.

Can you pre make enchiladas or will they get soggy? ›

If you would like to make a pan of enchiladas in advance, follow the recipe instructions through step 3 (assembling the enchiladas). Wrap the pan tightly with foil. Then you can either refrigerate the enchiladas for up to 3 days, then bake as directed.

Can you replace enchilada sauce with salsa? ›

Yes, salsa can be used as a substitute for enchilada sauce. It will add a similar tangy and spicy flavor to your dish. You can use it as is or blend it to achieve a smoother consistency before using it in your enchilada recipe.

What is the difference between salsa and enchilada sauce? ›

Salsa vs Enchilada Sauce

These two sauces might overlap in their ingredients, but the key difference is that enchilada sauce is thin, smooth, and served hot. It's also considered an important part of dishes like enchiladas, while salsa roja is a cold table sauce that can be added to anything.

What can salsa verde be used for? ›

Tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, any and all tortilla-based meals. Drizzling salsa verde over the chorizo, chicken, refried beans, or whatever else tops that tortilla is an instant hit of flavor that transcends tired old pico de gallo (we still love you though, pico).

What's the difference between red enchilada sauce and green? ›

Most green enchilada sauces use green chilis, which includes jalapenos and serrano, tipping off the spicy scale. As with any color chili, green sauces range from mild to hot. Red enchilada sauce, on the other hand, is typically made from a variety of red chilies, vinegar, onions, garlic and spices.

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