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 good enchiladas? ›

Fry each of your tortillas in hot oil before adding in your enchilada filling. This will help keep the tortillas from soaking up too much of your sauce too quickly, which can also cause them to break apart.

Where did green chile enchiladas originate? ›

As early as the preclassical period (c. 2000-250 BC), the Maya of the Yucatán Peninsula are known to have dipped corn tortillas in pumpkin seeds, rolled them around a chopped, hard-boiled egg and then covered them in a rich tomato sauce. But the Aztecs were the first to develop the first 'true' enchilada.

How do you cook real good chicken enchiladas? ›

Preparation Instructions

Leave enchiladas wrapped in film and poke holes to ventilate. Place tray in microwave and heat on high for 3 1/2 minutes. Let sit 1 minute. Enjoy!

What makes enchiladas taste better? ›

Toppings: When it comes to enchiladas, I vote the more toppings the merrier! Any combination of chopped fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, diced red onion (or quick pickled red onions), sliced radishes, fresh or pickled jalapeños, sour cream or Mexican crema, and/or extra cheese would be delicious!

Which sauce is better for enchiladas? ›

Las Palmas makes the best green enchilada sauce at the grocery store. It's a little tangy, super savory, and it tastes very fresh, even though it's canned enchilada sauce. If you're a green sauce lover, you will be thrilled with this premade enchilada sauce. You won't just want to stop at enchiladas!

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.

Why are green enchiladas called suizas? ›

This cheesy, creamy dish originated at a Sanborns cafe in Mexico City in 1950. Its name, "Swiss enchiladas," alludes to its copious use of dairy. This recipe first appeared in our August/September 2012 issue, with Todd Coleman's article Saucy Dish.

What is the difference between American and Mexican enchiladas? ›

Enchiladas. The American and Mexican enchiladas closely resemble each other, which is some point of agreement between the two cuisines. The US version has more ground beef and may use gravy. The original has less meat and goes perfectly with vegetables.

Should you cover enchiladas when you bake them? ›

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.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour? ›

While some recipes use flour tortillas, corn tortillas are traditional — and for good reason — are the better option for enchiladas.

Is it better to cook enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

It isn't necessary to cover enchiladas while baking. All of an enchiladas components are cooked and you are just heating them through when you bake them. Ideally your ingredients will be room temperature, not ice cold, when you assemble the enchiladas.

Do authentic enchiladas use corn or flour tortillas? ›

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!

How to make can green enchilada sauce better? ›

To make your canned enchilada sauce taste homemade, grab some butter, a little flour, and some chicken stock. This trifecta of ingredients infuses a canned enchilada sauce with a satisfyingly thick texture and a rich, savory flavor.

Are chicken enchiladas better with green or red 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.

Do enchiladas taste better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

While some recipes use flour tortillas, corn tortillas are traditional — and for good reason — are the better option for enchiladas. Corn tortillas have a distinct flavor that plays a key part of the enchilada experience, compared to flour tortillas, which are more like a blank slate.

Should enchiladas be covered when baking? ›

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.

What is the best cheese to melt on enchiladas? ›

Use a shredded Mexican cheese blend for the best melting and flavor. A rustic cut blend of 4 cheese is the best all-around cheese for enchiladas. Look for one that includes Montery Jack, Cheddar, Asadero and Queso Quesadilla Cheese. Avoid using all cheddar as it can be too oily.

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