Zesty Homemade Chicken Enchilada Bake Recipe for Family Meals

Sizzling comfort and zesty flavors merge in this mouthwatering chicken enchilada bake that promises to deliver a hearty Mexican-inspired feast.

Layers of tender chicken, melted cheese, and robust spices create a culinary experience that dances across your taste buds.

Every bite of this chicken enchilada bake bursts with rich, authentic ingredients that transport you straight to a bustling kitchen in Mexico.

Creamy, spicy, and utterly irresistible, this dish turns an ordinary dinner into an extraordinary celebration of taste.

Crisp tortillas nestled between savory fillings make each forkful a delightful adventure.

Simple enough for weeknight cooking yet impressive enough to serve at gatherings, this recipe guarantees satisfied smiles around the table.

Let’s find out this delectable creation and let your senses embark on a flavor-packed journey.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 420 kcal

Servings: 10

Inside the Chicken Enchilada Bake: What You’ll Need

• Olive Oil, Butter: Provides rich, smooth foundation for building deep flavor layers in the sauce, with butter adding luxurious creaminess and olive oil enhancing subtle earthiness.
• Onion, Garlic: Aromatic flavor bombs that create a robust, savory backbone for the entire sauce, releasing sweet and pungent notes when sautéed.

• All-Purpose Flour: Thickens sauce and creates silky texture, ensuring perfect consistency without lumps.
• Chicken Broth, Tomato Sauce: Delivers complex liquid base with balanced tanginess and hearty chicken depth.
• Chili Powder, Cayenne Pepper: Introduces vibrant southwestern heat and smoky complexity, with cayenne offering optional extra kick.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasoning agents that elevate and harmonize all sauce flavors.

• Cooked Chicken: Protein-packed main ingredient that provides substantial, tender meat with versatile flavor absorption.
• Cooked Rice: Fluffy, filling base that soaks up sauce and adds comforting texture.
• Black Beans, Corn: Nutrient-rich additions that bring earthy sweetness and delightful textural contrast.
• Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Delivers bold, tangy richness and creates irresistible melty golden top.
• Tortilla Chips: Adds crunchy textural element and rustic southwestern flair.
• Sour Cream: Optional cooling garnish that balances spicy notes with creamy tanginess.

Tools to Tackle Your Enchilada Bake

• Medium saucepan: Essential for sautéing onions and making the sauce.
• Whisk: Crucial for blending broth, tomato sauce, and spices smoothly.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining chicken, rice, beans, and cheese.
• 9-inch square baking dish: Needed to assemble and bake the enchilada casserole.
• Cutting board: For chopping onions and preparing ingredients.
• Chef's knife: Helps with precise ingredient preparation.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients.

Bringing Chicken Enchilada Bake to Life, Step-by-Step

• Flavor Base

Start by creating a rich, aromatic foundation in a saucepan. Gently sauté chopped onions and minced garlic in a blend of oil and butter, allowing the ingredients to become soft and fragrant.

• Sauce Transformation

Dust the softened vegetables with flour, stirring carefully to create a smooth mixture. Slowly introduce chicken broth and tomato sauce, then season with chile powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer and develop deep, complex flavors.

• Enchilada Filling

Combine tender chicken pieces with fluffy rice, hearty beans, sweet corn kernels, and a generous helping of cheese. Mix these ingredients until they’re perfectly integrated, creating a delicious and satisfying filling.

• Casserole Assembly

Preheat the oven to a toasty 375 degrees. Grease a baking dish and pour the prepared sauce over the chicken mixture. Layer tortilla chips across the top and sprinkle remaining cheese for a crispy, golden finish.

• Baking Magic

Slide the casserole into the hot oven and let it bake until the top turns a beautiful golden brown and the edges bubble with excitement. Remove and let it rest briefly before serving with a dollop of cool sour cream.

Tips, Twists & Flavor Boosts for Enchilada Bake

• Swap chicken with ground turkey, shredded beef, or black beans for a different protein twist that keeps the dish exciting and versatile.
• Adjust chile and cayenne pepper quantities to match your heat tolerance, from mild to fiery hot. Add jalapeños for extra kick if you're a spice enthusiast.
• Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack, monterey jack, or a Mexican cheese mix to elevate the flavor profile and create your signature enchilada bake.
• Toss in extra vegetables like diced bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach to increase nutritional value and add more texture to the dish. Roasted vegetables can bring deeper, smokier flavors.
• Prepare the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, pop it directly into the preheated oven and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to cooking time.

Ways to Serve Chicken Enchilada Bake with Style

• Festive Fiesta Presentation: Serve this enchilada bake on a colorful platter garnished with fresh cilantro sprigs and lime wedges for a vibrant, restaurant-style look that screams Mexican cuisine.
• Zesty Topping Bar: Create a DIY topping station with small bowls of diced avocado, chopped green onions, sliced jalapeños, extra sour cream, and salsa so everyone can customize their plate.
• Hearty Companion Sides: Pair the chicken enchilada bake with a crisp Mexican street corn salad or a light mixed green salad with a tangy lime vinaigrette to balance the rich, cheesy main dish.
• Cool Beverage Pairing: Complement the spicy flavors with a refreshing margarita, cold Mexican beer, or a citrusy agua fresca to enhance the overall dining experience and cool down the palate.

Planning, Saving & Storing Chicken Enchilada Bake

• Smart Batch Cooking: Prepare double the recipe and split into two baking dishes – one for immediate enjoyment and another for quick freezer storage.
• Refrigerator Survival Guide: Store leftover enchilada bake in sealed containers for up to 4 days, ensuring maximum flavor retention and food safety.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Wrap individual portions in aluminum foil and freeze for convenient grab-and-go meals within 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheating Magic: Warm refrigerated or thawed enchilada bake in oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, covering with foil to prevent excessive drying and maintain delicious moisture levels.

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Bake

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4.9 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 10 1x

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Description

Mexican-inspired chicken enchilada bake brings layered flavors of tender chicken, melted cheese, and zesty sauce. Family dinners become memorable with this hearty, comforting casserole you will crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken (about 1 lb/454 g raw)
• 1½ cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1½ cups corn (fresh or frozen)
• 1 heaping cup crushed tortilla chips
• 2 cups cooked rice (e.g., Minute Rice)
• 1 can (14 oz/396 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (14 oz/396 g) tomato sauce
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 tbsps chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 0.5 tsp ground cayenne pepper (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Sour cream (optional)

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Instructions

1. Aromatic Base: Melt oil and butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Sauté onions and garlic until softened and translucent, stirring frequently for 4-5 minutes.
2. Roux Creation: Sprinkle flour over vegetables, stirring continuously to eliminate raw flour taste and develop a smooth foundation for the sauce.
3. Sauce Development: Whisk in chicken broth and tomato sauce, incorporating chile powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens and flavors intensify.
4. Filling Preparation: Combine diced chicken, rice, black beans, corn, and cheese in a large mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
5. Sauce Integration: Blend prepared sauce with the chicken mixture, coating thoroughly to create a harmonious flavor profile.
6. Assembly and Baking: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-inch baking dish and transfer the mixture, spreading evenly. Top with tortilla chips and remaining cheese.
7. Final Cooking: Bake for 25-30 minutes until the surface turns golden and edges bubble vigorously. Rest for 5 minutes before serving with optional garnishes like sour cream or fresh cilantro.

Notes

• Manage Roux Carefully: Stirring flour with sautéed vegetables prevents burning and removes raw flour taste, creating a smooth base for your sauce.
• Control Sauce Consistency: Whisk broth and tomato sauce gradually to avoid lumps, ensuring a silky, well-integrated sauce that coats ingredients perfectly.
• Distribute Ingredients Evenly: Mix chicken, rice, beans, corn, and cheese thoroughly to guarantee balanced flavors in every single bite.
• Optimize Baking Time: Watch golden-brown surface and bubbling edges as indicators of perfectly cooked enchilada bake, preventing overcooking or dryness.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 10
• Calories: 420
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 680 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 48 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg