Salsa Verde Enchiladas
What are you serving for Christmas dinner? Don’t know yet? Don’t feel bad, me either. Every year we have certain traditions that we follow religiously, and other areas where we fly by the seat of our pants. Like for instance, what we’re eating for Christmas Dinner. Some years we sink into family recipes like Chicken Paprikas and Hungarian Cabbage and Noodles. Other years we’ve made cozy dishes like Beef Stroganoff or Trout Schnitzel. We’ve even gone fancy with Perfect Slow Cooker Beef Tenderloin and Pan Seared Duck Breast. And then, of course, there was the year that we could not agree on what we wanted for Christmas dinner, so we made THREE main dishes and shared them all. (I think it was Grilled Lobster Tail, Homemade Ravioli, and Thai Fried Rice.)
Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce
As fun as it is to get creative around the holidays, I always like it when we prepare simple comfort food for Christmas. Dishes like homemade calzones or my favorite chicken enchilada recipe, make the occasion seem intimate and warm. Today’s Chicken Enchiladas Salsa Verde recipe is a true family favorite that makes any night feel like a fiesta. These enchiladas are filled with chicken, fresh zippy salsa verde, sour cream, and tons of hot molten cheese. This easy chicken enchilada recipe would make the perfect centerpiece for a Christmas fiesta this year. You could celebrate the season while sipping margaritas and feasting on latin-inspired favorites. Sounds like my kind of Christmas. Dinner decision made. Feliz Navidad!
Ingredients for Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Salsa verde – aka green salsa – has a beautifully vibrant flavor from fresh tomatillos, cilantro, and jalapeños, providing just the right amount of heat.
Here are the Ingredients Needed for the Salsa Verde:
Tomatillos – husked and halved White Onion – peeled and quartered Garlic Cloves Jalapeños – with the stems removed Ground Cumin Salt Cilantro
My classic green chicken enchiladas recipe with sour cream is loaded with incredibly creamy, rich, and cheesy goodness – all coming together for an easy to make and impressive dish! And speaking of easy, this recipe calls for precooked chicken, meaning it’s wonderful for using previously meal-prepped or purchased rotisserie chicken.
Here’s What You Need To Make Our Green Chicken Enchilada Recipe:
Precooked shredded chicken Sour cream Shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican Blend cheese Flour tortillas (or corn tortillas for gluten-free) Salt and pepper
For Serving:
More sour cream Chopped tomatoes Avocado
How to Make Salsa Verde
I started this chicken enchilada recipe by first preparing the homemade salsa verde. Here’s how:
- Roast the onions, jalapeño peppers, garlic, and tomatillos in the oven until toasty on the outside, but juicy on the inside. You can do this with a regular conventional oven, but I like to use the convection setting on my oven because it makes the outside of the veggies really crisp, for a smokey roasted flavor.
- Then, I put all the veggies in my lovely 16-cup Food Processor with ground cumin and cilantro. PS, if you are looking for an amazing food processor, this thing is a beast and I love it!
- Puree until mostly smooth but not completely liquified. And now you’ve got the best fresh-made salsa verde this side of the Rio Grande.
How to Make Salsa Verde Enchiladas
Once you’ve got your salsa ready, you’re all set to prepare the chicken enchiladas verdes! Pro Tip: It is helpful if the tortillas are at room temperature before preparing; cold tortillas tend to rip easily, especially if using corn tortillas. Then devour. Maravilloso!
Get the Complete (Printable) Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Is This Recipe Gluten Free?
Yes! If you use corn tortillas – which are naturally gluten free – and you’re making all of the salsa verde components fresh at home with wholesome ingredients, this chicken enchiladas verde is indeed gluten free. However, keep in mind that corn tortillas and this recipe are not necessarily considered “low carb.” *If you prefer to use flour tortillas, the recipe does contain gluten.
Can Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce Be Prepared Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! The salsa verde itself will keep well, sealed in an airtight container in the fridge for at least a week. You can assemble the salsa verde enchiladas the day before, and just wait to bake until you’re ready to serve.
Should You Freeze This Recipe?
You definitely can! This chicken enchiladas salsa verde recipe is great for meal prepping and keeping in the freezer. Again though, I don’t recommend baking these enchiladas before freezing. Once the green chicken enchiladas have been prepared, wrap the entire dish tightly in plastic wrap, and then again with aluminum foil. Keep in the freezer for up to three months. You can defrost the sour cream enchiladas overnight in the fridge, and then bake at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes; or, to heat from frozen, you can remove the foil and plastic wrap, re-cover with fresh foil, and bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling hot.
What To Serve With This Recipe?
This recipe is fabulous when served alongside Spanish rice, yellow rice, refried beans, frijoles de olla, fried plantains, or calabacitas.
Looking for More Latin-Inspired Dishes?
Pollo Rojo Recipe (Red Pepper Chicken) Guacamole and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Recipe Grilled Mexican Street Corn Salad Recipe (Esquites) Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup Recipe Green Chili Mole Hotdogs Recipe Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Red Pepper Puree Recipe Crock Pot Beef Carnitas Tacos Recipe – Eat Live Run Skinny Chicken Fajitas Recipe – Skinnytaste
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