Short description
These White Chicken Enchiladas are stuffed with shredded rotisserie chicken, charred jalapeños, and melted mozzarella, bathed in a creamy garlic-jalapeño sauce, then baked until bubbly and golden.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick weeknight dinner: Uses rotisserie chicken and takes about 45 minutes, similar to other quick enchilada recipes.
- Customizable cream sauce: Charred jalapeños and cream cheese give the sauce bold flavor, while sour cream keeps it silkily smooth.
- Family-friendly heat: Mildly spicy from jalapeños but easily adjustable, making it perfect for all ages.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Chicken Filling:
- Roasted jalapeños (minced)
- Shredded rotisserie chicken
- Lime juice
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt & black pepper
- Mozzarella cheese
Cream Sauce:
- Butter
- Grated garlic
- Flour
- Chicken broth
- Remaining roasted jalapeños
- Sour cream
- Cream cheese
- Pinch of white pepper
Other Ingredients:
- Flour tortillas (small to medium)
- Shredded Monterey‑Jack cheese
- Green onion (garnish)
- Lime wedges (garnish)
Directions
- Shred chicken: Remove and shred breast meat from rotisserie chicken.
- Char jalapeños & prep: Roast jalapeños in oiled pan covered until charred (~10 min), cool, peel, mince into paste; divide into two portions.
- Make filling: Combine shredded chicken, half the jalapeño paste, lime juice, onion & garlic powders, salt, pepper, and mozzarella in a bowl.
- Roll tortillas: Spoon filling onto tortillas, roll them like taquitos, and place seam-down in a baking dish; spread extra filling around edges or atop rolls.
- Prepare sauce: Melt butter, cook grated garlic briefly, stir in flour (1 min), add broth and simmer until smooth.
- Finish sauce: Stir in remaining jalapeño paste, remove from heat, whisk in sour cream, cream cheese, and white pepper.
- Bake: Pour sauce over enchiladas, top with Monterey‑Jack, and bake at 350–375 °F for 25–30 min until bubbly and golden.
- Optional broil: Broil 1–2 minutes for extra browning.
- Garnish & serve: Top with sliced green onions and serve with lime wedges.
Servings and timing
- Serves: 4–6 people—similar recipes yield ~4 servings.
- Prep time: ~20 minutes (shredding, chopping, sauce prep).
- Cook time: ~30 minutes (baking + optional broil).
- Total time: ~45–50 minutes.
Variations
- Corn tortillas: Use warmed corn tortillas instead of flour, as in Pioneer Woman’s version.
- Add green chiles or corn: Stir in green chiles and/or corn into filling for color and sweetness .
- Spicier cheese: Substitute Pepper Jack for mozzarella or Monterey‑Jack.
- Add beans: Incorporate black beans for added protein and texture, similar to Chelsea’s version.
storage/reheating
Cover leftovers and refrigerate for 3–4 days.
To reheat, bake at 350 °F for about 15 minutes until heated through.
For freezer storage, assemble uncooked enchiladas, cover tightly, and freeze up to 2 months; thaw overnight and bake as directed .
FAQs
1. Can I use homemade chicken instead of rotisserie?
Yes—poached, grilled, or baked chicken shredded works just as well .
2. Can I omit jalapeños for a milder dish?
Absolutely—skip them entirely or use milder chiles like green chiles or pepper halves.
3. Is sour cream necessary in the sauce?
Sour cream adds richness and texture—omit only if avoiding dairy, but sauce may be less creamy.
4. Can I prepare this ahead?
Yes: assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days before baking; bake just before serving.
5. Can I freeze after baking?
Leftovers can be frozen, though sauce may slightly separate. Reheat gently in oven to rebind.
6. How do I prevent soggy tortillas?
Warm them before filling or lightly fry—this keeps them pliable and helps prevent sogginess .
7. What’s the best cheese to use?
Monterey‑Jack melts well; Pepper Jack adds heat; mozzarella delivers gooey texture.
8. Can I turn it into a casserole?
Yes—skip rolling and layer tortillas, chicken filling, sauce, and cheese in a dish for simpler prep.
9. Can I substitute flour with gluten-free?
Yes—use a gluten-free flour blend in sauce; use gluten-free tortillas.
10. Any suggested sides?
Serve with cilantro‑lime rice, black beans, guacamole, or tortilla chips for a complete meal.
Conclusion
Creamy, cheesy, and utterly satisfying, these White Chicken Enchiladas bring Tex‑Mex comfort to your table with ease. With bold jalapeño flavors, gooey cheese, and a velvety sauce, they’re perfect for weeknights or gatherings. Customize them to your taste or prep ahead for stress-free cooking. Garnish, slice, serve—and enjoy the smiles at the dinner table!
Print
White Chicken Enchiladas
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings
- Diet: Halal
Description
These White Chicken Enchiladas are stuffed with shredded rotisserie chicken, charred jalapeños, and melty mozzarella, all wrapped in tortillas and covered in a creamy garlic-jalapeño sauce. Baked until bubbly and golden, it’s a weeknight favorite with just the right kick.
Ingredients
2–3 roasted jalapeños, minced and divided
3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
1 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt & black pepper to taste
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves, grated
2 tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup sour cream
4 oz cream cheese
Pinch of white pepper
8 small to medium flour tortillas
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Lime wedges (for garnish)
Instructions
- Shred the rotisserie chicken breast meat and set aside.
- Roast jalapeños in a covered, oiled pan over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes. Cool, peel, and mince into a paste. Divide into two portions.
- In a bowl, mix shredded chicken, half the jalapeño paste, lime juice, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and mozzarella cheese.
- Fill tortillas with chicken mixture, roll tightly, and place seam-down in a greased baking dish. Spread any extra filling around the edges or on top.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and sauté grated garlic briefly. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Slowly add chicken broth, whisking until smooth. Simmer until thickened.
- Remove sauce from heat, stir in remaining jalapeño paste, sour cream, cream cheese, and white pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the sauce over the enchiladas, top with Monterey Jack cheese.
- Bake at 350–375°F (175–190°C) for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Optional: broil for 1–2 minutes for a browned top.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and lime wedges before serving.
Notes
- Use corn tortillas for a more traditional take or gluten-free option.
- Add green chiles or corn to filling for extra texture and sweetness.
- Use Pepper Jack for added spice or cheddar for a sharper cheese flavor.
- To freeze, assemble unbaked enchiladas, wrap tightly, and freeze up to 2 months.
- Reheat leftovers in oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes until heated through.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 enchiladas
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg