How to Cook Chicken Enchiladas with Guajillo Spiced Red Sauce
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Chicken (how long does chicken last?) enchiladas might look formidably difficult. With layers of cheese and homemade enchilada sauce stacked on top of stuffed tortillas, they seem like lasagna on steroids. But don’t let looks deceive you. Enchiladas are not only incredibly easy to make but also perfect for feeding a crowd. They’re an all-encompassing main, and so vividly flavorful that no one will complain if you skip out on the side dishes and let enchiladas be the sole star on your feast table.
For this recipe, I like to use guajillo spiced red chili red sauce. Guajillo chilis have a sweet almost cranberry-like undertone, which gives a hint of sweet spiciness to the tangy tomato sauce. Also, as guajillo chili is only mildly spicy (2500-5000 SHU), it does not overshadow the savory juiciness of chicken stuffing, creamy meatiness of refried beans, and mellow butteriness of Oaxaca.
How to Get Tortillas to Hold Their Shape?
It’s not a pretty picture, when tortilla melts and disintegrates into the sauce, the stuffing leaks out, and you end up with a big soupy mess instead of enchiladas. The only way around murphy’s law, for enchiladas, is frying the tortillas before stuffing and rolling them up. Frying tortillas, for just a minute on each side, will prevent them from becoming soggy and also make them more pliable for rolling.
Making Chicken Enchiladas
Make the Chicken Stuffing
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute for 2 minutes, until soft and lightly browned. Add cubed chicken pieces. Mix and cook for 5 minutes, till chicken begins to change color. Add jalapenos, salt, and ground pepper. Mix well and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or till chicken is tender.
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Assemble and Bake Chicken Enchiladas
To assemble enchiladas, place a fried tortilla on a flat surface. Spread 1 to 2 tbsps of red sauce generously on it. Add refried beans on top. Next, scoop in a generous portion of chicken stuffing, and top off with grated cheese. Wrap the tortilla and place it in a greased/silicon baking tray. Repeat with other tortillas. Pour red sauce over tortillas, such that they're completely doused in it. Sprinkle shredded cotija cheese on top, and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F. Rest for 5 minutes. Top off with fresh cilantro, slice, and serve!
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Chicken Enchiladas with Guajillo Spiced Red Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 small white onion, peeled and diced
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into small 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
- sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 8 large flour tortillas
- 3 cups Mexican-blend shredded cheese
- 1 batch red enchilada sauce
- optional toppings: fresh cilantro, chopped red onions, diced avocado, sour cream, and/or crumbled cotija cheese
Instructions
- Prep oven and enchilada sauce. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare your enchilada sauce.
- Sauté the filling mixture. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large sauté pan. Sauté onions for about 3 minutes. Add diced chicken and green chiles, and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Add in the beans and stir until evenly combined. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.
- Assemble the enchiladas. Lay out a tortilla, and spread two tablespoons of sauce over the surface of the tortilla. Add a generous spoonful of the chicken mixture in a line down the center of the tortilla, then sprinkle with 1/3 cup cheese. Place the rolled up tortillas in a greased 9x3-inch baking dish. Assemble the rest of the enchiladas. Then spread the remaining sauce and sprinkle the extra cheese, if any, evenly on top of the enchiladas.
- Bake. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are cooked through and the tortillas are slightly crispy on the outside. Transfer the baking dish to a wire baking rack to cool.
- Serve. These enchiladas are best enjoyed immediately while they're hot and melty! Garnish them with lots of fresh toppings. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
400.55Fat
17.69Sat. Fat
7.33Carbs
26.02Fiber
5.11Net carbs
20.91Sugar
1.92Protein
33.23Sodium
868.53Cholesterol
87.61
