Creamy Rooster Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a simple, creamy casserole. Tremendous straightforward to place collectively, and the avocado cream sauce makes this one particular. Critically, you’ll need this sauce on every thing. I like to avoid wasting a bit of further and scoop it up with some tortilla chips—so good!

For extra enchilada love, attempt our Beef Enchiladas or our Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas.

Why Our Recipe

• The creamy avocado sauce is motive alone to make this recipe!
• Corn tortillas preserve this casserole from changing into soggy.
• Use rotisserie or leftover hen to whip up this dish with minimal prep work.

This recipe happened as a result of I wished to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing mushy to eat, and I like shocking her with taste. And thus, this casserole was born! We love this recipe as a result of it’s mushy, not soggy, and creamy, however not bland. Plus, you possibly can simply spice it up a bit extra with that jalapeño or some purple pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use a superb high quality lengthy grain rice for the most effective texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic luggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Rooster: Rotisserie hen works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. In case you’re utilizing uncooked hen, prepare dinner it completely earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice lets you greatest management the flavour. It’s a terrific chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely elective! Recent jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
• Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite gentle or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth degree you want.
• Avocados: You need an avocado that’s completely ripe. Strive urgent on the very high of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it offers a bit of, it ought to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute if you happen to don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you possibly can completely use flour tortillas if you happen to favor.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You possibly can simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for a bit of kick.

Rooster Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked hen. You’ve obtained a couple of choices to select from, so take your choose! We’ve used all of them.

Rotisserie Rooster – many grocery shops these days promote cooked rotisserie chickens that you could purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often offered as a “loss chief,” which means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the most effective bang to your buck with regards to hen. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie hen pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Rooster – take a look at the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked hen strips and chunks offered in luggage.

Bake Your Personal Rooster – lay hen breasts out right into a calmly greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by means of. Chop into chunks and use immediately, or freeze for later use.

Fast Skillet Rooster – warmth a big heavy skillet over medium-high warmth. Add in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place hen breasts into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Prepare dinner 5 to 7 minutes per facet. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

In case you’re on the lookout for extra warmth, seize a medium or sizzling salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! It’s also possible to high with contemporary jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some purple pepper flakes on high for some shade and warmth!

For a milder choice, persist with gentle salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as an alternative of the entire pepper. Or, omit the pepper utterly.

Make-Forward Directions

This enchilada casserole can simply be made forward. Assemble and refrigerate earlier than baking, as much as 1 day upfront. You’ll want to retailer it lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to stop it from drying out. Take away the overlaying and bake when able to eat.