Creamy Rooster Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a straightforward, creamy casserole. Tremendous simple 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 just a little additional and scoop it up with some tortilla chips—so good!

For extra enchilada love, strive 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 turning into soggy.
• Use rotisserie or leftover hen to whip up this dish with minimal prep work.

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

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use high quality lengthy grain rice for the most effective texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic baggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Rooster: Rotisserie hen works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. For those who’re utilizing uncooked hen, cook dinner it totally earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility lets you finest management the flavour. It’s an important chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely non-compulsory! Recent jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
• Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite delicate or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth degree you want.
• Avocados: You need an avocado that’s completely ripe. Attempt urgent on the very prime of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it provides just a little, it must be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute when you don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you may completely use flour tortillas when you favor.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You’ll be able to simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for just a little kick.

Rooster Choices

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

Rotisserie Rooster – many grocery shops these days promote cooked rotisserie chickens that you would be able to purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s normally offered as a “loss chief,” which means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the most effective bang to your buck in relation 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 baggage.

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 aspect. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

For those who’re searching for extra warmth, seize a medium or sizzling salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You may also prime with recent jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some purple pepper flakes on prime for some shade and warmth!

For a milder possibility, stick to delicate salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as a substitute of the entire pepper. Or, omit the pepper fully.

Make-Forward Directions

This enchilada casserole can simply be made forward. Assemble and refrigerate earlier than baking, as much as 1 day prematurely. You should definitely retailer it coated with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to stop it from drying out. Take away the protecting and bake when able to eat.