This hen enchiladas recipe is filled with taste, with shredded meat, cheese, and a zingy pink enchilada sauce. The proper straightforward dinner!

Right here’s a crowd-pleasing dinner recipe to place in your rotation: hen enchiladas recipe! It’s onerous to seek out somebody who will flip down this Tex Mex favourite. Every enchilada is full of shredded hen and cheese, then drowned in a zingy pink sauce and baked till heat and gooey. It’s additionally extraordinarily versatile for varied diets: you possibly can simply make half the pan vegetarian or use corn tortillas for gluten-free. Everybody wins right here, and whipping up an enormous pan makes dinnertime magic.

Substances in hen enchiladas

This hen enchiladas recipe is a play on the Tex Mex dish, which is in flip a riff on the basic Mexican enchilada. The primary reference to the fashionable enchilada dates again to 1885 in Mexico, however the custom of rolling a tortilla round fillings has been round for the reason that Aztec instances.

There are a couple of variations between Mexican enchiladas and Tex Mex model; typically Mexican enchiladas use corn tortillas and are fried vs Tex Mex which use flour tortillas and are baked. This rendition is Tex Mex in model, and we honor the good custom of Mexican cooks and cooks who introduced us the mighty enchilada. Right here’s what you’ll want for this hen enchiladas recipe:

• Shredded hen: Make do-it-yourself shredded hen for greatest taste, or go fast and simple with store-bought.
• Purple enchilada sauce: For quick enchiladas, we advocate discovering an amazing store-bought sauce, however you too can make do-it-yourself enchilada sauce.
• Onion and inexperienced chiles: These veggies add nuance to the flavour.
• Cumin, oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper: This mix of spices makes well-seasoned hen.
• Colby jack cheese: We like Colby jack for taste, however you too can use Mexican mix cheese or cheddar.
• Tortillas: We use flour tortillas for this Tex Mex variation, however you should use corn tortillas as properly, that are extra conventional in Mexican-style enchiladas and a gluten free possibility.

Easy methods to shred hen

The quickest solution to hen enchiladas is with bought shredded hen, but it surely’s received the most effective taste while you make it do-it-yourself! It takes about 10 minutes to boil. One of the best ways we’ve discovered to make shredded hen is to butterfly it, boil it, after which pull it into strips utilizing your arms. Right here’s how you can make shredded hen (or click on the hyperlink):

1. Butterfly the hen in order that it cooks evenly. Place your hand excessive of every hen breast and use a pointy knife to fastidiously slice the breast horizontally, leaving the sting intact so it could open up like a e-book. Open up the breast then lower alongside the fold to separate the 2 halves.
2. Boil for 7 to 10 minutes. Place 1 pound hen in a pot with 6 cups water, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and seasonings (or use hen broth and half the salt). Boil for 7 to 10 minutes till the middle is now not pink and the interior temperature is 160°F.
3. Tear the hen into shreds. As soon as the hen is cool sufficient to the touch, use your fingers to tear the hen into shreds.

Use an amazing pink enchilada sauce

This may be a scorching take, however for hen enchiladas we like to purchase the enchilada sauce. Many individuals swear by do-it-yourself, however it could take a little bit of time and depart you with some mess. If you happen to’re going to make do-it-yourself, it’s best to make it upfront. However we love an amazing bought pink enchilada sauce! Listed here are some choices:

• Bought pink enchilada sauce: There are many implausible enchilada sauce manufacturers on the retailer, and lots of of them are minimally processed. Each model is totally different, so experiment to seek out one you like. We like Siete Meals enchilada sauce.
• Selfmade, made upfront: Or, make a batch of our Selfmade Purple Enchilada sauce! It’s best to make it upfront to make sure fast prep.

Flour tortillas vs corn tortillas

What are the most effective tortillas for hen enchiladas? Corn tortillas are conventional in Mexican-style enchiladas, and flour tortillas are utilized in Tex Mex enchiladas. Right here’s what to know in regards to the variations:

• Corn tortillas are gluten-free. Some manufacturers have a tendency to separate while you go to roll them! To fight this, discover the very best quality corn tortilla model you possibly can. Then brush it with oil and prepare dinner it 15 seconds per facet earlier than assembling. This makes it simpler to roll.
• Flour tortillas usually are not gluten-free, however they’re much simpler to roll and extra sturdy normally. Additionally they get good and gooey from the enchilada sauce.
• What about grain free tortillas? There are are different sorts of grain-free tortillas accessible at many grocery shops: almond flour, cassava flour, or chickpea flour (strive Siete model). We haven’t examined these, so tell us within the feedback beneath if you happen to strive them!

Easy methods to assemble hen enchiladas: a couple of ideas!

The filling for this hen enchiladas recipe options shredded hen, onion and inexperienced chilies, with a combination of savory spices. When you’ve received it prepared, it’s time to assemble! It’s useful to have one other particular person to assist for meeting. Listed here are a couple of ideas for a easy and speedy course of:

• Don’t overfill the tortillas. It’s straightforward to need to put in method an excessive amount of filling. All you want is ¼ cup hen and a couple of tablespoons cheese. Unfold them in a line down the middle.
• Roll them tightly and place seam facet down. Inserting seam facet down helps them keep rolled.
• If utilizing corn tortillas, use a sturdy model and prepare dinner in oil previous to rolling. Corn tortillas can simply tear and cut up when rolling them. Earlier than assembling, brush either side of every tortilla calmly with olive oil. Warmth a big griddle to medium-high warmth, and prepare dinner the tortillas in batches for 15 seconds per facet till calmly browned.

Favourite enchilada toppings

The very best a part of this straightforward hen enchiladas recipe? Loading them up with all the most effective toppings! Listed here are a couple of enchilada topping concepts:

• Bitter cream
• Guacamole
• Feta or queso fresco crumbles
• Purple onion or inexperienced onion
• Bought pico de gallo
• Cilantro
• Pickled onions

Sides to serve with hen enchiladas

As soon as we’ve whipped up a pan of hen enchiladas, we use the bake time to drag collectively a couple of easy facet dishes. Listed here are a few sides that go together with enchiladas: