Description
Mexican-inspired Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas bring hearty comfort straight to dinner tables with minimal effort. Creamy cheese, tender chicken, and zesty sauce blend together for a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cups enchilada sauce (red or green)
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 4 ounces (113 grams) can diced green chiles
- 8–10 small corn tortillas, cut into strips or lightly fried
- 1 cup shredded cheese (Mexican blend or cheddar)
Optional Toppings:
- Sliced avocado
- Sour cream
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced jalapenos
- Black olives
Instructions
- Warm a skillet over medium heat, infusing it with oil. Gently sauté diced onions, minced garlic, ground cumin, and vibrant chili powder until the kitchen fills with an aromatic fragrance, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer the sautéed aromatics into the slow cooker. Add whole chicken pieces, rich enchilada sauce, roasted green chiles, and a sprinkle of salt. Secure the lid and allow the contents to simmer on high temperature for 4 hours or low temperature for 6-8 hours until the chicken becomes fork-tenderly soft.
- Carefully extract the cooked chicken from the slow cooker. Using two forks, meticulously shred the meat into delicate strands. Return the shredded chicken to the developing sauce, gently incorporating all the flavorful elements.
- Create layers of flavor by arranging soft tortilla strips across the chicken mixture. Intersperse generous handfuls of melting cheese between each tortilla layer. Lavishly pour remaining enchilada sauce over the construction and crown with a final blanket of cheese.
- Continue cooking on high setting for an additional 20-30 minutes, allowing the cheese to transform into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Elevate the dish with optional garnishes like fresh cilantro, tangy sour cream, or diced avocado. Serve immediately while the enchiladas radiate warmth and temptation.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting chili powder and selecting mild or spicy enchilada sauce to match personal spice preferences.
- Use corn tortillas for gluten-free version or whole wheat tortillas for added fiber and nutrition.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like pepper jack for extra kick or monterey jack for milder flavor profile.
- Prepare filling ahead of time and refrigerate overnight to enhance flavor development and streamline meal preparation process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-8 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg