Creamy Rooster Enchilada Casserole

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

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

This recipe happened as a result of I wished to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing smooth 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 smooth, not soggy, and creamy, however not bland. Plus, you’ll be able to 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 perfect 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. In the event you’re utilizing uncooked hen, prepare dinner it totally earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility permits you to finest management the flavour. It’s an excellent chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely non-compulsory! Contemporary 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 offers just a little, it ought to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute should you don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you’ll be able to completely use flour tortillas should you desire.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You may 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 bought a number 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 normally bought as a “loss chief,” that means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the perfect bang in 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 – try the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked hen strips and chunks bought in baggage.

Bake Your Personal Rooster – lay hen breasts out right into a frivolously 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 instantly, 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. Cook dinner 5 to 7 minutes per aspect. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

In the event you’re in search of extra warmth, seize a medium or scorching salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You too can prime with contemporary 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 utterly.

Make-Forward Directions

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