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. Significantly, you’ll need this sauce on every little thing. I like to avoid wasting a bit 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.

This recipe took place as a result of I needed to make one thing for my grandma. She wanted one thing delicate 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 delicate, not soggy, and creamy, however not bland. Plus, you possibly can simply spice it up a bit extra with that jalapeño or some pink pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use a superb 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 rooster works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. For those who’re utilizing uncooked rooster, prepare dinner it totally 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 non-obligatory! 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 provides a bit, it needs to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute in the event you 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 in the event you want.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You may simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for a bit kick.

Rooster Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked rooster. You’ve bought a number of 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 you can 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 to your buck on the subject of rooster. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie rooster pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Rooster – try the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked rooster strips and chunks bought in baggage.

Bake Your Personal Rooster – lay rooster breasts out right into a evenly 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 rooster 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 in search of extra warmth, seize a medium or scorching salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You can too prime with contemporary jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some pink pepper flakes on prime for some colour and warmth!

For a milder choice, stick to delicate salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as an alternative 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 lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to forestall it from drying out. Take away the protecting and bake when able to eat.