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Saturday, December 20, 2025

Simple Hen Enchiladas with Pink Sauce — Restaurant High quality


Simple Hen Enchiladas with Pink Sauce will delight your complete household. Tacky, make-ahead, and so satisfying — no restaurant required!

baking dish with chicken enchiladas inside

Say good day to one in every of my very favourite household dinner recipes that’s not solely straightforward to assemble, however so scrumptious that I make a double batch every time I pull the recipe out.

Hiii, Simple Hen Enchiladas with Pink Sauce!

Between my husband, three youngsters, and myself, we simply end a full recipe, so the double batch turns out to be useful for having tasty leftovers for lunches later within the week.

This luscious rooster dinner recipe is a STAPLE in our home!

Watch Easy methods to Make Them

Restaurant-Model Hen Enchiladas

The key to attaining restaurant-style rooster enchiladas at house is to make use of selfmade crimson enchilada sauce. Actually, no store-bought sauce compares and, fortunate for you and me, selfmade crimson enchilada sauce takes lower than 10 minutes to make with pantry staples.

Plus the sauce freezes superbly so you may multiply the recipe then inventory the freezer with pre-made, able to rock, selfmade enchilada sauce!

chicken enchiladas with red sauce on a platechicken enchiladas with red sauce on a plate

Components Wanted

For the Pink Enchilada Sauce:

  • Oil: vegetable oil or one other neutral-flavored cooking oil like avocado oil or canola oil is used to toast the dried seasonings.
  • Flour: use a measure-for-measure / 1:1 gluten free flour versus a single-ingredient flour like coconut or almond flour. You should utilize all-purpose flour for those who don’t must eat gluten free.
  • Chili powder: use delicate chili powder to maintain this dish delicate/medium, or go along with sizzling chili powder to spice issues up.
  • Onion powder: lends onion taste with out having to chop an onion.
  • Dried oregano: use dried oregano leaves vs floor dried oregano.
  • Garlic powder: provides garlic taste with out having to peel then mince garlic.
  • Cumin: for a touch of smoky taste.
  • Tomato paste: provides that signature crimson colour and wealthy taste to the enchilada sauce.
  • Hen broth: to create the sauce.
  • Salt: a pinch to amplify all of the flavors.

For the Hen Enchiladas

  • Shredded rooster: cook dinner then shred rooster breast for the enchilada filling utilizing any methodology you want. I’ve made this recipe utilizing every part from Roast Hen (Costco Rotisserie Hen is a straightforward choice!) to Crock Pot Salsa Hen, or shredded sauted or poached rooster. Be at liberty to make use of rooster thighs, or a mix of shredded thighs and rooster breast.
  • Corn tortillas: I like Mission model Tremendous Delicate Corn Tortillas, which are available in yellow or white corn — both is okay. You should utilize flour tortillas for those who want the style / texture and don’t must eat gluten free.
  • Shredded Mexican cheese mix: is a mix of cheeses that soften and stretch just like the cheese does inside restaurant enchiladas.

chicken enchiladas scooped out of a dishchicken enchiladas scooped out of a dish

The Tortilla Debate: Corn or Flour?

Even when I didn’t have Celiac Illness and must eat gluten free, I’d nonetheless use corn tortillas to make Hen Enchiladas. They turn into gentle and creamy draped with the selfmade crimson sauce. Mmm!

Whereas corn tortillas are liable to cracking after rolling (try my suggestions beneath for serving to to stop this) you’ll by no means be capable to inform as soon as the enchiladas are coated in crimson sauce and shredded cheese.

That stated, if the feel of corn tortillas simply isn’t for you, you need to use your favourite flour-style tortilla on this recipe.

Greatest Cheese for Hen Enchiladas

Whereas cheese isn’t as central to this rooster enchilada recipe as it’s to Cheese Enchiladas, I nonetheless advocate you utilize a Mexican-style shredded cheese mix which is stuffed inside every enchilada with shredded rooster, and sprinkled on high of the enchiladas earlier than baking.

These blends comprise the proper mixture of cheeses that each stretch and soften when sizzling. Listed below are two blends to look out for (although there are heaps extra!):

  1. Monterey Jack cheese, Asadero, Queso Quesadilla
  2. Oaxaca and Asadero

gluten free chicken enchiladas on a plategluten free chicken enchiladas on a plate

What to Serve with Hen Enchiladas

Truthfully one of many the explanation why I really like making Hen Enchiladas for dinner is as a result of I can serve it with a easy aspect salad and name it a day — or slightly, dinner. That stated, these different recipes pair very effectively with enchiladas:

Okay, let’s get you some Hen Enchiladas!

cheesy chicken enchiladas on a platecheesy chicken enchiladas on a plate

Easy methods to Make Simple Hen Enchiladas

Step 1: Make the selfmade Pink Enchilada Sauce

Warmth vegetable oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium warmth then whisk in flour and cook dinner for 1 minute.

flour whisked into oilflour whisked into oil

Add seasonings and spices then proceed to whisk till they’re toasted and aromatic however not burnt, ~30 seconds.

seasonings added to red enchilada sauceseasonings added to red enchilada sauce

Lastly, whisk in tomato paste till clean then slowly pour in rooster broth whereas whisking to create a clean sauce.

chicken broth being whisked into red enchilada saucechicken broth being whisked into red enchilada sauce

Enhance the warmth to medium-high to convey the sauce to a simmer, then flip the warmth all the way down to medium and proceed to simmer whereas stirring till the sauce has barely thickened, 1-2 minutes. Pour the sauce right into a glass measuring dish — ideally with a lip — then let the sauce cool barely. The sauce will proceed to thicken because it cools.

  • Tip: make the crimson enchilada sauce as much as 5 days forward of time. Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge (glass really helpful as plastic will stain) then re-warm earlier than utilizing.

homemade red enchilada sauce poured into a glasshomemade red enchilada sauce poured into a glass

Step 2: Roll the Hen Enchiladas

Scoop 1/2 cup enchilada sauce into the underside of a 9×13″ nonstick sprayed baking dish then unfold it into a good layer.

Subsequent, wrap half the tortillas in a humid paper towel then microwave for 30 seconds to heat them up — this helps stop the tortillas from cracking. Don’t fear in the event that they nonetheless crack for the reason that enchiladas will likely be coated in sauce and cheese anyway.

One after the other, place a heat tortilla onto a clear, dry floor like a plate or slicing board then unfold shredded rooster evenly throughout the middle. Prime with a sprinkling of shredded cheese then roll the tortilla and place seam-side down within the baking dish.

chicken and shredded cheese in a corn tortillachicken and shredded cheese in a corn tortilla

Repeat with the remaining components, warming the second batch of tortillas when wanted.

chicken and cheese enchiladas in a baking dishchicken and cheese enchiladas in a baking dish

Step 3: Cowl with sauce and cheese then bake.

Pour the remaining crimson enchilada sauce over the tops of the corn tortillas, taking care to verify there are not any uncovered elements as they’ll turn into robust and dry after baking.

You won’t want to make use of all of the crimson enchilada sauce to fully cowl the rooster enchiladas.

homemade red enchilada sauce spread over tortillashomemade red enchilada sauce spread over tortillas

Sprinkle extra shredded cheese on high then cowl the baking dish with a bit of nonstick sprayed foil and bake within the oven for half-hour at 350 levels, or till the cheese on high has melted and the enchilada sauce is effervescent.

Let the enchiladas cool for 10 minutes earlier than scooping onto plates and serving.

shredded cheese on chicken enchiladasshredded cheese on chicken enchiladas

I MEAN. Inform me this wouldn’t perk up any ho hum weeknight?!

Let the Hen Enchiladas sit and funky for 10-Quarter-hour then serve with any/all toppings and aspect dishes.

scoop of chicken enchiladas in a bakig dishscoop of chicken enchiladas in a bakig dish

Easy methods to Retailer and Reheat Leftovers

Though my husband makes it his private mission to attempt to devour each final drop of Hen Enchiladas every time I make them, as I discussed, I are inclined to make a double batch so we are able to reheat leftovers for lunches later within the week. Right here’s how:

  • To retailer: Switch leftover enchiladas into an hermetic container with a lid then refrigerate for 3-4 days. I like to recommend a glass storage container because the crimson sauce can stain plastic.
  • To reheat: Reheat individual-sized parts within the microwave till sizzling.

Easy methods to Make-Forward

I really like having this casserole within the fridge able to bake. Right here’s how:

  1. Assemble the casserole up till the purpose of overlaying the enchiladas with crimson sauce. Cowl the enchiladas with plastic wrap then refrigerate individually from the sauce.
  2. When it’s time to bake, re-warm the sauce then pour it over the enchiladas and bake in keeping with recipe instructions.

Easy methods to Freeze

Hen Enchiladas additionally freeze effectively — freeze them earlier than baking, vs after. Right here’s how:

  • To freeze: Make sure the enchilada sauce is COLD, in any other case the tortillas can take up the nice and cozy sauce, then assemble the rooster enchiladas in keeping with recipe instructions. Cowl the baking dish in plastic wrap, then foil, after which freeze for as much as 3 months.
  • To bake: Thaw the rooster enchiladas within the fridge then take away the plastic wrap, get well with foil, and bake in keeping with recipe instructions.

plateful of chicken enchiladasplateful of chicken enchiladas

Extra Tasty Tex-Mex Recipes

Simple Hen Enchiladas with Pink Sauce

Description

Simple Hen Enchiladas with Pink Sauce will delight your complete household. Tacky, make-ahead, and so satisfying — no restaurant required!

Components

  • 4 cups shredded rooster (see notes)
  • 16 corn tortillas, Mission GF Tremendous Delicate Corn Tortillas really helpful
  • 8oz shredded Mexican cheese mix
  • chopped cilantro for garnish, elective
  • For the Pink Enchilada Sauce:
    • 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 2 Tablespoons gluten free flour mix (or all-purpose flour if not gluten free)
    • 3 Tablespoons chili powder, delicate or sizzling
    • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
    • 1/4 cup tomato paste
    • 2 cups rooster broth

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 levels then spray a 9×13″ baking dish, or two smaller baking dishes, with nonstick spray and put aside.
  2. For the Pink Enchilada Sauce: warmth the oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium warmth then add the flour and cook dinner whereas whisking for 1 minute. Add the seasonings — chili powder by way of cumin — then whisk till toasted and aromatic, 20-30 seconds. Add the tomato paste then whisk till the combination combines right into a thick paste, 30 seconds.
  3. Slowly stream within the rooster inventory whereas whisking to create a clean sauce then flip the warmth as much as medium-high and convey the sauce to a simmer whereas stirring slowly and continually with a spatula. As soon as simmering, flip the warmth again all the way down to medium then simmer for a further 1-2 minutes or till the sauce has barely thickened (sauce will proceed to thicken because it cools). Pour right into a glass measuring dish with a lip/spout then cool barely earlier than utilizing. Will be made as much as 5 days forward of time — see notes.
  4. Meeting: unfold 1/2 cup enchilada sauce into the underside of the ready baking dish then put aside.
  5. Wrap half the tortillas in a humid paper towel then microwave for 30 seconds to heat them up — this helps stop the tortillas from cracking. Don’t fear in the event that they nonetheless crack for the reason that enchiladas will likely be coated in sauce and cheese anyway.
  6. One after the other, place a heat tortilla onto a clear, dry floor like a plate or slicing board then unfold ~2 Tablespoons shredded rooster throughout the middle. Unfold ~1 Tablespoon shredded cheese on high then roll the tortilla and place it seam side-down within the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining components, warming the second batch of tortillas when wanted. Reserve the additional shredded cheese.
  7. Pour the enchilada sauce on high of the tortillas (might not want all of it) making certain they’re fully coated — any uncovered spots of tortilla will turn into robust and arduous after baking.
  8. Sprinkle the reserved shredded cheese on high then cowl the baking dish with a bit of nonstick sprayed foil and bake for half-hour or till the cheese on high has melted and the enchilada sauce is effervescent. Let the enchiladas cool for 10 minutes earlier than scooping onto plates and serving.

Notes

  • You’ll need roughly 1-1/2lbs rooster breasts cooked then shredded to equal 4 cups of cooked, shredded rooster.
  • The crimson enchilada sauce may be made as much as 5 days forward of time. Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge (glass really helpful as plastic will stain). Heat earlier than utilizing.
  • I take advantage of delicate chili powder within the enchilada sauce to maintain it on the low finish of the warmth scale — perhaps a 3 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being extraordinarily spicy. Use sizzling chili powder to spice issues up.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Woman Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

photo collage of chicken enchiladas with red saucephoto collage of chicken enchiladas with red sauce

Pictures by Ashley McLaughlin

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