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. Critically, you’ll need this sauce on every little thing. I like to save lots of slightly additional 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 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 may simply spice it up a bit extra with that jalapeño or some purple pepper flakes.

Ingredient Notes

• Lengthy Grain Rice: Use a very good high quality lengthy grain rice for the perfect texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic luggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Rooster: Rotisserie rooster works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. When you’re utilizing uncooked rooster, cook dinner it completely earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice lets you greatest management the flavour. It’s an ideal chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely optionally available! Recent 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. Strive urgent on the very high of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it provides slightly, it ought to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a superb substitute if you happen to don’t have (or don’t like) bitter cream.
• Corn Tortillas: We use corn tortillas for his or her agency texture, however you may completely use flour tortillas if you happen to choose.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You possibly can simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for slightly kick.

Rooster Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked rooster. You’ve obtained a couple 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 which you could purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s normally offered as a “loss chief,” which means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the perfect bang to your buck in terms of rooster. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie rooster pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Rooster – take a look at the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked rooster strips and chunks offered in luggage.

Bake Your Personal Rooster – lay rooster breasts out right into a flippantly greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by way 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 facet. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

When you’re searching for extra warmth, seize a medium or sizzling salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You may as well high with contemporary jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some purple pepper flakes on high for some shade and warmth!

For a milder choice, keep on with delicate salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as a substitute 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’ll want to retailer it lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to forestall it from drying out. Take away the masking and bake when able to eat.