Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas are the perfect enchilada recipe when you are craving Mexican food for dinner! They are easy-to-make enchiladas that are filled with shredded chicken mixed with cream cheese, sour cream, and green chilies, then they are topped with red chili sauce and cheese.
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If you are looking for another kind of enchilada, check out all the enchilada recipes on Mom’s Dinner, especially this Classic Chicken Enchilada Recipe!
RELATED: Instant Pot Refried Beans & Mexican Rice
Tortillas
It is completely up to you whether you use yellow corn tortillas or flour tortillas.
Corn tortillas add more flavor and are traditional for enchiladas. But flour tortillas are easier to use!
If you use corn tortillas I recommend going with yellow corn because they have a stronger flavor. Here are some ways to prep your corn tortillas if you go that route:
(my preferred method, and the easiest method) Stack about 5-6 tortillas together, wrap them in a very damp paper towels covering them completely. Microwave for about 30-45 seconds. Then use right away.
(my second preferred method) place a cast iron skillet over medium heat and rub it with a little vegetable oil. Warm 1 tortilla at a time, about 30 seconds per side.
(most labor intensive option) Add some vegetable oil to a skillet over medium heat. Fry each tortilla for about 15 seconds per side, keep on a plate covered with a towel while you fry remaining tortillas.
(a method I learned from Rick Bayless) Put a little water in the bottom of a pot and add a steamer basket. Stack your tortillas and place them on a steamer basket. Place over low heat and cover the pot. Steam while you prepare the enchilada filling.
Chicken
Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas are perfect to make when you have leftover chicken! However if you aren’t lucky enough to have chicken already cooked and sitting in your fridge one of these options is great:
- Hellooooo Costco rotisserie chicken!!!
- Poached Chicken
- Instant Pot All Purpose Chicken
- Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken
Tip to shred your chicken: Try shredding your WARM cooked boneless chicken breast in your stand mixer with a paddle attachment or with a hand held mixer (don’t try it with cold chicken, it won’t work as well!). Run the mixer on low-medium for about 30 seconds. It works like a CHARM!!! There may be 2-3 larger pieces left to shred with your hand, but better than the whole chicken. Warning- Don’t over mix the chicken or it will turn to crumbles.
How to Make Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas, step by step
If you love watching cooking shows you can watch me make this in a 30 minute episode of Pinterest TV.
Start by preheating the oven to 350. Prep a 9×13 or 11×15 casserole pan by very lightly spraying with cooking spray and pouring about 5 oz of enchilada sauce across the bottom of the dish.
In a skillet saute the onions, garlic and jalapenos (if using) in the olive oil until they are softened.
In a bowl mix together the chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, green chilies and the onion mixture.
Fill each tortilla with about 3 tablespoon of chicken mixture. Sprinkle a little cheese on top. Roll up and place in the prepared casserole pan. Repeat until you have used all the filling.
Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the top of the rolled enchiladas, cover with the remaining cheese.
TIP: spray the underside of your foil and it will not stick to the cheese while the enchiladas bake!
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes.
Make Ahead
You can absolutely make these ahead! Prepare them until the point you would pour enchilada sauce over top. Do not top with the sauce! Instead cover the dish with foil and pop in the fridge for 1-2 days.
When it is time to bake pour the sauce over the rolled tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and cover with foil, bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes.
Serving
When it is time to have dinner serve each person 2 enchiladas (one for kids). They go great with some shredded lettuce topped with pico de gallo and a side of Instant Pot Mexican Rice or Mexican Rice AND 15 minute refried beans or Instant Pot Refried Beans
If it’s the weekend or you just need a cocktail after a long day any tequila cocktail pairs great with this recipe!
More Delicious Enchiladas
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Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup chopped yellow or white onion
- 3 fresh garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ fresh jalapeno, chopped - optional**
- 2 ½ cups cooked, shredded chicken - rotisserie or poached chicken work well!
- 8 oz cream cheese - softened at room temp
- 4 oz sour cream
- 4 oz can chopped green chilies - do not drain
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 10-12 flour tortillas or yellow corn tortillas - soft taco size
- 20 oz red enchilada sauce - store bought or use this red chili sauce recipe
- 8 oz block cheese, shredded, any flavor- monterey jack, colby jack, pepper jack, cheddar. - Divided, (if using pre-shredded it is about 3 cups total)
Serving
- toppings – avocado, cilantro, and/or green onions
- serve with shredded lettuce topped with pico de gallo and refried beans (recipe linked below).
Instructions
Enchilada Filling
- Preheat the oven to 350°
- In a skillet over medium heat, saute the onions, garlic and jalapenos (if using) in the olive oil for about 5 minutes to soften.1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ cup chopped yellow or white onion, 3 fresh garlic cloves, chopped, ½ fresh jalapeno, chopped
- In a large bowl combine the sauteed onion mixture, shredded chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, green chilies, and salt.Mix really well so that all the cream cheese and sour cream are distributed.2 ½ cups cooked, shredded chicken, 8 oz cream cheese, 4 oz sour cream, 4 oz can chopped green chilies, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Prepare your 9×13 or 11×15 baking dish by very lightly spraying with baking spray or coating with a little oil and then pouring about 5 oz (a full half cup) of enchilada sauce across the bottom to coat.
Assembly
- If you are using corn tortillas you will need to prep them first, see notes for ways to prepare them so they don't rip.
- Put about 3 tablespoon chicken mixture down the center of a tortilla, sprinkle with a little cheese, roll the tortilla over the filling and place in the baking dish seam side down.Repeat until all the filling is used up or your baking dish is full.
- Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the rolled enchiladas. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15 minutes. TIP: Spray a large piece of foil with baking spray and it will prevent it from sticking to the cheese!
- Let cool for about 15 minutes before serving.
Serving
- Garnish the cream cheese enchiladas with green onions, avocado, and/or cilantro. Serve with some shredded lettuce topped pico de gallo and Instant Pot Mexican Rice and/or 15 minute refried beans
Making Ahead
- To make ahead pour a little enchilada sauce in the bottom of the pan, assemble the enchiladas as above, however do not pour the additional sauce over top or add the cheese. Cover the pan with foil and refrigerate for 1-2 days . When you are ready to cook pour the additional sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350, covered with foil, for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?!
I’ll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Jessica
Love this recipe! It’s perfect!!! Family devours it every time I have to make two pans lol. Thank you!!!!
Susie Weinrich
Wonderful!