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Get all the flavors you love with traditional enchiladas without having to do all the work by making this easy Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
Why this recipe works:
The hardest part about making traditional enchiladas is rolling them. The process can be messy and also frustrating if the tortillas tear.
An enchilada casserole uses the same exact ingredients as traditional enchiladas, except the tortillas and filling are stacked rather than rolled.
This recipe is made especially easy because it is cooked in the slow cooker. You can set it to high if you’re ready for dinner or let it cook on the slow setting if you’d like to prepare it earlier in the day.
Here’s how to make it:
- Gather up all of your ingredients including red enchilada sauce (not shown below), black beans, corn, cooked chicken, tortillas and cheese.
- Combine half of your enchilada sauce with the corn, beans, and shredded chicken. You will then take some of the remaining enchilada sauce and spread it around the base of the slow cooker and then cover that with the first tortilla.
- To layer the casserole, you will alternate layers of the chicken filling, cheese, and tortilla. The top of the casserole should be the remaining enchilada sauce and cheese over the final tortilla.
- This casserole will take 1-2 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low to cook.
Cooking tips:
- This recipe can be made extremely easy by using canned enchilada sauce and pre-cooked chicken. Or, you can go the extra mile and make your own homemade red enchilada sauce and use some meat from a slow cooker chicken.
- My preference is to always use a block of cheese and grate it yourself, however for this recipe pre-shredded cheese works perfectly fine.
- You can use corn or flour tortillas for this recipe, but my preference is actually to use wheat flour and corn blend. They taste a lot like corn tortillas but aren’t as dry.
- If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, I highly recommend the Cuban Style Black Beans. They have a lot more flavor than plain black beans because of the added onions and peppers.
- This recipe tastes great, if not better, the next day because it really gives all the flavors time to mix.
- Serve with olives, avocado, sour cream, cilantro, etc.
Related recipes:
- Easy Ground Beef Enchiladas
- Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
- Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
- Green Chile Chicken Lasagna – similar to enchiladas but with pasta noodles
Did you make this recipe? Please leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!
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Pin ItSlow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Stack
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups enchilada sauce equivalent to one 15-ounce can
- 15 ounces black beans one 15 ounce can, drained
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels can use fresh or drained canned corn as well
- 8 ounces cooked chicken approximately 2 small breasts or thighs, shredded
- 6 8-inch corn-flour tortillas
- 12 ounces Mexican blend cheese combination of cheddar, jack, etc., shredded
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl, combine about 1 cup of enchilada sauce (reserve the other half for later), beans, corn, and chicken. Stir to combine.
- Spread half of the remaining enchilada sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker. Set the first tortilla on top.
- To layer the casserole, you will take a spoonful of the chicken mixture and spread it out across the tortilla an then top with a handful of cheese. Continue layering with a tortilla, filling, then cheese. Continue to repeat the process and portion the ingredients such that the top of the casserole has your last tortilla, the remaining enchilada sauce, and a big handful of cheese.
- Cover and cook on high 1-2 hours or on low 4-6 hours.
Notes
Cooking tips:
- This recipe can be made extremely easy by using canned enchilada sauce and pre-cooked chicken. Or, you can go the extra mile and make your own homemade red enchilada sauce and use some meat from a slow cooker chicken.
- My preference is to always use a block of cheese and grate it yourself, however for this recipe pre-shredded cheese works perfectly fine.
- You can use corn or flour tortillas for this recipe, but my preference is actually to use wheat flour and corn blend. They taste a lot like corn tortillas but aren't as dry.
- If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, I highly recommend the Cuban Style Black Beans. They have a lot more flavor than plain black beans because of the added onions and peppers.
- This recipe tastes great, if not better, the next day because it really gives all the flavors time to mix.
- Serve with olives, avocado, sour cream, cilantro, etc.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was originally published in February 2016 and has been updated with more helpful information and cooking tips. Don’t worry – I didn’t change the recipe!
Can I make this with flour tortillas or will it get too soggy?
You totally can. I personally don’t like flour tortillas in enchiladas because they taste doughy, but they will still work.
I love this idea! just skipping wrapping enchiladas makes it so much easier!
I am so excited by this recipe! I love enchiladas and this looks so easy!!
Just a few ingredients and this delicious meal is all made right in the slow cooker. Perfect for busy weeknight recipes.
I totally love slow cooker recipes and this looks fantastic. I can’t wait to make this for my family.
I love that this is made in the slow cooker! ๐
How many ounces per serving and then how many servings does this recipe make, please ๐
Sorry for the late reply! No idea how many ounces are in each serving. Sorry! This made enough for 6 full sized portions.
Hi I was wondering to make this can I cook the chicken with the ingredients and it takes longer or could I cook the chicken in the crock pot first then make it?
Sorry for the late reply! Been moving… You need to make the enchiladas with already cooked chicken.