Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe
This Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole is a comforting and flavorful Mexican-inspired dish that layers tender shredded chicken, savory enchilada sauce, diced green chiles, corn tortillas, and melted cheddar cheese. Prepared in a slow cooker, this casserole is easy to make and perfect for a family dinner or casual gathering, delivering rich, cheesy goodness with minimal hands-on time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 29.2 ounce jar enchilada sauce
- 4 ounce can diced green chiles
Casserole Layers
- 15 corn tortillas, torn or cut into pieces
- 12 ounces grated cheddar cheese, divided
- Sliced olives, drained (optional)
Garnish
- Chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker to ensure even cooking.
- Add Sauce and Chiles: Pour the enchilada sauce and diced green chiles evenly over the chicken breasts, distributing the flavors.
- Cook Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 3 hours until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred Chicken and Mix: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, then stir well to mix the shredded chicken thoroughly with the sauce.
- Add Cheese and Tortillas: Stir in about half of the grated cheddar cheese and the torn pieces of corn tortillas. Optionally, stir in sliced olives for added flavor.
- Top and Continue Cooking: Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the mixture, add sliced olives if desired, then cover and continue cooking on HIGH for an additional hour until the cheese is melted, tortillas are cooked through, and the casserole is slightly browned along the edges.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with freshly chopped cilantro, and serve warm for a delicious and hearty meal.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, use a hot enchilada sauce or add extra jalapeños.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, reduce the enchilada sauce amount slightly or add a thickening agent like cornstarch before cooking.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, ensure the enchilada sauce and tortillas are labeled gluten-free.
- You can prepare this casserole a day ahead and reheat it in the slow cooker on low for a few hours before serving.
- Adding sliced olives is optional but adds a nice briny flavor and texture contrast.
Keywords: slow cooker, chicken enchilada casserole, slow cooker Mexican casserole, shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, cheddar cheese, easy Mexican dinner
