Creamy Rooster Enchilada Casserole

This recipe turns enchiladas into a simple, creamy casserole. Tremendous straightforward to place collectively, and the avocado cream sauce makes this one particular. Significantly, you’ll need this sauce on all the things. I like to avoid wasting somewhat 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.

Why Our Recipe

• The creamy avocado sauce is motive alone to make this recipe!
• Corn tortillas preserve this casserole from changing into soggy.
• Use rotisserie or leftover hen to whip up this dish with minimal prep work.

This recipe happened 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 high quality lengthy grain rice for one of the best texture, like Jasmine or Basmati. The generic baggage labeled as simply “lengthy grain white rice” usually tend to find yourself mushy.
• Rooster: Rotisserie hen works nice on this recipe, or use leftovers. For those who’re utilizing uncooked hen, cook dinner it completely earlier than including it to the casserole.
• Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can greatest management the flavour. It’s a terrific chef tip.
• Jalapeño: Completely non-compulsory! 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. Attempt urgent on the very prime of the fruit, the place the stem was. If it provides somewhat, it ought to be ripe.
• Bitter Cream: Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute should you 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 should you choose.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You’ll be able to simply substitute with a Mexican cheese mix or pepper jack cheese for somewhat kick.

Rooster Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked hen. You’ve bought a couple of choices to select from, so take your choose! We’ve used all of them.

Rotisserie Rooster – many grocery shops these days promote cooked rotisserie chickens you can purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often bought as a “loss chief,” which means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it one of the best bang in your buck in terms of hen. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie hen pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Rooster – try the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked hen strips and chunks bought in baggage.

Bake Your Personal Rooster – lay hen 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 immediately, or freeze for later use.

Fast Skillet Rooster – warmth a big heavy skillet over medium-high warmth. Add in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place hen breasts into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner 5 to 7 minutes per facet. Let cool after which shred.

Spice it Up or Down

For those who’re searching for extra warmth, seize a medium or scorching salsa for the sauce and add in that jalapeño! You can even prime with recent jalapeño slices for an additional kick. Higher but, sprinkle some purple pepper flakes on prime for some colour and warmth!

For a milder choice, follow delicate salsa. Take away the seeds and stem from the jalapeño, including half as a substitute of the entire pepper. Or, omit the pepper utterly.

Make-Forward Directions

This enchilada casserole can simply be made forward. Assemble and refrigerate earlier than baking, as much as 1 day upfront. Make sure to retailer it lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to forestall it from drying out. Take away the protecting and bake when able to eat.