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Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Rooster Enchiladas



Rooster Enchiladas

These straightforward Mexican-style rooster enchiladas are made with juicy rooster thigh meat and rolled into heat corn tortillas with a Mexican cheese mix, inexperienced onions, and jalapeños. I drizzle the baked enchiladas with a fast home made cilantro-lime crema and prime them with avocado slices. Use store-bought or home made purple enchilada sauce (recipe supplied).

Chicken Enchiladas with red sauce, topped with avocado slices - in a white baking dish.
Chicken Enchiladas with red enchilada sauce, drizzled with cilantro-lime crema and topped with avocado slices - on a plate.

What Makes These Rooster Enchiladas Stand out from the Crowd?

These rooster enchiladas are my husband’s absolute favourite dinner and go-to consolation meals—truthfully, we would as effectively name them “marry-me enchiladas”! They’re good for meal prep, making forward, or freezing, which makes them perfect for busy weeknights or once I must feed a crowd of family and friends. You’ll be able to wager these enchiladas may have everybody coming again for seconds particularly should you serve them with my Mexican avenue corn dip, fan-favorite cilantro-lime black bean rice, and home made rooster tacos! You’re in for a deal with – listed below are the recipe highlights:

  • Cilantro-Lime Crema: Despite the fact that I prime my enchiladas with the classics—avocado, inexperienced onions, and contemporary cilantro—I additionally drizzle on a creamy, Mexican-inspired (and home made!) cilantro lime crema for a tangy, refreshing twist.
  • Pink Enchilada Sauce Choices: You’ll be able to undoubtedly use nice store-bought enchilada sauce for this recipe, however I’ve additionally included my home made purple enchilada sauce beneath if you wish to go the additional mile!
  • Straightforward to Customise: Use completely different proteins like pan-seared rooster thighs, shredded rotisserie rooster, floor turkey, floor rooster or beef, or plant-based meat.
  • Naturally gluten-free when made with corn tortillas: Most rooster enchilada recipes on-line use flour tortillas, however conventional Mexican enchiladas are made with corn tortillas. My recipe sticks to custom, utilizing common corn tortillas (like Mission model). Corn tortillas maintain up higher within the sauce and provide a extra genuine taste. Serve this with Mexican avenue corn sheet pan loaded nachos made with home made tortilla chips!
Chicken Enchiladas with red enchilada sauce, drizzled with cilantro-lime crema and topped with avocado slices - on a plate.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

  • Rooster choices: I used skinless boneless rooster thighs that I cooked with spices on the stovetop – the darkish, juicy meat is ideal for rooster enchiladas. You too can use store-bought rotisserie rooster as a substitute. Shred not less than 3 cups of rooster and mix with the spices, however style the rooster earlier than including extra salt and pepper as all rotisserie chickens from the shop are already closely salted. 
  • Floor meat: Should you choose to make use of floor meats, go for it! Unimaginable meat (plant-based choice), floor beef, floor turkey, floor rooster, and even floor pork are nice replacements to shredded rooster thighs. 
  • Cheese: Low moisture mozzarella cheese is a superb substitute for the Mexican mix cheese that I exploit right here!
  • Toppings: I’m topping my rooster enchiladas with avocado sliced, chopped contemporary cilantro, and chopped inexperienced onions. I additionally advocate Cotija, bitter cream, sizzling sauce, and guacamole because the toppings. Combine and match!
  • Bitter Cream or Yogurt and Mayo vs. Crema: If Mexican crema isn’t obtainable, you may mix 1 cup bitter cream or 1 cup yogurt with 1 cup mayo as a substitute!
  • Corn tortillas style and carry out finest with this recipe. Nonetheless, if you want to make use of flour tortillas, be sure you get skinny tortillas the identical dimension because the corn, if potential. 
  • Cassava or Siete Almond Flour Tortillas: Cassava or Almond flour tortillas work simply in addition to corn tortillas! Be sure that to observe the directions on the packages to make sure you are utilizing them correctly. 
  • Tip: The beneath photograph depicts each single ingredient you want. Take a screenshot in your procuring listing!
This photo shows all the ingredients (with labels) you need to make chicken enchiladas.

Find out how to Make Rooster Enchiladas (Step-by-Step)

  • That is only a fast overview (with images)—discover the complete recipe with precise measurements within the recipe card beneath. 
  • Preheat your oven to 350°F and place a rack within the center.
  • Season the rooster: In a small bowl, mix the dried oregano, floor cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Season your rooster thighs with the spice combine.
Mixing spices in a bowl; then rubbing the spices all over chicken thighs in a medium-sized dish.
  • Cook dinner the rooster: Warmth a big skillet or nonstick pan with impartial oil over medium-high warmth. Cook dinner the rooster on either side for about 3-4 minutes till it reaches an inner temperature of 165°F.
  • Put together the rooster filling: Take away the rooster and canopy it with plastic wrap to maintain it heat and permit the juices to redistribute. As soon as the rooster is cool sufficient, shred it with two forks and put aside.
Cooking seasoned chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet; then shredding cooked chicken in a mixing bowl.
  • Assembling the enchiladas: Unfold 1 cup of enchilada sauce on the underside of a 9×13-inch casserole dish. I prefer to microwave the tortillas wrapped in a humid paper towel for 30 seconds to make them extra pliable.
  • Then, one after the other, fill every tortilla with shredded rooster, inexperienced onions, jalapeños (if utilizing), and 1 ½ cups of Mexican mix cheese.
  • Prepare the stuffed tortillas within the dish, pour the remaining sauce excessive, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
  • Cowl with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes, or till the sauce is effervescent and the cheese is melted.
Warming corn tortillas in a towel; then spreading red enchilada sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish.
Filling a corn tortilla with chicken filling; then adding rolled and filled corn tortillas into a casserole dish and pouring the red enchilada sauce on top.
  • Make the cilantro-lime crema: Mix the Mexican crema, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender till easy. I like to recommend tasting the crema and adjusting the seasoning as wanted. Switch it to a squeeze bottle or measuring cup for straightforward serving.
  • Serving: As soon as the enchiladas are out of the oven, take away the foil and prime with cilantro, inexperienced onions, avocado slices, and additional enchilada sauce if desired. Drizzle with the cilantro lime crema.
Sprinkling shredded Mexican cheese blend over the rolled enchiladas in a casserole dish; then making cilantro lime crema in a blender.
Chicken Enchiladas with red enchilada sauce - in a white baking dish.

Variations

  • Vegetarian/vegan: Change the rooster together with your favourite vegetarian or vegan pleasant choice! Jackfruit, tofu, mushrooms, candy potatoes, black olives, or beans! Change the cheese together with your favourite vegan cheese should you like!
  • Mini serving: You’ll be able to halve all of the elements if you wish to make  a smaller portion and fewer leftovers! 
  • Smoky and spicy: You’ll be able to mix 1 -2 canned chipotle peppers into your enchilada sauce previous to utilizing. 

Storage Ideas

  • Refrigerate: What I do is canopy the cooled enchiladas within the casserole dish with a lid or the aluminum foil I used to bake with. In fact, it’s also possible to place them in an hermetic container. They may maintain within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
  • To reheat, place on a microwave secure plate or bowl and warmth till you attain your required temperature.
  • To freeze, switch the cooled enchiladas to aluminum foil and wrap effectively. It may final within the freezer for as much as 1 month.
  • Thaw by putting the frozen enchiladas onto a plate and go away it in your fridge in a single day. Reheat following the directions above. 
Chicken Enchiladas with red sauce, topped with avocado slices - in a white baking dish.

Print

Rooster Enchiladas

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These straightforward Mexican-style rooster enchiladas are made with juicy rooster thigh meat and rolled into heat corn tortillas with a Mexican cheese mix, inexperienced onions, and jalapeños. I drizzle the baked enchiladas with a fast home made cilantro-lime crema and prime them with avocado slices. Use store-bought or home made purple enchilada sauce (recipe supplied).
Course Fundamental Course
Delicacies Mexican
Key phrase rooster enchiladas
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook dinner Time 40 minutes
Whole Time 50 minutes
Servings 6
Creator Julia

Elements

Rooster Filling

  • 2 tablespoons impartial oil
  • 2 kilos boneless skinless rooster thighs pat dry
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon floor cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pepper
  • 6 medium inexperienced onions white and inexperienced components roughly chopped
  • 3 small jalapenos finely chopped (non-compulsory)
  • 3 cups Mexican mix cheese divided
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 28 oz purple or inexperienced enchilada sauce store-bought or make it from scratch (see recipe beneath)

Cilantro Lime Crema

Elective Toppings

  • cilantro roughly chopped
  • inexperienced onion roughly chopped
  • avocado slices
  • further enchilada sauce

Directions

Make Rooster Filling

  • Place a rack in the course of your oven and preheat to 350 levels.
  • Mix the dried oregano, floor cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
  • Warmth a big skillet or nonstick pan with the impartial oil to medium excessive whilst you season your rooster thighs throughout with the spice combine.
  • Totally cook dinner your rooster on either side, about 3-4 minutes per facet, or till they’ve reached an inner temperature of 165 levels. Take away and place in a medium bowl and canopy with plastic wrap to maintain heat, steam barely, and permit the proteins to calm down and reabsorb any juices.
  • As soon as cool sufficient to deal with, shred the rooster with two forks and put aside, masking loosely once more with the plastic wrap.
  • Wrap your tortillas in a humid paper towel or kitchen towel and microwave for 30 seconds. Examine the flexibleness of the tortillas. Should you can’t roll them with out them breaking, return them to the microwave for one more 10-15 seconds.
  • Place 1 cup of your enchilada sauce onto the underside of a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish and unfold evenly to cowl.
  • Working with one tortilla at a time, ensuring to maintain the unused tortillas lined with the towel to maintain them heat, evenly fill every with the rooster, inexperienced onion, jalapenos if utilizing, and 1 ½ cups of Mexican mix cheese. Repeat this course of till you’ve stuffed the casserole dish.
  • Ladle 1 cup of enchilada sauce over the enchiladas, evenly coating them. Pour the remaining sauce right into a small sauce pot, cowl, and carry on low warmth on the range.
  • Sprinkle the remaining 1 ½ cups of Mexican mix cheese on prime, wrap with aluminum foil, and bake for 20-25 minutes or till the sauce is effervescent and the cheese is melted.

Make Cilantro Lime Crema

  • Whereas the enchiladas are baking, mix the Mexican crema, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper to style in a blender or to a big cup that may match an immersion blender inside. Mix till easy and regulate with salt and pepper. Switch to a squeeze bottle or measuring cup with a spout.

Serving

  • As soon as the enchiladas are completed cooking, take away the foil. Prime with cilantro, inexperienced onions, avocado slices, further enchilada sauce if desired. Serve and drizzle with the crema, further toppings, and additional sauce should you like. Serve alongside calabacitas, rice, beans, or any facet you like to eat with enchiladas!

Notes

  • Layered vs. rolled enchiladas: Should you choose to layer your tortillas and filling as a substitute of rolling the fillings inside, don’t neglect to frivolously coat every tortilla you employ in your layers with enchilada sauce. This helps maintain your enchilada moist.
  • Combining all filling elements collectively: To expedite the filling course of, you may mix the inexperienced onion, jalapeno if utilizing, and 1 ½ cups of Mexican mix cheese with the shredded rooster previous to rolling your tortillas.
  • Should you don’t wish to make the crema, you may simply use bitter cream to prime your enchiladas.
  • This recipe works effectively with both purple or inexperienced enchilada sauce! You’ll be able to’t go mistaken!
  • You’ll be able to warmth the tortillas in a heat pan sprayed with oil as a substitute of microwaving. It is going to take a bit extra time, however the tortillas have a tendency to carry up a little bit higher when rolling. It does add a little bit bit extra fats to this recipe, but when that’s not a priority, be happy to make use of this technique.
  • Home made or store-bought purple enchilada sauce — each work nice right here. I needed to maintain this recipe so simple as potential, so I’ve examined it with each canned enchilada sauce and my home made model (you’ll discover the recipe slightly below the recipe card). Truthfully, they each work very well, so go along with whichever choice is best for you.

Straightforward Substitutions

  • Rooster: You need to use shredded rotisserie rooster (not less than 3 cups) as a substitute of cooking skinless, boneless rooster thighs.
  • Floor Meat: You an additionally sub the rooster with floor beef, turkey, rooster, pork, or plant-based meat like Unimaginable model.
  • Cheese: Don’t have Mexican mix? Use shredded low-moisture mozzarella.
  • Toppings: I prime mine with avocado slices, chopped cilantro, and inexperienced onions. You too can use Cotija cheese, bitter cream, guacamole, or a drizzle of sizzling sauce as toppings.
  • Crema Substitute: Combine 1 cup bitter cream or yogurt with 1 cup mayo.
  • Tortillas: I used corn tortillas, however it’s also possible to use skinny flour tortillas of comparable dimension as a substitute. I additionally love to make use of Cassava or almond flour tortillas (like Siete model) for rooster enchiladas.

You’ll need these provides:

  • knife
  • chopping board
  • heavy skillet or nonstick pan
  • 9 x 13 casserole dish
  • giant bowl
  • blender or immersion blender
  • paper towels or kitchen towel
  • zester
  • citrus juicer

Home made Pink Enchilada Sauce

The Elements

  • 3 tablespoons impartial oil (like vegetable or avocado oil)
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup chili powder (use gentle, American-style chili powder). Style it earlier than utilizing it. In case your chili powder is simply too sizzling, use smoked paprika as a substitute.
  • 1 teaspoon floor cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (non-compulsory for warmth, particularly should you use gentle, American-style chili powder)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt (regulate to style)
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 ½ cups rooster broth (Beef broth is nice, too! Or vegetable broth for a vegetarian model)
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar (provides brightness)

Find out how to Make Pink Enchilada Sauce

  • Make a roux: In a medium saucepan, warmth the oil over medium warmth. Whisk within the flour and cook dinner for about 1 minute, stirring consistently, till frivolously golden.
  • Add spices: Whisk within the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne (if utilizing), and salt. Cook dinner for 30 seconds to mix the spices.
  • Add liquids: Stir within the tomato paste, then steadily whisk within the broth to keep away from lumps. Convey to a simmer.
  • Simmer: Let the sauce simmer gently for 10–12 minutes, stirring sometimes, till barely thickened.
  • End: Stir within the vinegar. Style and regulate salt or chili powder if wanted.
Chicken Enchiladas with red enchilada sauce - in a white baking dish.
Chicken Enchiladas with red enchilada sauce, drizzled with cilantro-lime crema and topped with avocado slices - on a plate.

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