Chicken + Roasted Tomato Enchiladas Recipe on Food52 (2024)

American

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  • Prep time 35 minutes
  • Cook time 1 hour
  • Serves 4, generously

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Author Notes

These enchiladas are especially wonderful for a cozy group of friends because, like all casseroles, you can assemble them early in the day or even a day before and just pop them into the oven when you’re having drinks. Even though it may be tempting to skip the tortilla-frying step, please don’t. Heating up the tortillas and coating them with a little oil makes them not only more pliable and easier to roll but also keeps them from falling apart once they’re covered in sauce. The oil is almost like a little raincoat that protects them. If you’re on a health kick, you can skip the tortillas and use blanched collard green or Swiss chard leaves as wrappers (I do that version for Grace and me sometimes). Lastly, if you are cooking these for children or anyone who can’t tolerate spice, feel free to swap in a poblano chile for the jalapeño (it’s much milder), or just omit the fresh chile all together.

Reprinted from Now & Again by Julia Turshen, with permission by Chronicle Books, 2018. —Julia Turshen

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoonground cumin
  • 2 tablespoonsolive oil
  • 1 pinchKosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 1/2 pounds[680 g] boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 28-oz [794-g] can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 jalapeño chile, roughly chopped (discard the seeds if you like)
  • 2 large handfuls of fresh cilantro leaves (a little bit of stem is fine!)
  • 1/2 cup[120 g] sour cream
  • 3 tablespoonscanola or other neutral oil, plus more as needed
  • 10 6-in [15-cm] corn tortillas
  • 3/4 cup[85 g] coarsely grated Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
Directions
  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F [220°C]. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, cumin, olive oil, and 1 tsp salt. Add the chicken breasts and coat them with the garlic mixture. Place them in an even layer on one side of the prepared sheet pan.
  3. Pour the can of tomatoes into a sieve placed over a bowl to catch the juice. Reserve the juice. Place the drained tomatoes and the jalapeño on the other side of the sheet pan.
  4. Roast the chicken and tomatoes until the chicken is firm to the touch and golden brown and the tomatoes are a bit concentrated, about 35 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and leave the oven on.
  5. Transfer the chicken to a large bowl and let it cool down a bit. Transfer the tomatoes and jalapeño to a blender or food processor and add any cooking juices from the sheet pan, the reserved tomato juice, a handful of the cilantro, the sour cream, and 1 tsp kosher salt. Process until smooth. You should have about 3 cups [720 ml] sauce.
  6. Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it into bite-size pieces directly into the bowl in which it is already sitting. If any liquid remains in the bowl from the chicken, leave it there, as it will become part of its own sauce! Add one-third (about 1 cup/240 ml) of the reserved tomato sauce and stir well to combine.
  7. Pour another third (about 1 cup/240 ml) of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-in [23-by-33-cm] baking dish. Spread the sauce to cover the bottom.
  8. In a large nonstick skillet over high heat, warm the canola oil. Place a tortilla in the pan and fry until coated with oil on both sides and just barely softened and pliable, about 10 seconds per side. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, transferring them to a work surface as you go. As long as your skillet is nonstick and nice and hot, you shouldn’t need more oil, but if the skillet goes dry before you are done with the tortillas, add a splash more.
  9. Divide the sauced chicken evenly among the tortillas. Roll up the tortillas tightly around the chicken and line them up, seam-side down, in the baking dish. Pour the remaining tomato sauce (about 1 cup/240 ml) evenly over the stuffed tortillas and sprinkle with the cheese.
  10. Bake the enchiladas until the cheese is melted and golden brown and the sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining handful of cilantro and the red onion and serve immediately.
  11. IT'S ME AGAIN: CREAMY ROASTED TOMATO SOUP //Purposely make a double batch of the sauce for the enchiladas. Use half for the enchiladas and add 3 cups [720 ml] vegetable or chicken stock to the rest, and that’s that. So delicious, and two meals for the price of one. Serve with quesadillas instead of grilled cheese sandwiches.

Tags:

  • American
  • Dinner

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1 Review

NXL April 5, 2020

Delicious! The tip on softening the tortillas definitely worked , but it added more than 3 T of fat to the dish. The only change I made was to use pepper jack cheese.

Chicken + Roasted Tomato Enchiladas Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Should you bake enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

Most enchiladas are baked and covered with foil until heated through. Oven temperatures and baking times vary per recipe, but on average they cook in a 350°F oven for about 25 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the enchiladas after they are heated through.

How to make enchiladas more crispy? ›

To prevent your tortillas from tearing or becoming soggy, quickly fry each corn tortilla in any oil you like for about 10 seconds on each side, until it starts to get crispy but is still pliable. This will add a barrier that will keep the tortilla from absorbing too much sauce, and also adds a little extra flavor.

Why are my chicken enchiladas soggy? ›

If you are actually following a quality enchilada recipe, you should have already dipped your tortillas into your chosen sauce before baking. This process softens the tortilla and infuses it with flavor, so if you just dump the rest of the good stuff on top of your dish before baking, you are begging for a soggy mess.

Can you pre make enchiladas or will they get soggy? ›

If you would like to make a pan of enchiladas in advance, follow the recipe instructions through step 3 (assembling the enchiladas). Wrap the pan tightly with foil. Then you can either refrigerate the enchiladas for up to 3 days, then bake as directed.

Should you heat flour tortillas before making enchiladas? ›

Heating up the tortillas before you fill them makes every taco recipe that much more savory and delicious, so don't skip this step! Tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas are too delicious for a cold tortilla. That's why we've got the details to help you bring the heat (the right way) when you warm tortillas up.

Does enchilada sauce go inside or on top? ›

Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the bean mixture in the center of each warm tortilla. Divide the cheese between the tortillas, reserving 1/4 to sprinkle on top. Roll up tightly and place seam side down in the baking dish. Spoon the enchilada sauce over the tortillas and scatter over the reserved cheese.

How to cook real good enchiladas in the oven? ›

Grab a tray of our Creamy Poblano Chicken Enchiladas from your local Costco or other grocery store and remove the plastic. Transfer it to an oven-safe container or cook it right in the tray. Bake at 375 degrees for 27-29 minutes. When the enchiladas are done cooking, let rest for 2 minutes.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour? ›

Enchiladas are laden with sauce and fillings, and you need a tortilla that will hold up to all the moisture, so you should always opt for corn over flour.

Do enchiladas taste better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

Is it OK to use flour tortillas for enchiladas? ›

Tortillas: Corn tortillas are traditionally used in Mexican-style enchiladas, but I typically use flour tortillas (which are more commonly used in Tex-Mex and American-style enchiladas) since they are much easier to roll. That said, just about any style of tortillas will work in this recipe.

How do you know when enchiladas are done? ›

Wrap tortillas tightly around filling, placing seam side down in baking dish. Top enchiladas with enchilada sauce and remaining cheese. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Are yellow or white corn tortillas better for enchiladas? ›

Compared to its yellow counterpart, white corn tortillas tend to be softer with a more tender texture. They also have a higher moisture content, which makes them more pliable. These corn tortillas can be easily rolled and folded without cracking or breaking — ideal for enchiladas and flautas.

How do you keep corn tortillas soft for enchiladas? ›

Wrap a stack of tortillas in damp paper towels or a damp kitchen towel, then wrap in plastic wrap or place in a microwave-safe resealable plastic bag (keep the bag open to vent). Microwave until warm and flexible, about 1 minute.

How do you fix watery enchilada sauce? ›

Mix a small amount of the starch (about 1 tablespoon per cup of liquid) with a little cold water to form a slurry, then whisk the slurry into the hot sauce. Cook and stir for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Cooking the sauce for a longer period of time to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.

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