Bright & Zesty Pioneer Woman Green Chile Enchilada Recipe

Green chile chicken enchilada casserole bursts with southwestern charm, delivering a fiery flavor explosion that dances across your palate.

Oozing with melted cheese and packed with succulent shredded chicken, this dish transforms ordinary weeknight dinners into a festive feast.

Roasted green chiles add a vibrant kick that elevates each forkful beyond standard casserole fare.

Corn tortillas create a soft, comforting base that cradles the spicy filling with delicate precision.

Layers of robust ingredients meld together, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that’ll make taste buds sing.

This recipe proves that complex flavors can emerge from surprisingly simple ingredients.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 8

What Goes Into Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole

• Enchilada Sauce: Choose a robust, authentic brand with deep, rich chile undertones.
• Green Chiles: Select fire-roasted varieties for smoky, vibrant flavor.
• Adobo Sauce: Look for premium brands with complex, tangy heat.
• Butter: Opt for unsalted, high-quality cream butter for smooth melting.
• Onions: Pick firm, golden-skinned onions without soft spots or sprouts.

• Tortillas: Select soft, fresh corn tortillas with flexible texture.
• Corn: Choose sweet, crisp kernel corn, preferably fresh or high-quality frozen.

• Refried Beans: Pick creamy, authentic Mexican-style prepared beans.
• Cheese: Select melty, sharp varieties like monterey jack or mexican blend.

• Pico de Gallo: Use ripe, colorful tomatoes with crisp cilantro.
• Cilantro: Choose bright green, fragrant leaves without wilting.

Tools Needed to Build This Spicy Casserole

• 12-inch cast-iron skillet: Perfect for creating a delicious layered casserole with even heat distribution.
• Cutting board: Needed for chopping onions, chiles, and cilantro.
• Chef's knife: Sharp tool for precise vegetable cutting.
• Measuring spoons: Helps accurately measure ingredients like adobo sauce.
• Mixing bowl: Crucial for separating and storing sauce mixture.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring onions and mixing ingredients.
• Aluminum foil: Used to cover skillet during initial baking.
• Oven mitts: Protects hands when handling hot skillet.

Cooking Instructions for Green Chile Bake

• Fire Up the Cooking Zone

Crank your oven to a toasty 375°F. Grab a hefty cast-iron skillet and melt butter over a gentle flame. Sauté diced onions until they transform into a gorgeous caramel color, dancing around the pan for about 8 minutes.

• Craft the Flavor Symphony

Slide the skillet off the heat. Swirl in enchilada sauce, zesty green chiles, and rich adobo sauce. Scoop most of this magical mixture into a waiting bowl, leaving a whisper behind in the skillet.

• Create the Tortilla Foundation

Gently nestle tortillas into the skillet, letting them cuddle up and climb the sides slightly. Layer in a delicious landscape of cheese, corn, refried beans, and sauce. Keep building these mouthwatering tiers, alternating tortillas and fillings.

• Seal the Culinary Masterpiece

Crown the casserole with a final layer of tortillas. Drench with remaining sauce and shower with a blanket of cheese. Wrap the skillet in foil and send it into the oven for 35 minutes of transformative magic. Uncover and let the cheese bubble and brown for a final 10 minutes.

• Serve with Celebration

Let the casserole rest and settle for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh pico de gallo and bright cilantro. Slice, serve, and watch everyone’s eyes light up with delicious anticipation.

Flavor Tips to Tweak Heat and Sauce

Experiment with different cheese combinations like monterey jack, pepper jack, or queso fresco to add unique flavor profiles and textures to your enchilada casserole.

Boost the protein content by adding shredded chicken, ground beef, or black beans between the tortilla layers for a heartier meal that fills you up quickly.

Adjust the heat by choosing mild or hot enchilada sauce, and add jalapeños or extra green chiles for those who love a spicier kick. Remove seeds from peppers to reduce intensity.

Prepare the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, bake directly from the refrigerator, adding 10-15 minutes to the total cooking time.

Serving Enchilada Casserole With Sides

• Dress Up the Dish: Top the casserole with vibrant pico de gallo for a fresh, zesty kick that adds color and bright flavors to your meal.
• Pair with Perfect Sides: Serve alongside creamy Mexican rice or a crisp green salad to balance the rich, cheesy layers of the enchilada casserole.
• Customize Your Plate: Offer additional toppings like sour cream, sliced jalapeños, or diced avocado for guests to personalize their serving and enhance the dining experience.
• Cool Down the Heat: Provide a small bowl of cooling cilantro-lime crema to complement the spicy elements and add a refreshing touch to each bite.

Storing and Reheating Instructions

• Meal Planning & Storage Advice
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Make the entire enchilada casserole up to 24 hours in advance by assembling and storing covered in the refrigerator. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking to ensure even heating.
• Portion and Freeze Technique: Slice cooled casserole into individual servings, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store frozen portions up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
• Refrigeration Best Practice: Store leftover casserole in airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat individual servings in microwave for 2-3 minutes or warm entire dish in oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
• Quick Lunch Transformation: Transform remaining casserole into quick quesadillas by chopping and stuffing between tortillas. Crisp in skillet for a delightful next-day meal that takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.

Spicy Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe

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4.5 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Green chile chicken enchilada casserole delights home cooks with layered southwestern flavors. Hearty cheesy comfort combines chicken, tortillas, and spicy green chiles for a satisfying Mexican-inspired meal you’ll crave again.

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Ingredients

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• 13 corn tortillas
• 4 cups cheddar or cheddar-jack cheese (freshly grated)
• 1 (15 oz/425 g) can refried beans
• 1 (10 oz/285 g) package frozen corn (thawed and patted dry)
• 1 (15 oz/425 g) can green enchilada sauce
• 1 (7 oz/200 g) can chopped green chiles
• 1 tbsp adobo sauce (from chipotles can)
• 2 tbsps salted butter
• 1 onion (diced)
• pico de gallo (for topping)
• fresh cilantro, chopped (for topping)

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Instructions

1. Sauté Foundation: In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Caramelize onions until deep golden brown, releasing rich aromatics.
2. Sauce Preparation: Remove skillet from heat and blend enchilada sauce, green chiles, and adobo sauce. Separate 2 tablespoons of sauce mixture, reserving remainder for layering.
3. Tortilla Base Construction: Create the first layer by strategically positioning tortillas in the skillet, overlapping slightly and climbing the sides, nestled in the remaining sauce.
4. Initial Flavor Layering: Distribute first cheese layer, scatter corn kernels, spread refried beans, and drizzle reserved sauce to enhance moisture and depth of flavor.
5. Secondary Layer Assembly: Position additional tortillas over previous ingredients. Repeat cheese, corn, and bean distribution, ensuring even coverage and continued sauce integration.
6. Baking Process: Cover skillet with aluminum foil and bake at 375˚F (190˚C) for 35 minutes until thoroughly heated and bubbling. Uncover and continue baking for 10 minutes to achieve a golden, crispy cheese crust.
7. Finishing and Serving: Allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes, enabling structural stabilization. Garnish with fresh pico de gallo and cilantro, presenting a vibrant Mexican-inspired culinary creation ready to be enjoyed immediately.

Notes

• Butter Browning Technique: Sauté onions slowly on medium-low heat to develop rich, caramelized flavor without burning, which enhances the overall taste profile.
• Sauce Layering Strategy: Reserve sauce portions carefully to distribute moisture evenly throughout the casserole, preventing dry spots and ensuring consistent flavor in each bite.
• Tortilla Placement Precision: Slightly overlap tortillas and let them climb skillet sides to create structural integrity and capture maximum sauce and flavor in each layer.
• Resting Period Importance: Allow casserole to rest 10 minutes after baking to help layers set, making serving easier and preventing immediate structural collapse when cutting.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg