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Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole


  • Author: Rosa Martinez
  • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings

Description

This slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole is a cheesy, saucy, easy dinner that tastes like your favorite restaurant enchiladas without all the rolling and fuss. Tender shredded chicken, corn tortillas, black beans, and plenty of melty cheese simmer together in a crockpot for a cozy, quick dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, and family-friendly comfort food. It’s one of my favorite quick breakfast-for-dinner style comfort meals when I need easy dinner ideas, simple food ideas, and an easy recipe that always gets clean plates.


Ingredients

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 small yellow onion diced

1 medium bell pepper diced

20 ounces red enchilada sauce

14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with green chiles drained

15 ounces black beans drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen corn

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon salt

0.25 teaspoon black pepper

8 small corn tortillas cut into strips

2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

0.5 cup sour cream for serving

0.25 cup chopped fresh cilantro for serving

1 medium tomato diced for serving

1 medium avocado diced for serving

1 lime cut into wedges for serving


Instructions

1. Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the bottom of a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker.

2. Pour in the red enchilada sauce and the drained diced tomatoes with green chiles, then stir to combine.

3. Stir in the black beans, frozen corn, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until everything is evenly mixed.

4. Nestle the boneless skinless chicken breasts into the sauce mixture, turning them once so they are coated and mostly submerged.

5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with a fork.

6. Transfer the cooked chicken breasts to a cutting board and shred them into bite sized pieces using two forks.

7. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it back into the sauce, beans, and vegetables until well combined.

8. Slice the corn tortillas into short strips and gently fold them into the chicken mixture so they are evenly distributed and coated in sauce.

9. Spread the mixture into an even layer in the slow cooker, then sprinkle the shredded Mexican blend cheese evenly over the top.

10. Cover and cook on HIGH for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the casserole is hot and bubbly around the edges.

11. Scoop the casserole into bowls or onto plates and top each serving with sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro, diced tomato, diced avocado, and a squeeze of lime juice.

12. Serve warm and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Notes

For the best texture, use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas—corn tortillas hold up better in the slow cooker and soak up the enchilada sauce without turning gummy.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 430
  • Sugar: 6
  • Sodium: 980
  • Fat: 20
  • Saturated Fat: 9
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 30
  • Fiber: 5
  • Protein: 35
  • Cholesterol: 105

Keywords: slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole, crockpot enchilada casserole, easy dinner, weeknight dinner ideas, cheesy chicken casserole, family friendly meals, food ideas, easy recipe