Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Last Updated on January 14, 2023 by Anne-Marie

Your family will love this easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe. Made in under an hour, it's a terrific way to use leftover chicken.

A plate of Chicken Enchilada Casserole with slices of avocados and a fork with a casserole and more plates in the background.

Why this recipe works

This recipe for chicken enchilada casserole is super easy to make since it uses rotisserie chicken (or leftover chicken from your favorite recipe like this Easy Chicken Marinade Recipe), canned enchilada sauce, canned beans, and shredded cheese.

Nothing could be as quick and easy as making this Mexican food casserole in under an hour. Serve at parties or for dinner.

Chicken enchilada layered casserole is a great recipe that will soon become a favorite crowd-pleasing comfort food.

Chicken enchiladas in a casserole dish and on white plates with avocados on striped napkins.

How to make an easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe

Here's how to make this easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Prepare a 9"x13" casserole dish by lightly spraying it with cooking spray. (I like either olive oil or canola oil cooking spray.) Set it aside.

3.  In a large bowl, stir together the red enchilada sauce and salsa. Then spread 1/2 cup of this mixture evenly on the bottom of the casserole dish.

4. Drain and rinse the black beans, pinto beans, and corn. Then stir the beans and corn into the enchilada sauce mixture.

5. Then stir in shredded rotisserie chicken.

6. Cut the tortillas with a knife or a pizza slicer. Then place in the casserole dish.

Corn tortillas layed on the bottom of a prepared baking dish.

7. Cover the tortilla layer with a third of the beans and chicken mixture.

Layer of beans and chicken mixture on top of corn tortillas in a glass baking dish.

8. Next, sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over the beans and chicken mixture layer.

9. Repeat with another layer of tortillas. Then a layer of beans and chicken mixture.Then a layer of 1 cup cheese.

Layer of the chicken enchilada casserole with shredded cheese in a glass baking dish.

10. Add the remaining tortillas, then the remaining enchilada sauce mixture.

11. Finally, top the final layer of the chicken enchilada casserole with more cheese.

The final layer of the chicken enchilada casserole in a glass baking dish.

12. Before putting the casserole in the oven, lightly spray a piece of foil to prevent cheese from sticking. Then cover the casserole dish with foil.

13. Bake the casserole for 20 minutes. Then uncover and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and melted.

14. Remove the enchilada casserole with chicken from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.

15. Serve slices of enchilada casserole with your favorite additional toppings like sour cream or avocado.

Close up of a slice of chicken enchilada casserole on a white plate with avocado and tomatoes.

Tips when making your chicken enchilada casserole

What kind of chicken do you want to use in this recipe for chicken enchiladas casserole?

Obviously, you want to use something that’s already cooked and ready to be turned into shredded chicken.

You can use cooked chicken breasts, thighs, or a whole chicken:

Gluten free: If you’re gluten free, make sure that the enchilada sauce you’re using is gluten free.

You can use gluten free store bought enchilada sauces like:

Simply Organic Red Enchilada Simmer Sauce

Rosarita Enchilada Sauce 

Siete Red Enchilada Sauce

Hatch Red Enchilada Sauce

(If you’re using a store brand of enchilada sauce, check the label to make sure it’s gluten free.)

Can I use green enchilada sauce? I’m more a fan of red enchilada sauces in recipes for chicken enchilada casserole. But if you want to use a green sauce, go ahead.

Tortillas: You can use flour tortillas or corn. If you’re gluten free, you should use corn tortillas (again, check the label to make sure their GF.)

I prefer the taste of corn tortillas over gluten free tortillas. They’re cheaper, too!

Dairy free? If you’re dairy free, you can use vegan shredded cheese (just make sure it’s the kind that melts well).

You can also use this recipe for vegan tofu sour cream instead of regular sour cream.

Health it up! Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

A glass casserole dish of chicken enchilada with white plates of slices of chicken enchilada with chili peppers, avocado, and tomatoes on festive napkins.

Can I make my own chicken enchilada sauce?

If you’re not a fan of store-bought enchilada sauces, you can make your own. I recommend Emeril Lagasse’s Easy Enchilada Sauce recipe. (This is a red enchilada sauce.)

If you’re gluten free, just substitute an all purpose gluten free flour for the regular flour.

I recommend using an all-purpose gluten free flour like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour. I love this product because it cooks up just like regular flour in my gluten free recipes.

Check out my Best Gluten Free Products List to find more terrific gluten free baking products!

Easy chicken enchiladas casserole variations

Use a different protein: Try using cooked ground turkey or ground beef instead of shredded chicken. You can also use crockpot taco meat.

Beans, beans, beans: You can use any kind of beans you have on hand – black beans, kidney beans (light or dark red), pinto beans, red beans, and even refried beans.

Cheese: This recipe calls for a shredded Mexican blend cheese. If you like, change it up by using shredded Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar, or pepper jack.

Veggies: Add veggies in with the corn and beans such as sautéed onions, green onions, diced bell pepper, green chilis, or even sliced mushrooms before cooking.

Have fun and experiment when making easy chicken enchilada casserole recipes.

A glass casserole dish of enchiladas with avocados, tomatoes, plates of chicken enchiladas, and festive striped napkins.

More terrific casserole recipes

Who doesn’t love a good casserole recipe? Check these recipes out:

I make Leftover Turkey Enchilada Casserole after Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If you love chicken, make Chicken Normandy Recipe à la Marie-Celine.

For breakfast, you can make the following casserole recipes:

For dinner, make Mac & Cheese Casserole with Peas, Carrots & Ham or a Gluten Free Mac & Cheese Casserole.

A square slice of enchilada casserole on a white plate with slices of avocados and cherry tomatoes with a glass casserole dish of enchiladas with a silver serving spoon placed on a colorful napkin.

Clean up

Make a mess in the oven when making your casserole dinner? See my How to Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda for some easy tips!

More awesome Mexican recipes

Besides this chicken enchiladas casserole recipe, if you love Mexican food, try out these dishes:

The Best Authenic Carne Asada Marinade Recipe makes awesome tacos, burritos, nachos, or fries

Easy Nachos and Layered Taco Dip – both go great with tortilla chips

Peach & Cherry Beer Margarita – the perfect drink to go with any Mexican recipe

Serve up Easy Breakfast Chilaquiles with homemade chorizo for breakfast or brunch

Make Mexican Christmas Salad Recipe for Christmas Eve. This uses a trifle bowl just like my Chopped and Layered Taco Salad.

This Mexican Picadillo is made with chorizo, potatoes, and raisins

Make this 30-Minute Pozole Recipe with either pulled pork or chicken

Yield: 8 SERVINGS

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Close up of a slice of chicken enchilada casserole on a white plate with avocado and tomatoes.

This easy chicken enchilada casserole recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Make this chicken enchilada layered casserole with store-bought rotisserie chicken.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked and shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 1 (19 ounce) can red enchilada sauce, mild or hot (gluten free)
  • 1 cup salsa, mild or hot
  • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans
  • 12 (6 inch) corn or flour tortillas, cut to fit baking dish
  • 1 (15.25 ounce) can corn or 2 cups frozen corn, drained
  • 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

Optional Toppings

  • Chopped tomatoes
  • Sliced green onions
  • Sliced or whole black olives
  • Sour cream
  • Diced or sliced avocado
  • Chopped cilantro

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Lightly spray a 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together enchilada sauce and salsa.
  4. Reserve 1 cup of enchilada sauce mixture.
  5. Spread about 1/2 cup sauce evenly on the bottom of the baking dish.
  6. Drain and rinse black beans, pinto beans, and corn. Stir into enchilada sauce mixture.
  7. Stir in shredded chicken.
  8. Cut tortillas and layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  9. Cover with one-third of the beans and chicken mixture.
  10. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over beans and chicken mixture.
  11. Repeat with another layer of tortillas, beans, and chicken mixture, and then 1 cup of cheese.
  12. Add remaining tortillas and remaining 1/2 cup enchilada sauce mixture, then more cheese
  13. Lightly spray a piece of foil to prevent cheese from sticking. Then cover the casserole dish with foil.
  14. Bake covered for 20 minutes.
  15. Uncover and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  16. Remove casserole from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
  17. Serve with your favorite additional toppings.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 498Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 772mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 8gSugar: 5gProtein: 41g

Nutritional information is automatically calculated per the ingredients list. Serving size may not be accurate. Please double-check with your preferred nutritional app for the most accurate information.

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