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homemade chicken enchiladas in a baking pan with melted cheese and cilantro

Chicken Enchiladas – Homemade From Scratch

Juicy, cheesy, and full of flavor chicken enchiladas made completely from scratch with a double-duty homemade spice mix and rich enchilada sauce. Better than any restaurant version and ready in 65 minutes.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican, Tex-Mex
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

  • 8 flour or corn tortillas about 8 inches wide; warm briefly if stiff
  • 1 tsp onion powder part of enchilada seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder part of enchilada seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt part of enchilada seasoning
  • 1 tbsp cumin powder part of enchilada seasoning
  • 1 tbsp paprika part of enchilada seasoning
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano part of enchilada seasoning
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper part of enchilada seasoning
  • 0.75 tsp cayenne pepper optional — adjust to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil for enchilada sauce
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour for enchilada sauce roux
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 500ml
  • 1.5 cups tomato passata 375ml; US: tomato puree or tomato sauce like Hunts
  • 1.2 lb chicken breast sliced in half horizontally; or boneless thigh
  • 2 tbsp olive oil for chicken filling, divided
  • 0.5 onion chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 14 oz refried beans 1 can (400g); secret ingredient for juicy filling
  • 14 oz canned corn drained; or 1¾ cups frozen corn
  • 0.25 cup water for filling
  • 1 cup shredded cheese 100g; Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, or cheddar — for inside the rolls
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheese 150g; for topping
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro roughly chopped, for serving

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • saucepan
  • 9x13 inch baking pan
  • whisk

Method
 

  1. Mix all enchilada seasoning spices together in a small bowl. Set aside — this same mix will season both the sauce and the chicken filling.
  2. Make the enchilada sauce: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir for 20 seconds to form a roux.
  3. Add 2 tbsp of the enchilada seasoning, the chicken broth, and the tomato passata to the roux. Whisk until smooth, then increase heat to medium-high.
  4. Cook the sauce for 4 minutes, whisking regularly, until it thickens to a syrup-like consistency. Remove from heat and set aside.
  5. Coat the chicken in 1 tbsp olive oil and the remaining enchilada seasoning. Heat the second tbsp of oil in a large skillet over high heat. Cook chicken 2 minutes on the first side, 1.5 minutes on the second. Remove, rest 2 minutes, then chop.
  6. In the same skillet, sauté onion and garlic for 1 minute. Add diced bell pepper and cook 2 more minutes until onion is translucent.
  7. Add refried beans, chopped chicken, drained corn, and water. Stir and cook for 2 minutes until slightly reduced. Filling should be thick and juicy — not watery.
  8. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Allow filling to cool slightly so it thickens and is easier to roll.
  9. Lay a tortilla flat. Spread about ⅔ cup of filling on the lower third, sprinkle with shredded cheese, then roll up seam-side down. Repeat for all 8 tortillas.
  10. Spread a scoop of enchilada sauce across the base of a 9x13 inch baking pan. Place rolled enchiladas in the pan, pour remaining sauce over the top, and sprinkle generously with shredded cheese.
  11. Bake for 20–25 minutes until cheese is melted and golden. Serve immediately sprinkled with fresh cilantro.

Notes

Tortillas: Warm corn or stiff flour tortillas 10 seconds in the microwave for easy rolling. Refried beans are the secret to a juicy, non-crumbly filling — don't skip them! Tomato passata is labeled tomato puree or tomato sauce in the US. Substitute: 4 tbsp tomato paste + 1 extra cup broth + 1 tsp sugar. Storage: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Freeze sauce separately for best results; bake enchiladas from frozen at 350°F covered 20 min then uncovered 20 min.
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