Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole is the easiest one-pot recipe you will find for enchiladas.
Forget take out and make enchiladas at home, we love to make a big pot of Slow Cooker Refried Beans too!
This recipe for slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole is a one-pot meal (yay!). To make this recipe, I cook the chicken with a big can of red enchilada sauce, all day in my slow cooker. Then when I get home, I shred the chicken, stir in corn tortillas strips, add some cheese and olives, stir, add a little more cheese and olives on top, cook for one more hour, and wow! Easy enchiladas and I don’t have the huge mess all over my kitchen from frying tortillas and rolling the enchiladas.
This recipe has become a viral success on the blog and that is for good reason. So many people have tried this recipe and had great results. I don’t think there is an easier meal for the slow cooker.
How to make Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole:
You will need these ingredients:
- Enchilada sauce
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Corn tortillas cut into strips
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Black olives
Directions:
- Place chicken breasts and a large can of enchilada sauce into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours on high, or 8 hours on low.
- After the chicken and sauce have cooked, shred the chicken and add the corn tortillas (that have been cut into strips), half of the cheese, and half of the olives, stir and flatten out into a casserole.
- Add more cheese on top and olives. Cook on low for 40-60 minutes or until the center is hot.
- Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with Chicken Enchilada Casserole:
I serve this chicken enchilada casserole with sour cream on top, refried beans, and Spanish rice. If you don’t have a great recipe for Spanish rice, check this tutorial for Spanish rice from Lil’ Luna, it’s the recipe I use and it’s amazing.
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes on the site. Easy to throw in the crockpot and has great results.
More of my favorite slow cooker chicken recipes:
- Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy
- Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
- Slow Cooker Seasoned Chicken, Potatoes and Green Beans
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Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless raw chicken breasts
- 28 oz. can Red Enchilada Sauce I use El Pato Brand
Add these items at the end:
- 10 corn tortillas I used an entire 11.7 ounce bag (soft tortillas NOT chips)
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese divided
- 3.8 oz. can black olives divided
Instructions:
- Put the chicken breasts and the enchilada sauce in your slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
- Shred the chicken with 2 forks right in the slow cooker.
- Cut the tortillas in to strips, add to chicken and sauce. Stir.
- Add 1/2 cup of cheese and half the olives into the sauce and chicken mixture. Stir again.
- Flatten the mixture.
- Add the rest of the cheese and the olives on top.
- Cook on low for about 40 – 60 minutes longer.
- Top with sour cream (optional)
I love this recipe and had it save don my phone but there used to be a link to make your own enchilada sauce and i cant find it((
Hi Stepanie, I looked up an older version of my site in the archives and I couldn’t find it. I apologize. I tried to find the one I used to use and I could not find it, it was simple with just chicken broth, thickener and chili powder.
I am making the Chicken Enchiladas Casserole right now. In fact, another one tomorrow. One for my brother for Thanksgiving. And the other to my niece and nephew. ( To split in half. Two different houses).
Great to hear Cathy! I’m making a turkey leftover version on Friday. Such a versatile recipe.
Can I do this in an Instant pot? And if so how? Thank you
I was sent this recipe because I am signed up for your SLOW COOKER SECRETS This is just one of the best. I have made it four or five times, changing it up with pork, chicken, beef, adding black beans, cream cheese, roasted tomatoes because I didn’t have enchilada sauce. You can change it up with whatever you have in your cupboard and it is always a hit. Thank you. Judy from Wisconsin
Thank you for the kind comment Judy! We love this meal so much too.
Could I just strip up the tortillas and throw them all in? Let cook for 30 more minutes? Or do they have to be neatly layered?
I don’t neatly layer them. I throw them in 🙂
Thanks for this recipe. It’s one of our favorites: so easy to get started in the morning and always comes out perfect. For a little extra kick, I usually add 1/2 large, chopped onion and 4 large, chopped jalapenos when I add the tortillas. Try the leftovers for breakfast! Yum.
I used …
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion – diced
1 – 10 ½ ounce can cream of mushroom soup
1 – 10 ounce can red enchilada sauce – mild
1 – 4 ounce can green chilies – mild
8 ounces (2 cups) cheddar cheese – shredded
1 pkg. corn tortillas – cut into small pieces (about 15 tortillas)
When do you add cream of mushroom soup and the onion and the green chili ? Would this work in chicken instead of ground beef. ?.
At the beginning I bet.
Decided to use hamburger instead of chicken and added pinto beans !
I’m extremely lactose intolerant but I’m going to try and make this tonight with out the cheese. Hopefully it turns out still!
Could you use a dairy-free cheese? Maybe next time?
Simple and delishious . I’ve been professional cook for 10 years , and I love these slow cooker entrees . Made this tonight , added jalapenos, black beans . You literally can sub out anything and add your own twist based in taste … Thanks for sharing
This is a big batch!! Can you freeze some after it is initially cooked?
Yes, that will work fine.
Do you mean “El Paso” enchilada sauce?
No, there are both kinds. Though I rarely see el pato anymore.
What’s the name brand called when you use the tortilla
Corn tortillas? In my area the brand is Mission.