Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole is the easiest one-pot recipe you will find for enchiladas. Made with tender chicken and plenty of cheese.
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:
- Enchilada sauce
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Corn tortillas cut into strips
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Black olives
- Add chicken breasts to the slow cooker.
- Pour over a large can of red enchilada sauce. (DO NOT ADD THE REST OF THE INGREDIENTS YET. The first step is only the chicken and sauce).
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.
- Shred the meat with 2 forks.
What kind of tortillas do I use?
- Use corn tortillas for this recipe cut into strips (see photo above). These are not chips, these are tortillas that are soft.
- Flour tortillas will make this dish doughy.
- Though, if you accidently buy tortilla chips, I’ve had many reviews that they work fine. They soften up in the casserole.
How to assemble the casserole:
- 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!
Can I use a different kind of meat?
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – These work great if you love dark meat.
- Ground beef – One of the most popular questions I get asked is if ground beef can be used. The time can be cut in half if cooked ground beef is used.
- Cubed beef stew meat – The is great if you love beef enchiladas and the beef flavors the enchilada sauce very well.
- Pre-cooked chicken or turkey – If you only have cooked chicken or turkey you still can make this recipe. Cut the initial cooking time in half. Rotisserie chicken works great in this recipe.
Can I use green sauce?
- Green enchilada sauce can be substituted.
- Though the consistency of the sauce will be more liquidly and make the enchiladas soggy.
What to serve with Chicken Enchilada Casserole:
- This meal I OFTEN make with NO SIDES! Yes, it’s that good on it’s own. If you are making this for a party or crowd make a side or two.
- Spanish Rice – This is my go to recipe from Lil’ Luna.
- Refried Pinto Beans – You can make these in another slow cooker or in the instant pot.
- Sour cream – A small dollop on top goes a long way.
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
A true one pot meal. The chicken and enchilada sauce is cooked all day in the slow cooker then the casserole fixings are stirred in.
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Servings: 8
Calories: 398kcal
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless raw chicken breasts (don't use any more than 1.5 pounds, the casserole will seem dry if you do).
- 28 oz. can Red Enchilada Sauce I use El Pato Brand or Los Palmas
Add these items at the end:
- 10 corn tortillas I use a 10-12 oz. package of soft corn tortillas.
- 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 6-8 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)
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
Can I use a different kind of meat?
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – These work great if you love dark meat.
- Ground beef – One of the most popular questions I get asked is if ground beef can be used. The time can be cut in half if cooked ground beef is used.
- Cubed beef stew meat – The is great if you love beef enchiladas and the beef flavors the enchilada sauce very well.
- Pre-cooked chicken or turkey – If you only have cooked chicken or turkey you still can make this recipe. Cut the initial cooking time in half. Rotisserie chicken works great in this recipe.
- This meal I OFTEN make with NO SIDES! Yes, it’s that good on it’s own. If you are making this for a party or crowd make a side or two.
- Spanish Rice
- Refried Pinto Beans
- Sour cream – A small dollop on top goes a long way.
Nutrition:
Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 1446mg | Potassium: 422mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1165IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 343mg | Iron: 2mg
Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker
Going to try this recipe today for Cinco de Mayo!
Great choice!
Can you use the chicken breast frozen or do you have to thaw before putting in the crock pot?
Hi, I only use thawed for some studies suggest that cooking from frozen isn’t safe.
I have changed it with Green Enchilada sauce ad it is wonderful with both. Hubby Likes the green better,
Can’t wait to make it but can you tell me what size a serving is – It says 398 cal per serving how many ounces or cups is a serving ?:-)
Hi, I do not figure that out for you. I apologize.
Haven’t made it yet but soon, I will add a half of onion diced, a small can green Chile’s, a can of Mexican dice tomatoes and a little more cheese.
Made this today. Easy/tasty comfort food. I added a diced onion, recipe REALLY needed the onion. Also added diced Rotel tomatoes, and a diced jalapeño.
Pairs well with Lemon Zinger iced tea and an episode of City on the Hill.
I made this yesterday and we loved it – even the kids and their friends gobbled it up. It was so tasty and easy! I used the hot enchilada sauce (it was spicy!!) and added a small can of diced green chili’s with the black olives. I served it in a bowl with sour cream and over a handful of Frito corn chips for a nice crunch. There is so much you can do with this, can’t wait to make it again!
Made a few small changes. Added whole corn. diced onions, green bell pepper and can of chillies. We don’t like corn tortillas so instead cubed flour tortillas which we mixed into our individual bowls. Turned out delicious.
This sounds amazing and easy. Going to try it tomorrow. Thanks!
My wife shared this on Facebook and tagged me so I made it for her. She loved if and so did I. I did add 1/2 of an onion I had in the fridge and sprinkled green onions on top, but I could tell it would have been fantastic without the changes. Way too much for two people, but I in the comment we can freeze it. This will be one of my party dishes in future as well as a meal for us. One quick tip have some corn tortillas softened to sop up the juices at the end.
So glad you liked it!
Found this a little bland – flavors were all there, but lacked that nice Mexican food zing. I added diced onions to the slow cooking chicken in sauce. Then I added a small can of diced Ortega chilis along with the cheese and olives at the finish. If we were spice lovers, jalapenos (either fresh or canned) would be a good addition for that zing.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
Yes, that will work great.