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.
How to make Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole:
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.
Ingredients
- Enchilada sauce
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Corn tortillas cut into strips
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Black olives
Step-by-Step Directions
- 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 Enhilada Pasta
- Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy
- Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie
- Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
- 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:
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:
- 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 Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Unfortunately the taste and texture of this are not good. Jt was so spicy my kids couldn’t eat it. I used the Sauce listed!
How many tortillas do u add? Making tonight.
10. Look at the weight of your tortilla package, you only need 10-12 ounces of tortillas total, every brand is different in size.
Can you use frozen chicken?
Can I add the tortilla in the beginning or would they over cook?
I think they would dissolve.
I never leave comments on blog recipes or anything but I just had to for this one. This meal blew my mind. So delicious! This will definitely be a regular meal going forward. Thank you!!!!!
We Love this recipe! Even my picky kids devour it. It’s the perfect meal and the leftovers store/freeze well.
It was easy to make, but for me, the flavor left something to be desired.
I might add cilantro and green onion prior to serving. Also add pinto beans in the layers.
I make it with cooked ground beef, haven’t tried it with chicken yet but will be. Actually, “it’s what’s for dinner…” And in it’s last 40 minutes as i type this! I had to come to rate 5 stars and comment on this amazing dinner! Like i saw another reply say… “Wow!” It’s a staple meal for us now, as well! The first bite was the most ultimate tastebud pleaser in a long time! Even my husband gives a high-5 to this delicious ness! Sour cream kicks it up a slight notch, but it’s perfection with or w/out it!
Kudos Sarah! There are several of your crockpot meals i can’t wait to make!
This was sooo good thank you ✌️
So easy and good! I used the Mexican cheese blend instead of just cheddar and served over Spanish rice.
Fantastic! Made with browned, drained ground beef. So easy and delicious. May never make regular, baked, enchiladad again. I have a meatless cheese enchilada recipe that has cottage cheese and onion in it. May try making that this way, too!
What is a normal serving size? I am watching my carbs intake per meal. Thank you
Hi! I’m unsure, I apologize.
So easy and delicious! Made for company and everybody loved it.
I noticed you don’t season the chicken prior to the slow cooker. Is there any particular reason?
Mostly because you wouldn’t be able to taste a thing over the enchilada sauce.
I didn’t realize I am iut if shredded cheese and have already started the cooker w my meat (cubed beef stew meat chunks) and enchilada sauce thru in some onions and baby carrots but yea realize I have no shredded cheese but do have block of Velveeta cheese and cans of campbells Fiesta nacho cheese and Campbell’s cheddar cheese in a can as well as a can of Rico’s gourmet nacho cheddar cheese sauce..can I or should I incorporate any of these options in this recipe..and I also used the packet of Frontera red chili enchilada sauce w roasted tomato & garlic that is only 8oz so I’m worried it won’t be enuf..what do you suggest?
I would add some of those that you have. It will be great. I would start with the velveeta.
Can chicken and sauce been cooked night before and add rest next day if making for a party
I’m unsure how it would turn out adding that tortillas then heating up in the slow cooker (would takes hours to reheat).
If ground beef is used does it need to be cooked before putting in the slow cooker?
I personally would and drain off the fat.