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! Want an even easier recipe? Try my lazy enchilada recipe that is made with taquitos or try my vegetarian crockpot enchiladas.
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. If you love green sauce, try my sour cream chicken enchilada casserole.
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
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:
Sarah’s 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.
Bee says
This was so delicious and easy to make. Turned out perfectly. I combined mild and spicey enchilada sauce to give it a little more kick.
Patty says
I’m not sure I had enough chicken. I used one of the enchilada sauce brands you mentioned. It was too strong. I’d appreciate ideas on what I can add to tone it down.
Sarah Olson says
Serve it with sour cream on top or with sides such as refried beans and rice.
Alice says
Receipe was super easy to put
Together however the recipe says it takes “8hrs to cook” in the directions it says 40mins which is spot on. I pan fried my corn tortillas in oil first because I like the flavor that comes out better. Straight from the package they are brittle and not much corn flavor for me. I cut up a store bought rotisserie chicken, easy! I like this recipe for sure! Thank you
Katherine says
I have some leftover flour tortillas. Can I use those instead of the corn tortillas?
Sarah Olson says
Flour tortillas seem to get gummy in enchiladas sometimes, just an FYI. Though some of my audience does use them.
Bruce says
just made this and made my own enchilada sauce. suggest cooking chicken in sauce only about 3 hours on low, still very easy to shred, as cooking on high will probably burn your sauce. ( was starting to discolor after 3.5 hours). But I did like it.
D Anderson says
I was skeptical about this recipe’s high ratings but really wanted to find an easy Mexican dinner to feed a large hungry group one night during the holidays. I made this dish exactly as written and it was DELICIOUS!! I’ll double the recipe for my houseguests and I’m sure they’ll love it. Absolutely a five-star meal.
Daloy Rebecca says
Can I use a bag of already shredded cheese?
Sarah Olson says
Yes, that will work great.
Rebekah A Schweizer says
Not trying to be mean, but this tasted horrible. I followed the recipe. It just didn’t taste right.
Maybe the brands I chose weren’t great, don’t know, but I’m not going to make this again,
My husband couldn’t even eat it.
Anonymous says
I think maybe it was the brands you used. I’ve made it many times and we love it. I add double the cheese and a 1/4 cup diced onions because I love cheese and onion enchiladas. Turns out great. Buy the best enchilada sauce, not the cheap one. Makes a big difference. Try it with cooked, seasoned ground beef. Tastes like an Enchirito!
Didi says
Would the cook time in the crockpot be the same if browned ground beef is used? Thanks!
Sarah Olson says
You can cut the time in half for sure.
Alice says
Ah. Maybe just palate tastes. You gotta like Mexican style flavored food, this receipe is a winner Try again
Jennie says
If you use more chicken, can you just add less corn tortillas?
Sarah Olson says
Yes!
Cat says
How much does this make, enough for 6 aduls?
Sarah Olson says
Yes, for sure. I usually serve with mexican rice or a salad, and chips and salsa.
Julia S says
We loved it! I did add……one small can of diced jalapeños, one can of diced tomatoes with diced green chilis, 1/2 cup yellow onion,1 teaspoon each of cumin, garlic, salt, pepper. Then at the end, one can drained black beans (for more fiber.) I also used skinless chicken thighs. We couldn’t stop eating it!! Thank you for this recipe!
Anonymous says
But you basically changed the entire recipe. Not the same at all.
Ric says
That sounds good and better.
Leigh says
Delicious and easy. Family loves this.