Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole


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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.

enchilada casserole with olives on top and metal spoon in it.
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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

ingredients for enchilada casserole in front of slow cooker.
  • Enchilada sauce
  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Corn tortillas cut into strips
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Black olives
4 photo collage of how to cook chicken in enchilada sauce

Step-by-Step Directions

  1. Add chicken breasts to the slow cooker.
  2. 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).
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.
  4. Shred the meat with 2 forks.
2 photo collage of corn torillas

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.
2 photo collage of enchilada casserole being assembled

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.
finished cooking enchilada casserole in slow cooker

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.

bowl of enchilada casserole

More of my favorite slow cooker chicken recipes:

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close up of enchilada casserole

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole

4.60 from 204 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours 40 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8
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.

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

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 enchilada sauce?
If you choose to use green enchilada sauce note that it is runnier than red and you may need to use more tortillas. 
Can I use flour tortillas?
Flour tortillas can be used but the casserole may turn out soggy. I recommend corn tortillas if you have them.
What should I serve with 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
  • 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

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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Recipe Rating




809 Comments

  1. Veronica says:

    We need to be dairy free now. Can I omit the cheese? Or is there something I can substitute for the cheese? Thank you (:

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Have you tried vegan cheese? Or maybe top with vegan sour cream.

  2. LaNell says:

    5 stars
    Family favorite

  3. John Bertolet says:

    5 stars
    Made this about 3 or 4 months ago. It was fantastic, we both loved it. Chicken is cooking right now for tonight’s dinner. Can’t wait to have it again. So good!!! I slow cook the chicken…

  4. Shelly says:

    Could I make this without the Tortillas? Would it still be made the same? I’d probably put it in a Tortilla after it’s made and eat it like that. I prefer flour Tortillas but don’t want it to be doughy.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes! It will still be good, pretty saucy but good.

  5. Chelsea Simmons says:

    5 stars
    I make this all the time and it’s a family favorite! I usually always use fresh chicken but do I need to adjust the cook time if using frozen chicken?

  6. Lara says:

    5 stars
    I made this with three different brands of red sauce, added chili’s, red wine, garlic and white onions. I also added pepper and oregano. Yum!!!

  7. Vanessa says:

    4 stars
    Hi. If I make this without meat, how long do you recommend putting it in the slow cooker for? Thank you

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Maybe 1.5 hours on high? Then add the tortillas.

    2. Morgan says:

      I would mix all ingredients together at first along with some poblano peppers, cooked beans, and onion and cook for like 2 hours. Maybe some rice too. Then top with some avocado?

      You could also make it without the tortillas and turn it into a dip!

  8. Jayne says:

    If I wanted to add onion for the flavor not necessarily texture, would I do that in the begining with the sauce or later when i add other ingredients?

    1. Jayne says:

      I forgot to add I’ve made this before and my family loves it! Such an easy and delicious recipe ❤️

    2. Chantal says:

      I would do it in the beginning to grab flavor, if not you could also sauté them and then put them in. I just did that and it was yummy

  9. Patricia says:

    5 stars
    Made this more than a few times, always amazing. I tried adding green chiles, not a good idea. I top with sour cream ,add Spanish rice to make an excellent meal.

    1. William says:

      5 stars
      I take a recipe base and twist, add different things . Always experimenting. Example, I added pinto beans, ranch beans, jarred green chili.. costco.. half can roasted tomatoes, green salsa in lieu of enchilada sauce..what I had on hand. Left over bbq meat, quesadilla cheese, cheddar cheese jarred slice jalapeños , few sprinkles of cumin
      and the tortillas . Cooked about 3 to 4 hrs on low setting and done. Yummy. Kinds like a enchilada burrito casserole. Yummy. The trick is to get creative. Add green onions, sour cream , rice, cut up tomatoes, avocado slices. All good.

  10. Mommabear says:

    1 star
    Not very good alone. But fan of chicken enchiladas but this is really missing something. Will use what wasn’t eaten for chicken pulled sandwiches. Very disappointed

    1. Raylene says:

      This was not very good,and I did exactly according to directions.