Easy Chicken Skillet Enchiladas

Who doesn’t love a good enchilada? Make those enchiladas a skillet recipe that uses up leftover chicken, only dirties a single pan, and is ready in about 30 minutes, and you have a weeknight meal with Friday night appeal!

Start With Leftover Chicken

I roast a whole chicken almost every week. It’s easy to do. I repurpose the bones for stock and the leftover meat for the next day’s dinner.

In the winter, it’s often chicken noodle soup, but as the weather warms, I want less time at the stove and something I can eat with a fork! This easy skillet enchilada recipe hits the mark every time.

You may not have leftover chicken laying around. No worries! Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket or quickly poach those chicken breasts hanging out in the fridge.

A Word About Cheese

This recipe calls for cotija cheese, a dry, crumbly, salty Mexican cheese, but feel free to use what you enjoy and what you can find. I'm partial to both cotija and queso fresco, which is similar to cotija in that it likes to crumble, but it's a younger cheese and has more moisture in it. Both are salty and I love them.

If you can't find either cheese, or if for you an enchilada isn't an enchilada unless it's dripping in ooey, gooey, melty cheddar cheese, who am I to judge? Feel free to substitute shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese for the cotija. If you do sub the cheeses out, you might want to add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of salt to your sauce.

What’s in Enchilada Sauce

Traditional sauces are usually made with pureed rehydrated chilis and tomatoes, but for mine, I wanted to forego the blender and use what I have readily available in my spice drawer and pantry.

The ingredients are simple: onion and garlic, mild green chilis, tomato sauce, and a trio of spices. That’s it!

How to Roll Enchiladas

It’s common to dip tortillas in the enchilada sauce, fry them, then fill them. For this recipe, I simplified the steps.

Flour tortillas are more pliable than corn, which gives me the flexibility to skip the dip-and-fry method. I like this because I save on dishes, time, and calories from oil. (Although, I typically just consume the calories via this simple margarita recipe. It’s all about balance, right?)

To assemble each enchilada, just put the chicken, cheese, and a little sauce down the center of the tortilla, fold in the sides, roll it up and place it seam side down in the pan!

If you’re partial to corn tortillas and want to use them for this recipe, wrap them in damp paper towels and heat them briefly in the microwave just long enough to make them pliable (30 to 45 seconds). Work with one at a time, keeping the rest covered in the paper towels. Don’t fold in the sides before you roll them.

What Is the Best Pan to Use?

You want a 12-inch skillet with high sides to make this dish.

Enchilada Variations

Not into chicken? Feel free to add a little chili powder to leftover ground beef, steak, or beans. Have loads of leftover roasted vegetables? Add them to the chicken, or make the meal vegetarian and replace all the meat.

What to Serve With Enchiladas

So many things go with enchiladas. Did I mention margaritas? You can always opt for a classic margarita or mix it up a bit with blueberry margaritas!

Oh, you wanted food recommendations. No problem! I’m here to help! Enchiladas go great with refried black beans or these spicy citrus beans! If you love cilantro, try this flavorful and fragrant cilantro lime rice.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

These enchiladas will keep in the fridge for up to four days, or you can portion them out and freeze them for up to three months. Take an enchilada to work and just zap it in the microwave.

If you’re looking for a freezer meal, this is a great one to double, cook, freeze, and reheat. Just let the whole pan cool to room temp. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container. When ready to eat, reheat them in a microwave or transfer them to a baking dish, covered in aluminum foil, and bake at 350°F for an hour.

Enchiladas All Day Every Day!

• Red Chili Chicken Enchiladas are baked to perfection!
• The humble, but spectacular, tomatillo makes these Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas a weeknight show stopper!
• Swap out chicken and make these Turkey Black Bean Enchiladas!
• Looking for a vegetarian enchilada? Look no further and enjoy this Tex-Mex Cheese version!