Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas are a quick and easy dinner smothered with a delicious sour cream sauce. Perfect for a family dinner that you can prepare in under 30 minutes.
It’s amazing how just a little cream and cheese can turn a so-so dish into a spectacular one. This white chicken enchiladas recipe made with rotisserie chicken and then covered in a cheesy sour cream sauce is one of our favorite ways to make enchiladas. Not your traditional enchilada recipe because there’s no red enchilada sauce. That doesn’t mean they’re not packed with flavor.
White chicken enchiladas have a bit of heavy cream. You can always cut back on the fat and use whole milk but you’ll need some fat to get a creamy sauce.
I love spicy food so I used a jalapeño and serrano pepper for some heat and pepper jack cheese on top at the end to give it even more spice. This can easily be adapted by using Monterey Jack cheese and leaving out the peppers. Your sauce will still be awesome.
Why you’ll love chicken enchiladas with a sour cream sauce
- This meal won’t disappoint – there’s so much flavor in this homemade sour cream sauce that you’ll make extra just so you can eat leftovers the next day
- It doesn’t take long to make a homemade sauce with a bechamel base
- For those spicy food lovers, this white sauce combines some heat with a creamy sauce. It can easily be tamed down for those who need it less spicy.
What you’ll need
- Cooked chicken – either use rotisserie chicken or cook some chicken breasts in the oven, it’s super easy and only takes about 30 minutes. For busy nights, I’ll use a rotisserie chicken.
- Onion – white or yellow adds lots of flavor.
- Jalapeno – if you want the flavor without too much spice, leave out the seeds.
- Serrano – for an extra kick, this is totally optional. A serrano pepper is 2-4 times as hot as a jalapeno.
- Heavy cream – this will make the sauce very creamy, you can substitute with half-and-half or use whole milk.
- Sour cream – this adds a slight tangy taste to the sauce.
- Pepper jack cheese – I love this Monterrey jack cheese laced with peppers. If making it mild, use regular Monterrey jack cheese instead.
- Pantry staples – chicken broth, butter, flour, olive oil, salt and pepper
How do you make white chicken enchiladas
First, start by sautéing the onions and peppers together. Then add rotisserie chicken with a little chicken broth and some sour cream.
Second, in a separate skillet make a béchamel sauce by combining butter, flour and chicken broth. When thickened you’ll add some cream, cheese and sour cream.
Third, assemble the tortillas and pour the sauce over the top. Add a bit more cheese and bake.
Pro tip: Both corn and flour tortillas work well in this recipe so select your favorite. Microwave the tortillas wrapped in a damp paper towel for a few seconds to make them easier to roll.
Recipe notes
- Cilantro chopped and sprinkled on top of the enchiladas as they come out of the oven make a delicious addition to the sauce.
- Black beans can be added into the chicken mixture for additional protein.
- Pulled pork can be used in place of chicken.
- A can of diced green chiles can be used if you don’t have fresh jalapenos or a serrano on hand.
- Try topping with some salsa.
Every time I pull out this recipe, everyone is always asking why I don’t make these more often. The sauce is so good, you’ll want to lick the pan.
FAQs and tips
Enchiladas are traditionally a corn filled tortilla with a filling mixture of meat, maybe some veggies or beans and cheese and are smothered with a red enchilada sauce. This version uses a flour tortilla, but will still work with corn.
Red sauce in traditional enchiladas is a mix of red chiles and chili powder along with tomato paste. Fresh ingredients like onion, garlic, oregano also flavor the sauce. This white sauce begins with a basic bechamel sauce of flour and butter, then adding in broth, sour cream and heavy cream and cheese. Both sauces are delicious but are very different.
The serrano pepper is typically 2-4x hotter than a jalapeno pepper. If you love spicy foods, you’ll enjoy the combination of the peppers. If you enjoy some spice, but would prefer to pare it back, stick with a jalapeno.
Yes, the baked enchiladas will freeze so make a a double batch so you can prepare one dish for dinner and another to freeze for another day. Just let it thaw and bake covered in aluminum foil in a 350º oven for about 10 minutes.
You can make this sauce into a dip, or just serve the enchiladas with some chips and scoop up any left over sauce.
If you love enchiladas, you might also like:
If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.
White Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
Ingredients
FILLING
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 jalapeno diced
- 1 serrano diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cups cooked chicken shredded
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sour cream
- salt and pepepr
SAUCE
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces pepper jack cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 10 tortillas
Instructions
- FILLING: In a large skillet, sauté onion and peppers in olive oil until the onion is translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add cooked shredded chicken, ½ cup chicken broth and ½ cup cream. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for a few minutes until the liquid has been absorbed. Set aside.
- SAUCE: In a separate skillet, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add flour and whisk constantly for about 1 minute until smooth. Gently pour in chicken broth, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened, 1-2 minutes. Add cream and ½ of the cheese. Stir in sour cream.
- Warm tortillas in microwave for 10 seconds until warm. Place chicken mixture on the tortilla, add a little cheese and roll up. Place in glass baking dish seam side down. Pour sauce over the top and sprinkle with more cheese if desired.
- Bake for 20 minutes at 350º or until slightly browned and bubbly.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- Use either corn or flour tortillas. You can substitute the pepper jack cheese for monterey jack cheese.
- Cilantro chopped and sprinkled on top of the enchiladas as they come out of the oven make a delicious addition to the sauce.
- Black beans can be added into the chicken mixture for additional protein.
- Pulled pork or ground turkey can be used in place of chicken.
- A can of diced green chiles can be used if you don’t have fresh jalapenos or a serrano on hand.
Nutrition
Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage
on Instagram!
Leave a Reply