Easy Recipe for Chicken Enchiladas - Gluten + Dairy-Free - clean cuisine (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good enchiladas? ›

The most important tip for avoiding soggy enchiladas is to briefly fry your tortillas in hot oil before you fill and roll. This creates a little bit of a barrier so that the tortillas don't soak up too much of the sauce and therefore start to break down.

For enchiladas, I always use corn tortillas, as I find that their texture and heartier flavor goes better with the complexity.

There are several brands of enchilada sauce that is certified gluten-free. For red enchilada sauces, Frontera's, Sky Valley, Siete, and Hatch all have certified gluten free enchilada sauces. As for green enchilada sauces, Sprout's, Siete, La Preferida, and Hatch, all have some good options as well.

Preparation Instructions

Leave enchiladas wrapped in film and poke holes to ventilate. Place tray in microwave and heat on high for 3 1/2 minutes. Let sit 1 minute. Enjoy!

While some recipes use flour tortillas, corn tortillas are traditional — and for good reason — are the better option for enchiladas. Corn tortillas have a distinct flavor that plays a key part of the enchilada experience, compared to flour tortillas, which are more like a blank slate.

Monterey Jack is a mild, creamy cheese that melts easily and adds a smooth texture to the enchiladas.

Arrange enchiladas, seam-side down, in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with taco sauce and remaining 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool briefly before serving.

Corn tortillas are traditional for enchiladas, but flour tortillas also work. Choose 7- or 8-inch flour tortillas or 6-inch corn tortillas—they fit best in most pans. Recipes vary, but for a 3-quart rectangular casserole dish, you will need about eight flour or corn tortillas.

In Mexico, before anything else, corn tortillas are quickly fried until they just start to crisp up and take on a little bit of color. Only then are they filled and rolled into enchiladas. The quick fry does a couple of things.

Refried beans are naturally gluten-free, and two major brands (Old El Paso and Rosarita) are both considered to be gluten-free. It is still a good idea to check the label (no matter what brand you are buying) as refried beans could have flavorings that include gluten or manufacturers production methods could change.

Are real good chicken enchiladas gluten-free? ›

– “We are 100% gluten and grain free and use only REAL food to provide low-carb, delicious options for any occasion. Everything has less than 12g net carbs per serving, are high in protein, low in sugar, and made with real food ingredients.” – “All of our Foods are Certified Gluten Free.”

Shredded cheese is usually gluten-free. Some may contain starch or cellulose to prevent the shreds from sticking together. However the starches/cellulose used in shredded cheese typically don't contain gluten. Often potato starch is used, which is gluten-free.

Step 1: Make 10 minute homemade red enchilada sauce using fridge and pantry staples. Step 2: Sprinkle shredded Mexican blend cheese into the centers of corn tortillas then roll and place inside a casserole dish. Step 3: Cover with red sauce then bake.

The Best Enchilada Sauce

It comes from a combination of dried spices, which are sautéed in oil to bring out their best, and umami-rich tomato paste. The cinnamon is optional since some people just don't like it in savory applications, but just a pinch adds some lovely warmth and complexity.

Cover with foil. Bake 15 minutes remove foil. Continue baking 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with cilantro and sour cream.

Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until hot.

To make your canned enchilada sauce taste homemade, grab some butter, a little flour, and some chicken stock. This trifecta of ingredients infuses a canned enchilada sauce with a satisfyingly thick texture and a rich, savory flavor.