Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas are a wonderful dinner for a weeknight. Creamy chicken enchiladas are perfect when you have some leftover cooked chicken, like a rotisserie chicken. These golden brown creamy enchiladas aren’t too spicy and perfect for the whole family. They are a family favorite around my house! This easy recipe will soon go into your recipe rotation!

four cream cheese chicken enchiladas and sauce on a plate


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Easy Chicken Enchiladas with Cream Cheese

Fabulous for a quick weeknight dinner, cream cheese chicken enchiladas are delicious, easy to make, and perfect for making the most of leftover cooked chicken from a rotisserie chicken or other recipe. They’re perfect for the whole family with a creamy filling and not too much spice.

What Makes Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas the Perfect Way to Use Leftover Chicken

Who doesn’t love Mexican food? There’s no need to wait for Taco Tuesday to make this delicious, family-friendly recipe.  

Most home cooks have found themselves with some extra cooked chicken from a meal prep, grilling session, or larger rotisserie chicken from the grocery store or Costco. You can do plenty with this versatile protein, but few options are as easy and delicious as cream cheese enchiladas.  

They’re packed with robust Mexican flavor but still mild enough to be enjoyed by people who don’t do spicy food. Even better, they store and reheat well both pre- and post-baking, making it a great candidate for a make-ahead meal. 

Why This is the Best Recipe for Cream Cheese Enchiladas

Convenience is one of the top factors for many busy people, and this recipe is among the best on that front. These cream cheese enchiladas require just 15 minutes of active prep time and 30 minutes in the oven, getting dinner on the table in under an hour.

Using pre-cooked chicken means the enchiladas need less time in the oven, just enough to warm and melt the cheese. Meanwhile, canned enchilada sauce saves even more time while delivering a dose of savory Mexican flavor.

Depending on the flavor you’re looking for, you can use either red or green enchilada sauce — or even both for a “Christmas-style” presentation often seen in New Mexico. 

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchilada Ingredients

Here is what you need to make the enchiladas:

  • Pre-cooked chicken – rotisserie, chicken breasts, or other unbreaded pieces
  • Cream cheese
  • Sour Cream
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Onion
  • Chili powder
  • Cumin
  • Green chiles
  • Tortillas
  • Red or green enchilada sauce
cream cheese chicken enchiladas ingredients

Is it better to use flour or corn tortillas for enchiladas?

While flour tortillas are easier to work with and hold together better, the recipe can be made gluten-free by replacing them with corn tortillas. Corn tortillas are more traditional to Mexican cuisine, too.  

Ingredient Substitutions

Chicken breasts are ideal for this recipe but can be easily replaced with chicken thighs or meat pulled off legs and wings.

This recipe has a mild spice level from the chili powder and canned green chiles. However, those looking for more heat can add cayenne pepper or fresh or pickled peppers, like jalapenos, serranos, or even habaneros, to the enchilada filling. 

How to Make Enchiladas with Cream Cheese Chicken

Click on the recipe card to receive the full instructions and quantities of ingredients you will need.

First, make the filling:

  1. In a large skillet, stir together the chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, onion, green chiles, and seasonings.
  2. Heat over medium heat until the cheese has melted and the mixture is creamy.
cream cheese chicken enchiladas filling mixture in a skillet

Next, assemble the enchiladas: 

  1. Place a heaping scoop of filling on a tortilla.
  2. Roll it up tightly to secure it, but not tight enough to squeeze out the filling.
  3. Place seam side down in a baking dish coated with cooking spray.
  4. Repeat until the baking dish is filled.
cream cheese enchiladas in a baking dish
  1. Pour the enchilada sauce over top of the rolled tortillas. Cover them entirely, but don’t overdo it and make soup.
  2. Top the dish with the remaining cheddar cheese.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes.
four cream cheese chicken enchiladas topped with sauce on a plate

Recipe Variations

One of the ways this chicken enchilada recipe really shines is the ability to modify it in countless ways for taste or convenience.

While chicken is common, any lightly flavored cooked protein that can be shredded or diced can generally be substituted if chicken isn’t available. 

Meanwhile, you can also swap out the cheddar cheese for Monterey jack cheese or pepper jack, which provide a bit more kick and exotic flavor to your enchiladas.

For freshness, sprinkle some chopped green onions or fresh cilantro before serving. Sour cream also complements the creamy filling perfectly.  

How to Keep Flour Tortillas from Getting Soggy when Making Enchiladas

There’s no denying that enchiladas can sometimes get a little soggy if you’re not careful. To avoid this, heat tortillas in a skillet until they puff and take on a little color before using them to roll the enchiladas. This prevents them from absorbing as much sauce. Warmed tortillas are also more pliable and easy to roll.

Another way to avoid sogginess is to use a lighter sauce pour, saving any extra for dipping or dressing your enchiladas later.

What to Serve with Chicken Enchiladas

Mexican food is wonderfully versatile, meaning there are plenty of mouth-watering sides to pair with your enchiladas. A serving of refried beans is tasty and filling, not to mention easy to whip up. For a lighter side, try Chipotle cilantro lime rice or Mexican rice, just like you’d find in your favorite burritos or bowls.

If you’re looking for something heartier, why not make a batch of chile verde, a Southwestern-inspired stew bursting with flavor?

How to Store Leftovers

After cooling, cream cheese enchiladas can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They’re best enjoyed within three to four days.

Unbaked, unsourced enchiladas can also be stored similarly for several days, allowing you to whip them out, top them with sauce and cheese, and bake them for an ultra-quick meal. 

How to Freeze

Unsauced enchiladas can also be frozen for long-term storage and convenience. They should be individually wrapped in foil or plastic and frozen in an airtight container or freezer bag. They’ll last up to three months frozen. 

How to Reheat

If your cream cheese enchiladas are frozen, defrost them in the fridge overnight before cooking. For the best texture, reheat your enchiladas in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

They can also be heated in a microwave in 1-2 minute cycles. 

cream cheese chicken enchiladas with sauce on a plate

Are you looking for more Mexican Goodness? Try these recipes!

More Easy Chicken Recipes

Be sure to look at more of the best Mexican recipes and easy chicken dinners.

Thanks to Julie Doellingen for the inspiration for this recipe.

four cream cheese chicken enchiladas and sauce on a plate

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

These chicken enchiladas with cream cheese and sour cream are an easy dinner to make and sure to be a family favorite.
5 from 61 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Chicken Recipes, Enchiladas
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 530kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pre-cooked rotisserie chicken
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 ounces green chilies
  • 10 tortillas
  • 20 ounces red or green enchilada sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • De-bone chicken, and shred chicken into small pieces, if you don't have a rotisserie chicken you can use 3 to 4 cooked chicken breasts.
  • In a large skillet, combine chicken, cream cheese cubes, sour cream, chilies, chopped onion, seasonings, and 3/4 cup cheddar cheese. Heat until the cheeses are completely melted. 
  • Coat baking pan with cooking spray. Scoop a heaping spoonful of chicken mixture onto tortilla, roll, and place it into the pan with seam side down.
  • Repeat until all of the filling is used. Pour enchilada sauce over the rolled tortillas.
  • Sprinkle remaining cheese on top of enchiladas and bake at 350 uncovered for 20-25 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 1432mg | Potassium: 248mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1230IU | Vitamin C: 3.7mg | Calcium: 279mg | Iron: 3.5mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. T

    5 stars
    Hello! I love love love these enchiladas! I had a question. I’ve never made them ahead of time. I’m making for somebody else and going to give them instructions on how long to bake. I know the filling inside will be colder than when you do bake right away. What do you suggest on baking and timing?

  2. Jodi

    5 stars
    I’ve made this twice now and first time didn’t follow blistering the flour tortillas first
    They were good but didn’t like the soggy flour tortillas

    Tonight I did and Game Changer ❤️

    They were delicious and not soggy at all

    Sooooo good

    Served with Mexican rice, homemade salsa and a margarita

    Keeping this one in my circular file

    So delicious

  3. Pamela Young

    I made only slight changes with what we had here and added a little spice. We get the package of pulled chicken from Costco and use for almost every chicken dish. I also heat the tortillas in the skillet so they don’t get soggy. You have the best recipes and attitude in that you don’t mind any changes! Love it!

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