Our crockpot chicken enchiladas casserole is a chicken enchilada recipe packed with simple ingredients including raw chicken breasts, black beans, corn, and lots of cheesy goodness! It’s Mexican food with delicious flavor that is a great option for taco Tuesday or busy weeknights that the whole family will love! Enchilada chicken is the easiest one-pot recipe that can be assembled in the morning and cooks all day -with only 5 minutes of prep time.
Slow cooker chicken enchiladas are the ultimate easy crockpot meal after a long day at work. It not only simplifies dinner time, but provides the easiest way to serve a nutritious and flavorful meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
This comfort food makes a regular appearance in our house as it can be prepped in under 5 minutes and uses ingredient staples.
Plus, a single recipe is 8 servings making this a great meal prep recipe. We often reheat leftovers for a delicious meal the next night as is or turn them into an extra cheesy casserole by drizzling Velveeta Cheese Sauce Dip over the top.
If you enjoy the simplicity of easy slow cooker recipes, check out these easy meals: Crockpot Taco Casserole, Southwest Chicken Chili, and Crockpot Quinoa Chicken!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Easy slow cooker chicken enchiladas were created gluten-free by using the ingredients shown above. Always read the labels before purchasing an ingredient to ensure all are gluten-free (GF). Here are the ingredients to especially pay close attention to:
- Red enchilada sauce – By choosing different sauces you can create many different flavors of chicken enchiladas. Be mindful that flour is typically added to enchilada sauce as a thickener so check labels for GF. For loads of flavor you use a can of enchilada sauce, Hatch organic is a GF brand that doesn’t compromise on flavor. If time allows, you could make homemade enchilada sauce by checking out our Easy Enchilada Sauce recipe. You can swap red sauce for green enchilada sauce for a different flavor profile.
- Fire-roasted tomatoes – gluten-containing ingredients can be added to cans depending on the brand – Hunt’s is a tasty GF brand of fire-roasted tomatoes.
- Taco seasoning packet – taco packets can be a hidden source of gluten. Search for a GF taco packet or make a batch of homemade taco seasoning to use in this recipe and whenever taco seasoning is called for. You can also simply season using chili powder, garlic powder, kosher salt and black pepper.
- Shredded Mexican cheese – shredded cheese is often coated with taco seasoning, which may not be GF. Double-check the label before purchasing any variety of Mexican cheese. You can swap out Mexican cheese for Monterey Jack cheese or sharp cheddar cheese if you have these on hand.
What Chicken Works Best?
These easy crockpot chicken enchiladas offer versatility by allowing you to choose from various cuts of chicken. Whether you opt for boneless skinless chicken breasts as we did or boneless skinless chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken, or with little prep by using leftover shredded chicken, the flavors of this easy recipe remain consistent.
How To Make
To start this dinner recipe, place chicken breasts into the bottom of the slow cooker. You can spray the slow cooker with cooking spray if desired before placing the chicken in, but I’ve found that not to be necessary. Next add the enchilada sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes, green chiles, and taco seasoning to the slow cooker. Cover. You can choose to cook on high heat for 3-4 hours or on low/medium heat for 4-6 hours. You can stretch to 6-8 hours on low if you need extra time.
Once the cooking time is complete, gently lift the tender chicken from the slow cooker using tongs. Shred the chicken using either two forks or expedite the process by utilizing a KitchenAid mixer. Once shredded, add the chicken back to the slow cooker.
Add half of the shredded cheese into the chicken mixture, allowing it to blend with the savory juices. Add a boost of protein to the casserole with the addition of black beans or pinto beans, adding a delightful texture and earthy flavor profile. Sweet corn contributes a vibrant touch of color and sweetness.
If opting for a gluten-free version add the sliced GF tortillas or you can use corn tortillas. Finally, sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the top of the enchiladas. The last thing to do is secure the lid and allow the enchiladas to cook for an additional 20-30 minutes, until they are heated through and the flavors have melded together beautifully for a delicious meal. For extra creamy enchiladas, you can add a brick of cream cheese and then stir it into the tender meat mixture after the 20-30 minutes of cook time.
What To Serve With Enchiladas
While the cheese is melting, you can prep any desired sides to serve with this dish. There are nights when the best thing is to serve this recipe completely on its own but we like to have a few side dishes up our sleeve to serve with this hearty dish. Besides serving with white rice, here are a few favorites! Cilantro Lime Rice, Canned Corn Salad, Best Refried Beans Recipe, Gluten Free Mexican Rice Recipe, and The Best Guacamole.
You can also keep things simple by serving this recipe with your favorite toppings such as a squeeze of lime juice, salsa, sour cream, hot sauce, black olives, sliced jalapenos, diced tomatoes, red bell pepper, or shredded lettuce.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Sear the Chicken: Before placing the chicken in the slow cooker, consider searing it in a hot pan for a few minutes on each side. This adds an extra layer of flavor to the dish
Add Fresh Ingredients: While the fire-roasted tomatoes and green chilies add great flavor, consider adding some fresh ingredients like diced onions, garlic, or bell peppers for added texture and freshness.
Fresh Herbs: Add a handful of fresh cilantro or chopped green onions right before serving for a burst of freshness and color.
Garnish with Avocado: Serve the enchiladas with sliced avocados or a dollop of guacamole. The creamy texture will complement the dish well.
Adjust Cheese: If you’re a cheese lover, feel free to add more or experiment with different types of cheese. Pepperjack or a blend of cheeses can add an extra kick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Corn tortillas were used for this recipe as the gluten free alternative to flour. Flour tortillas also tend to make the casserole doughy once cooked making corn the best tortilla option. You could use tortilla chips crushed on top as a gluten-free alternative as well (choose a GF brand such as Tostitos).
For food safety concerns, it is not recommended to cook frozen chicken in a crockpot. We recommend thawing chicken overnight in the fridge to add to the slow cooker the next day.
Absolutely. The chicken breasts can be swapped with chicken thighs, ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey. If using ground meat, brown in a separate skillet before adding to the crockpot to prevent a mushy texture.
This recipe is able to be frozen and served at a later date. To freeze, let the casserole completely cool then pack in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Stick a Printable Freezer Meal Label on the outside of the container for an easy way to keep track of the use by date.
Storage Instructions
To store slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole, allow the dish to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Place the container in the refrigerator. Properly stored, the enchiladas can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
If you plan to keep them longer, consider freezing individual portions in freezer-safe container or resealable bags. To reheat, either microwave individual servings for a quick meal or place the frozen or refrigerated enchiladas in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, ensuring the cheese is melted and bubbly.
More Slow Cooker Dinners
- Crockpot Irish Beef Stew
- Easy Swedish Meatballs (Crockpot)
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken & Vegetables
- No Boil Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- Ranch Chicken Drumsticks Crockpot Recipe
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas Casserole
Equipment
- 2 forks
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts ✅
- 15 ounce red enchilada sauce ✅Hatch organic is gluten-free
- 14.5 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes ✅Hunt's is gluten-free
- 4.5 ounce green chiles ✅
- 1.25 ounce gluten-free taco seasoning packet
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained or pinto beans
- 1 cup frozen corn or canned
- 1 cup shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese ✅
- 6 small corn tortillas, cut into wedges or small gluten-free flour tortillas
Instructions
- Add chicken and seasonings to the crockpot. Add the chicken breasts, enchilada sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes, green chiles, and taco seasoning to the slow cooker. Cook for 4-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, 15 ounce red enchilada sauce, 14.5 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes, 4.5 ounce green chiles, 1.25 ounce gluten-free taco seasoning packet
- ⭐️Shred the chicken and add the rest of the ingredients. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken. Add 1/2 of the shredded cheese, black beans, corn, and tortillas. Top with the rest of the cheese and recover. Cook for an additional 20-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted.15 ounce can black beans, drained, 1 cup frozen corn, 6 small corn tortillas, cut into wedges, 1 cup shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese
Video
Notes
Tips
- The chicken breasts can be swapped with chicken thighs, ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey. If using ground meat, brown in a separate skillet before adding to the crockpot to prevent a mushy texture.
- To freeze, let the casserole completely cool then pack in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
- For food safety concerns, it is not recommended to cook frozen chicken in a crockpot. Thaw chicken overnight in the fridge to add to the slow cooker the next day.
- Serve with any desired side dish or topped with salsa, sour cream, hot sauce, black olives, sliced jalapenos, diced tomatoes or shredded lettuce.
Nutrition
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Juliana Chavez says
Made this for my hubby and I! We have tons of leftovers! It is absolutely delicious! I did do about 20 corn tortillas cause he loves tortillas! It taste absolutely amazing! 😋😋😋
Katherine says
This was absolutely delicious. I used the LOs to stuff some peppers! I will be making this again!
alicia says
i used rotisserie chicken instead and it was awesome.
CT says
Made this just in time for a week long freeze here in Texas. It held us over for about 3 days and we never got tired of eating it. I’d never heard of or tried this brand of enchilada sauce, but from now on it’s the only brand allowed in my home! It’s very authentic tasting even though it comes from a can 10/10 stars for this recipe. Only adjustments I made was preheating my crockpot, searing the chicken breast before adding to crockpot and I didn’t put the tortillas in, instead I browned them in the oven and cut them up like tortillas chips.
Settino says
Wondering if I could put the beans and corn in from the get-go. Is there a reason you wait until the end? Thanks!
Jodi Danen, RDN says
Hi Settino! Yes, you could go ahead and add them from the get-go if you’d prefer!
Rebekah says
I adore this recipe. I put the beans and corn in sooner, add 1 poblano, and cook it 6 hours until the chicken falls apart so I don’t have to shred it. It’s definitely a family favorite!
Amanda says
This recipe is sooo good!!! I made it tonight and everyone loved it! I added one diced jalapeno bc the store gave me one that I didn’t order so why not, right? I topped it with sour cream and a little guacamole and also air fried some fresh tortillas I cut into chips too. It was delicious! This will now be in my regaular meal rotation! Thanks for such a great new easy, affordable, delicious recipe!
Molly says
I love this recipe! It’s become a staple in our house. There have been many times where my chicken is frozen in the morning and I always debate putting it in frozen with everything else. Any idea if that might work?
Jodi Danen, RDN says
Hi Molly! I’m so happy you love the recipe as much as I do. The correct food safety response would be that you should not put frozen chicken into the crockpot. I will admit that I often do put frozen chicken into the crockpot though. To avoid food borne illness the chicken needs to go from the frozen state to 165°F in 4 hours. I find that the chicken always cooks through in this amount of time. I hope that is helpful?!
Ashely says
What is the serving size?
Jodi Danen, RDN says
The nutritional info for this recipe is based off 8 servings. It should be about a cup per serving. I hope you enjoy!