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Chicken Enchiladas

Photo: Daniel Meyer

BY Mark Bittman

PUBLISHED February 19, 2024

This is a classic taqueria dish that is even better when made at home. Although the preparation takes some time, enchiladas are delicious and fun for parties or potlucks. You can fill and roll the tortillas ahead of time and then top with the sauce and cheese and bake immediately before serving.

 

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If you’re interested in learning how make these enchiladas with the addition of a “crispy cheese skirt,” check this out.

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Chicken Enchiladas

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Makes 8–12 servings 1x

Time 1 hour

Units Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup corn, grapeseed, or other neutral oil
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 onion, peeled and quartered
  • 4 tomatoes, cored and quartered
  • 6 dried mild chiles, like guajillo or California, stemmed and seeded
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin, plus more to taste
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 quart chicken stock
  • About 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
  • 24 small corn tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and chiles and cook until the tomato juices are released and the chiles are soft, about 5 minutes. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper.
  2. Transfer this mixture to a blender and blend until smooth, adding sufficient chicken stock to make a loose but still creamy mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning. Moisten the chicken with about half of the sauce, or enough to make it pasty.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a deep skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the tortillas, one at a time, until softened and pliable, about 10 seconds. Drain on paper towels.
  4. Line 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla, roll tightly, and put in a large baking dish. The rolls should be placed snugly against one another. Pour the remaining sauce over, top with the cheese, and bake for about 25 minutes, or until heated through. Serve hot.

— Recipe from The Best Recipes in the World

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