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Home » Slow Cooker

Published: Dec 23, 2022 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas

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Enchiladas are shown in a baking dish with the words Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Enchiladas are shown in a baking dish with the words Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Enchiladas are shown in a baking dish with the words Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Enchiladas are shown in a baking dish with the words Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Enchiladas are shown in a baking dish with the words Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Enchiladas are shown in a baking dish with the words Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Enchiladas are shown in a baking dish with the words Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Enchiladas are shown in a baking dish with the words Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.

These Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are spicy, tangy, cheesy, and delicious. Tender chicken, bold enchilada sauce, chewy tortillas, and rich, melty cheese combine to make a dish perfect for a weeknight meal or a gathering with friends!

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A baking dish full of chicken enchiladas is surrounded by cut limes, a halved avocado, and cilantro.

Why You'll Love This Dish

Chicken enchiladas are super flavorful. The red enchilada sauce has a spicy, tangy tomato base seasoned with cumin, coriander, chili powder, and oregano.

Adding lime juice to the shredded chicken adds just a hint more fresh flavor, and it's all topped with rich, melty cheese.

This enchilada recipe is easy to prepare! Most of the cook time can be spent doing something else thanks to the handy crock pot. Once the chicken is cooked, all you need to do is shred the chicken and assemble the enchiladas.

And if you're running low on time, you could add the tortillas in layers instead of rolling them individually to make a chicken enchilada casserole.

They're spicy but not too spicy. And if you're sensitive to heat, you can use mild enchilada sauce.

It's pretty easy to make substitutions and additions. You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, corn tortillas or flour tortillas, and add whatever toppings you like - sour cream, guacamole or avocado, green onions, olives, and cilantro are favorites.

Also, everyone loves this dish. Kids and adults are both equally excited about an enchilada dinner. I hope you'll love this recipe, too!

The labeled ingredients for chicken slow cooker enchiladas are shown on a white marble counter.

What You'll Need

Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.

First and foremost, you will also need a slow cooker! This is my absolute favorite. It's sturdy, holds the lid tight, and has an optional meat thermometer that you can insert through the lid without removing it.

  • Corn Tortillas I use corn tortillas here, but you can also use flour tortillas or even whole wheat tortillas.
  • Chicken Breast is great here, but chicken thighs work equally well.
  • Enchilada Sauce I recommend the Mission brand hot enchilada sauce, but feel free to use mild enchilada sauce or a different brand of your choosing. You can also make homemade enchilada sauce.
  • Green Chilis You can use chopped, canned green chilis or make your own roasted jalapenos to add to this dish.
  • Fresh Limes Lime juice is another good option here.
  • Shredded Cheese I like to use a Mexican cheese blend here, but any melting cheese will work well. You could use just cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack, or other cheese you have on hand.
  • Spices Here I call for cumin, chili powder, coriander, and oregano. These are not essential to the dish and you can use just the canned enchilada sauce, but I love the flavor they add.
  • Kosher Salt I use the brand Diamond Crystal. This salt is shaped into flakes rather than concentrated grains, so it is easier to adjust the salt in a recipe without oversalting.
  • Olive Oil You can also use grapeseed oil, avocado oil, or canola oil to give a quick fry to your corn tortillas so they don't crack when you are rolling the enchiladas.
The optional toppings for chicken slow cooker enchiladas sit on a white cutting board.

Optional Toppings

  • Sour Cream
  • Cilantro
  • Green Onions/Scallions
  • Avocado or Guacamole
  • Black Olives

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

Step One To make enchiladas, place the chicken and sauce, green chilis, and spices in the base of the slow cooker. You'll want to use only one of the cans of sauce here and reserve the rest for later.

Two chicken breasts are placed in the base of a slow cooker.
Spices are added to the chicken.
Green chilis are added to the pot.
Enchilada sauce is added to the chicken and chilis.

Step Two Cook the chicken. Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours or cook on low to 6 to 8 hours.

Cooked chicken in enchilada sauce is shown in the slow cooker.

Step Three Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks. Return the chicken mixture to the enchilada sauce.

Shredded chicken sits on a white cutting board.
Shredded chicken is added back to the crockpot.

Step Four Meanwhile, fry your tortillas on both sides for about 30 seconds.

A fried corn tortilla sits on a white cutting board.

Step Five Take a bit of the chicken mixture and a little of the sauce and roll it in a tortilla. Place the tortilla back in the bottom of the slow cooker.

Chicken is added to the tortilla.
Chicken is rolled into the tortilla.
One chicken enchilada is added back to the crockpot.
The rolled enchiladas are added back to the slow cooker.

Step Six Once all of the enchiladas have been assembled, cover them with the remaining enchilada sauce and the cup of cheese. Return the lid to the slow cooker and heat on high for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Enchilada sauce is poured over the enchiladas.
Cheese is melted over the chicken enchiladas.

Step Eight Top with your favorite items and serve!

A baking dish full of chicken enchiladas is surrounded by cut limes, a halved avocado, and cilantro.

Variations

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole Layer the tortillas instead of rolling for a quick casserole.

Enchilada Chicken You can omit the tortillas and make a slow cooker shredded chicken perfect for adding to taco bowls, tacos, burritos - whatever sounds good!

Green Enchiladas Use green enchilada sauce here instead.

Rotisserie Chicken Make this easy recipe even easier by shredding rotisserie chicken, heating it through in the enchilada sauce, then assembling the enchiladas.

Frozen Chicken Feel free to use frozen chicken here. However, it may take longer to cook. Check to ensure the chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit before shredding.

How to Store

Fridge Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezer You can freeze the enchiladas in a freezer-safe container like a tightly covered baking dish. They are best frozen before you add the cheese. They will stay good for up to 3 months. Add the cheese after thawing while reheating.

Reheating To reheat from the fridge, you can place the enchiladas in a baking dish and reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 to 30 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for a few minutes.

To reheat from frozen, let thaw in the fridge overnight, then follow the directions above.

FAQ

Is it OK to put raw chicken in the slow cooker? Absolutely! It's my preferred method of preparing chicken in the slow cooker.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in the slow cooker? In my experience, with a good-quality crockpot, you will not notice much difference. However, if you have time, the chicken may be a bit more tender on the low setting.

Why do you dip tortillas in oil for enchiladas? This prevents the corn tortillas from cracking when you roll the enchiladas. It also creates a bit of a barrier between the tortilla itself and the enchilada sauce, preventing it from getting soggy quickly.

Expert Tips

  • Fry your tortillas quickly in a bit of oil. Without this step, I found that the corn tortillas in particular cracked and split, making it very difficult to roll.
  • Make this recipe ahead. You can make this recipe ahead of time and use it for school or work lunches, an easy dinner, or freeze the entire recipe to eat later or deliver to a friend.
  • Invest in a meat thermometer. It's important your chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, so be sure to check the temperature with a reliable thermometer.

How to Serve

These easy slow cooker chicken enchiladas are great on their own, but here are some ideas for serving:

Salads A fresh salad would be lovely. Try it with this delicious Lemon Herb Vinaigrette.

Mexican Food You can make this recipe into a whole feast by adding a Carne Asada Quesadilla and some rice and beans.

Salsas and Sauces Try topping with this Chipotle Southwest Sauce, Pineapple Habanero Sauce or Pineapple Pico de Gallo.

This would also be wonderful with spicy pickled onions!

Recipes You'll Love

If you're in the mood for more Mexican food, try these:

Carne Asada

Spicy Potato Soft Tacos with Chimichurri

Pineapple Habanero Salsa

A baking dish full of chicken enchiladas is surrounded by cut limes, a halved avocado, and cilantro.

Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas

Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are spicy, tangy, cheesy, and delicious. Tender chicken, bold enchilada sauce, chewy tortillas, and rich, melty cheese make a dish perfect for a weeknight meal!
5 from 29 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Keyword: Crock Pot, Crockpot, Easy Recipe, Easy Weeknight Meal, Easy Weeknight Recipe, Slow Cooker, Spicy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 4 2-enchilada servings
Calories: 363kcal
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Equipment

  • Slow Cooker 6 quart or larger
  • 2 Fork
  • Frying Pan

Ingredients

  • 8 corn tortillas small soft taco size
  • olive oil spray
  • 1 pound chicken breast boneless, skinless
  • 2 cans enchilada sauce 10 ounces each
  • 1 can green chilis chopped, 4 ounces
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried coriander
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 limes juice of, approximately 2 to 4 tablespoons
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • kosher salt to taste
  • black pepper optional, to taste

Optional Toppings

  • avocado or guacamole
  • green onions/scallions
  • fresh cilantro
  • sliced black olives
  • sour cream
  • hot sauce or salsa

Instructions

  • Place the chicken, 1 can of enchilada sauce, green chilis, and spices in the base of the slow cooker.
  • Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours or cook on low to 6 to 8 hours.
  • Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks. Return the chicken mixture to the enchilada sauce.
  • Meanwhile, fry your tortillas in a bit of olive oil spray over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side.
  • Take a bit of the chicken mixture and a little of the sauce and roll it in a tortilla. Place the tortilla back in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Once all of the enchiladas have been assembled, cover them with the remaining enchilada sauce and the cup of cheese.
  • Return the lid to the slow cooker and heat on high for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
  • Add your favorite toppings and serve!

Notes

General
  1. You can use chicken thighs in place of chicken breasts.
  2. Frozen chicken is fine to use - just be sure to check that it's reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit before shredding.
  3. Flour tortillas can be substituted.
  4. In place of olive oil spray, you can use olive oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or another neutral oil.
  5. When assembling the enchiladas, I usually just scoot the chicken to the side as I'm building the enchiladas, but you can also put the chicken in a bowl.
  6. If you want super cheesy enchiladas, there's no problem adding lots of cheese. Measure cheese with your heart, as they say.
Storing and Reheating
  1. Fridge Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.
  2. Freezer You can freeze the enchiladas in a freezer-safe container like a tightly covered baking dish. They are best frozen before you add the cheese. They will stay good for up to 3 months. Add the cheese after thawing while reheating.
  3. To reheat from fridge, you can place the enchiladas in a baking dish and reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 to 30 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for a few minutes.
  4. To reheat from frozen, let thaw in the fridge overnight, then follow the directions above.

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 595mg | Potassium: 600mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 207mg | Iron: 2mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jere Cassidy says

    December 26, 2022 at 8:41 am

    5 stars
    It's been ages since I made enchiladas and loved this slow cooker method which didn't dry out the enchiladas like this oven.

    Reply
    • Elena says

      December 27, 2022 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe. Easy to follow. The chicken was juicy and flavoursome. We absolutely loved this dish.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        December 29, 2022 at 8:48 am

        So glad you enjoyed them, Elena.

        Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 29, 2022 at 8:50 am

      Yes! I totally agree. Never any dry edges with the slow cooker. Thanks Jere!

      Reply
  2. Kris says

    December 26, 2022 at 10:29 am

    5 stars
    So easy and tasty! The whole family loved it!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 29, 2022 at 8:49 am

      Fantastic! Thanks Kris

      Reply
  3. MacKenzie says

    December 26, 2022 at 9:17 pm

    Amazing Recipe! Loved that this is all done in the slow cooker.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 29, 2022 at 8:49 am

      Right? Makes it so easy. Thanks MacKenzie!

      Reply
  4. Sharina says

    December 27, 2022 at 5:32 am

    5 stars
    This turned out to be flavorful and a crowd favorite. Thanks Gen, this is a new favorite chicken enchilada recipe, we'll definitely have this again.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 29, 2022 at 8:49 am

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  5. Erin says

    December 27, 2022 at 6:02 am

    5 stars
    We made these enchiladas for dinner yesterday and they were a hit! Thanks so much for the great recipe.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 29, 2022 at 8:57 am

      So glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  6. Jenna says

    December 27, 2022 at 11:23 am

    5 stars
    I usually cook my chicken in the oven but decided to give this slow cooker recipe a try. Wow! What a game changer. I love how flavorful the chicken turned out. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 29, 2022 at 8:49 am

      Thanks Jenna! We love this slow cooker method in my home too.

      Reply
  7. Journa Liz Ramirez says

    December 28, 2022 at 6:20 am

    5 stars
    These chicken enchiladas are so tasty and flavorful, definitely a crowd-pleaser! Glad I found this slow cooker method.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 29, 2022 at 8:48 am

      Thanks Journa!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Gen! Welcome to Two Cloves Kitchen. I am a certified professional cook, lifelong recipe creator, writer, editor, and food lover. I use my culinary knowledge to teach you how to utilize your ingredients and equipment to their fullest potential, turning ordinary meals into something exciting with bold, fresh, innovative ideas and flavors.

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