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New Mexico Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

Layered enchiladas with Hatch green chiles, creamy chicken, and cheddar cheese—a New Mexican classic.
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Chicken, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients
  

  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 10.5 oz cans cream of chicken soup, low sodium preferred
  • ½ cup milk
  • 32 oz shredded cheddar cheese
  • 6 fresh Hatch green chiles mild or hot, based on your spice preference
  • 1 package of 30-count corn tortillas
Optional Toppings:
  • Chopped fresh tomato
  • Shredded lettuce

Method
 

Step 1: Boil and Shred the Chicken
  1. Place chicken breasts in a large sauce pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 45 minutes until fully cooked and tender.
  2. Remove chicken, transfer to a cutting board, and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the saucepan.
Step 2: Roast and Prepare the Chiles
  1. While the chicken simmers, set your oven to HI Broil.
  2. Place Hatch green chiles on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil for 15 minutes on each side until the skins are charred and blackened.
  3. Transfer the hot chiles to a large bowl and cover with foil to steam for 20 minutes. Once cooled, peel off the skins, remove stems and seeds, then slice into thin strips.
Step 3: Make the Filling
  1. Add cream of chicken soup, milk, and prepared green chile strips to the shredded chicken in the saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes until heated through and slightly thickened.
Step 4: Layer the Enchilada Casserole
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a deep rectangular baking pan (approx. 12.7" x 8.9" x 2").
First Layer:
  1. Place 9 corn tortillas in the bottom of the pan in three rows of three. Spread one-third of the chicken-chile filling over the tortillas and sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
Second Layer:
  1. Add 6 tortillas (2 in each row), then another layer of the filling and cheese.
Third Layer:
  1. Add 6 more tortillas, top with the remaining filling and finish with a generous final layer of cheese.
Step 5: Bake
  1. Bake the enchilada casserole for 30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
  1. Top with chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce for a burst of freshness and color. Serve hot and enjoy the layers of creamy, spicy goodness.