Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Printable)
Tender chicken, beans, corn, and melty cheese layered with corn tortillas and smothered in enchilada sauce for an effortless Tex-Mex dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 cup frozen corn kernels
05 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
→ Sauces & Liquids
06 - 2 cups enchilada sauce
→ Cheeses
07 - 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
→ Tortillas
08 - 10 small corn tortillas, cut into quarters
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
12 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How-To:
01 - Lightly grease the interior of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Place chicken breasts at the bottom of the cooker. Sprinkle evenly with cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Layer the diced onion, red bell pepper, frozen corn, and black beans over the seasoned chicken.
04 - Pour 1 cup of enchilada sauce over the vegetable and bean mixture.
05 - Arrange half of the quartered tortilla pieces over the sauce. Top with 1 cup of shredded Mexican cheese blend.
06 - Repeat layering with remaining enchilada sauce, tortilla pieces, and remaining cheese.
07 - Cover and cook on low setting for 4 hours, or until chicken is fully cooked and tender.
08 - Twenty minutes before serving, shred chicken directly in the cooker using two forks. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients and let sit covered to meld flavors.
09 - Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, and sour cream if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The tortillas soften into this perfect dumpling-like texture that nobody ever expects from a slow cooker
- You can dump everything in one go and walk away, making it ideal for those chaotic weeknights when you need a miracle
02 -
- Don't lift the lid during cooking, every peek adds about 15 minutes to the cooking time and I learned this the hard way
- The tortilla pieces might look a little dry initially, but they'll soften beautifully as they absorb the sauce
03 -
- If you're using frozen chicken breasts, add an extra hour to the cooking time and check that they're cooked through before shredding
- Line your slow cooker with a cooking bag for the easiest cleanup ever