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When I’m staring at leftover chicken in the refrigerator and wondering what to make for dinner, these 5-Ingredient Chicken Enchiladas Verde are one of my favorite solutions.

They’re creamy, cheesy and full of flavor, thanks to salsa verde, light sour cream and melted cheese. And with just five everyday ingredients, they’re surprisingly easy to put together.

Using rotisserie chicken makes them even simpler. In about 30 minutes, you can have a satisfying Mexican-inspired dinner on the table without much fuss.

I love recipes like this that make good use of leftovers while still feeling like something special.

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easy 5-ingredient chicken enchiladas verde baked in pottery casserole dish

Why You’ll Love These Chicken Enchiladas Verde

  • Just five ingredients. Nothing complicated or difficult to find.
  • Great for leftover chicken. Rotisserie chicken makes preparation especially easy.
  • Creamy and cheesy. All the comforting flavors of chicken enchiladas.
  • Lighter than many traditional versions. Made with light sour cream, reduced-fat cheese and high-fiber tortillas.
  • Easy to customize. Add vegetables, beans or a little extra spice.
  • Good for leftovers. Reheat individual portions for an easy lunch or dinner.
Cooked chicken, light sour cream, salsa verde, high fiber tortillas and reduced fat shredded cheese

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s all you need to make these easy chicken enchiladas.

  • Cooked chicken: Shredded or chopped chicken breast works beautifully. I often use leftover or rotisserie chicken.
  • Salsa verde: Gives the enchiladas their tangy green chile flavor. Choose mild, medium or hot depending on your preference.
  • Light sour cream: Makes the chicken filling creamy without being overly rich. Plain Greek yogurt is another option.
  • Reduced-fat shredded cheese: Monterey Jack, cheddar or a Mexican-style blend all work well.
  • High-fiber tortillas: I often use Ole Xtreme Wellness tortillas. You can also use corn tortillas if you prefer.

That’s it! Five simple ingredients that come together into a delicious, satisfying meal.

How to Make Chicken Enchiladas Verde

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Heat oven to 375F degrees.

Lightly coat a baking dish with nonstick spray.

Baking dish with salsa verde spread in the bottom.

Step 2: Make the Filling

In a medium bowl, combine the cooked chicken, sour cream, part of the salsa verde, and a portion of the cheese.

Mix until well combined.

Preparing chicken enchilada filling in mixing bowl.

Step 3: Fill the Tortillas

Divide the filling evenly among the tortillas.

Roll tightly and place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.

Step 4: Add Sauce

Pour the remaining salsa verde over the enchiladas.

Baking dish with enchiladas verde ready to go in oven.

Step 5: Bake

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until heated through and bubbly.

Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until melted.

Fresh baked chicken enchiladas verde topped with melted cheese in baking dish.

Step 6: Serve

Allow to rest for a few minutes before serving.

My Tips for Easy Chicken Enchiladas

  • Use rotisserie chicken. It’s one of my favorite shortcuts and makes this recipe especially convenient.
  • Choose a salsa verde you enjoy. With so few ingredients, the salsa contributes a lot of the flavor. Mild works well for a family-friendly version, while medium or hot adds more zip.
  • Don’t overfill the tortillas. A modest amount of filling makes them easier to roll and keeps everything tucked inside.
  • Keep the tortillas soft. If your tortillas are stiff, warm them briefly before filling so they don’t crack or tear.
  • Make them ahead. You can assemble the enchiladas up to a day in advance, cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. You may need a little additional baking time if they’re going into the oven cold.

Easy Variations and Substitutions

This is a forgiving recipe that’s easy to adapt to whatever you have on hand.

Use a different protein. Cooked turkey, ground turkey or shredded pork would all work in place of chicken.

Add black beans. Stir some rinsed and drained black beans into the filling for a heartier meal.

Include vegetables. Chopped spinach, sautéed bell peppers, onions, zucchini or corn would all be delicious additions.

Make them spicier. Add diced green chiles, jalapeños or a little hot sauce to the filling.

Try red salsa. If you don’t have salsa verde, regular red salsa makes a tasty alternative.

Use corn tortillas. They’re a more traditional choice for enchiladas. Warm them first to make rolling easier, and check the package if you need a gluten-free option.

Substitute Greek yogurt. Plain Greek yogurt can replace the light sour cream, although the filling will taste a little tangier.

Keep in mind that adding extra filling ingredients may mean you’ll need another tortilla or two.

What to Serve with Chicken Enchiladas Verde

I like to keep the sides simple, especially since the enchiladas are already creamy and satisfying.

A fresh green salad is usually all I need.

A few good choices include:

For a more traditional Mexican-inspired dinner, you could add rice, cauliflower rice, black beans or refried beans.

A little chopped cilantro, diced avocado or extra salsa verde makes a nice finishing touch, too.ns, pinto beans, roasted vegetables, or a combination of both.

How Many Calories and WW Points?

According to my calculations, each serving has 281 calories and 5 WW Points.

To see your WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app!

If you’ve made this Easy Healthy Recipe for Chicken Enchiladas, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

easy 5-ingredient chicken enchiladas verde baked in pottery casserole dish
5 from 5 votes

5-Ingredient Chicken Enchiladas Verde

Easy 5-Ingredient Chicken Enchiladas Verde made with rotisserie chicken, salsa verde, light sour cream, reduced-fat cheese, and high-fiber tortillas. A simple weeknight dinner that's flavorful, satisfying, and WW-friendly.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 1 16 ounce jar salsa verde (I used Trader Joes brand)
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup light sour cream
  • 3/4 cup shredded reduced fat Monterey Jack or Cheddar Cheese (I used a Mexican cheese blend)
  • 4 8-inch low carb, high fiber tortillas (I used Ole Xtreme Wellness Brand)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Spray a 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Spread 1/2 cup of the salsa verde in the bottom of the baking dish. 
  • In a large bowl stir together 1/4 cup of the salsa, the sour cream, chicken and 1/4 cup of the cheese in a large bowl until well combined.
  • Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up the tortillas and place seam-side down in the baking dish. Pour the remaining salsa over the filled tortillas. 
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. Bake 5 minutes more or until the cheese is melted.

Notes

Serving size: 1 enchilada verde
WW Points: 5 Click here to see your WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site.
6 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
This recipe calls for 1-1/2 cups cooked chicken so it’s the kind of recipe I love to make when I have leftover chicken sitting in the fridge. This 2-ingredient salsa chicken would work well as would rotisserie chicken poached or grilled chicken. Cooked ground beef or ground turkey would also be good.
No Light Sour Cream?  Substitute plain Greek yogurt saving calories and WW Points in the process.
No Salsa Verde? Substitute your favorite salsa. These are good with red salsa too?
No Low Carb Tortillas? To make these enchiladas more authentic and gluten free substitute 8 (4-inch) corn tortillas instead.
Spicier?  Add chile powder and/or hot sauce to the chicken mixture.
Garnishes?  These enchiladas would be lovely topped with a little chopped green or white onion and fresh cilantro.

Easy Variations

Bean and Chicken Enchiladas

Add a can of drained black beans to the filling.

Spicy Chicken Enchiladas

Stir diced jalapeños, hot sauce, or chipotle peppers into the chicken mixture.

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

Add a can of diced green chiles for even more flavor.

Vegetarian Enchiladas

Replace the chicken with black beans, pinto beans, roasted vegetables, or a combination of both.

Nutrition

Serving: 1enchilada, Calories: 248kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 9g, Fiber: 11g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving or tag #simplenourishedliving!

Recipe source: Adapted from this Campbell’s Pace recipe.

More Easy Mexican-Inspired Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoy these Chicken Enchiladas Verde, here are a few more easy recipes from Simple Nourished Living:

I love having a few recipes like this in my back pocket for those evenings when I want something good without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

With leftover chicken, a jar of salsa verde and a few other ingredients, dinner is practically done.

If you try these 5-Ingredient Chicken Enchiladas Verde, I’d love to hear how you liked them and whether you made any changes.

Articles & Tips for WeightWatchers

About Martha McKinnon

Weight Watchers Lifetime Member, Yoga Practitioner and Blogger who loves to share her passion for trying to create a happy, healthy, balanced life in what often feels like an overwhelming out of control world.

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5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I just made these last night for the first time. I used rotisserie chicken, which made it super easy. After filling 4 tortillas, I had enough filling left for a 5th. I thought it needed a bit more flavor, so I added some cumin to the filling mixture (I used mild salsa). Topped them with fresh cilantro. My picky husband liked them, so I will definitely be making them again. Thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    This was so easy to throw together and it is so tasty. I am a wimp when it comes to heat in these kind of dishes, but that was controllable with my choice of salsa verde.