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These easy chicken enchilada tacos come together in minutes using just a handful of simple ingredients: shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, cheese, lettuce, and corn tortillas. They’re flavorful, satisfying, and perfect for days when you want something homemade without much effort.

I always keep a can of red enchilada sauce in the pantry because it’s so versatile. You’ll usually find it in the Mexican food aisle, often labeled mild, medium, or hot. If no heat level is listed, it’s typically mild.

This is a low-calorie, WW-friendly meal that works just as well for quick weeknight dinners as it does for easy lunches.

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Chicken enchilada tacos in tortilla and lettuce wrap on blue plate.
Chicken enchilada tacos in lettuce wrap and tortilla

Why I Love This Recipe

  • It uses just a few simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
  • Rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken works perfectly.
  • The flavors are bold without being heavy.
  • It comes together fast with very little prep.
  • It’s easy to customize with different tortillas or toppings.
  • Leftovers are incredibly versatile.
  • It fits easily into a WW-friendly way of eating.
Shredding chicken breast with two forks on green mat with lettuce leaves and can of enchilada sauce in background
Easy Shredded Chicken

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Shredded Cooked Chicken Breast – Use rotisserie chicken, leftover cooked chicken, or simply poach two chicken breasts in water or broth and shred them. Thigh meat works too if preferred.
  • Enchilada Sauce (Store-Bought) – Red enchilada sauce is classic here, but green enchilada sauce also works and is usually a bit spicier. Choose mild, medium, or hot based on your preference.
  • Corn Tortillas (6-inch) – Corn tortillas keep the tacos traditional and WW-friendly. If you prefer, you can use flour tortillas or turn these into lettuce wraps.
  • Reduced-Fat Shredded Cheese -Adds just enough richness without overpowering the tacos. Cheddar, Mexican blend, or Monterey Jack all work well.
  • Lettuce – Shredded lettuce adds freshness and crunch. Romaine or iceberg both work.

How Many Calories and WW Points in Chicken Enchilada Tacos?

According to my calculations, each serving (2 tacos) has 200 calories.

To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
5 PointsPlus (Old plan)

How to Make Chicken Enchilada Tacos, Step by Step

Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients.

Step 2: Add the enchilada sauce to the shredded chicken

Mixing shredded chicken with red enchilada sauce in glass bowl.
Mixing enchilada sauce with shredded chicken

and stir to combine.

Mixing shredded chicken with red enchilada sauce.
Mixing enchilada sauce with shredded chicken

Heat until hot (2-3 minutes on the stove top or in the microwave (affiliate link)).

Step 3: Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel, and microwave (affiliate link) 1 minute or until warm.

Step 4: Spoon about 1/4 cup of the chicken onto each tortilla.

Tortilla on blue plate topped with shredded enchilada chicken.
Shredded enchilada chicken on tortilla

Step 5: Top each taco with 1 tablespoon of cheese and 2 tablespoons of shredded lettuce.

Chicken enchilada tacos topped with shredded lettuce and cheese.
Adding lettuce and cheese to chicken enchilada tacos

This recipe calls for corn tortillas, which usually have 2 SmartPoints each. If you are not a fan of corn tortillas you could substitute your favorite flour tortilla or turn them into lettuce wraps instead.

Package of Xtreme Wellness high fiber low carb tortillas.

Tortilla Options for WeightWatchers?

A low carb tortilla (affiliate link) is the best option for Points-conscious Weight Watchers. There are many brands to choose from.

With 50 calories, 11g fiber and just 1 SmartPoint (green, blue, purple) Ole Xtreme Wellness High Fiber Low Carb Tortillas (affiliate link) are my current favorite. They taste good and I can I get them at Walmart.

Easy Enchilada Sauce Substitute (Optional)

Here is a quick and easy recipe for red enchilada sauce, if you can’t find a can:

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1-1/2 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

Directions:

  1. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a small sauce pan.
  2. Heat over medium heat 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in the tomato sauce.
  4. Add 1 cup of water and mix well.
  5. Heat until warm.
Chicken enchilada tacos in flour tortillas and lettuce wraps.
Chicken enchilada tacos in tortillas and lettuce wraps

If you prefer green enchilada sauce, use that. It typically is a little spicier than the red sauce.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these chicken enchilada tacos with:

Ways to Use Leftover Enchilada Chicken

Leftover enchilada chicken is incredibly versatile:

  • Spoon it over greens for an easy taco salad
  • Turn it into enchilada soup with broth, beans, and corn
  • Use it in quesadillas
  • Add it to low-calorie nachos
  • Make a simple enchilada-style casserole with rice and cheese
  • Serve it with eggs for a quick huevos rancheros-style breakfast

If you’ve made these Enchilada Tacos with Shredded Chicken, 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.

5 from 2 votes

Chicken Enchilada Tacos Recipe

These saucy enchilada tacos come together in minutes and are so good you won’t mind the mess. You might even find yourself licking your fingers clean!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
Total: 12 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 1-1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
  • 1 cup enchilada sauce (store-bought)
  • 8 corn tortillas (6-inch)
  • 1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded cheese
  • 1 cup lettuce, shredded
  • Lettuce leaves (optional replacement for tortillas)

Instructions 

  • Add the enchilada sauce to the shredded chicken and stir to combine. Heat until hot (2-3 minutes over medium heat on the stove top, or in the microwave).
  • Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel, and microwave 1 minute or until warm.
  • Spoon about 1/4 cup of the chicken onto each tortilla.
  • Top each taco with 1 tablespoon of cheese and 2 tablespoons of shredded lettuce.

Notes

Serving size: 2 enchilada tacos
WW Points: 5
Check the WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
7 SmartPoints (Green plan)
6 SmartPoints (Blue plan)
6 SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Here is a quick and easy recipe for red enchilada sauce, if you can’t find a can:
Ingredients:
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1-1/2 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
Directions:
  1. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a small sauce pan.
  2. Heat over medium heat 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in the tomato sauce.
  4. Add 1 cup of water and mix well.
  5. Heat until warm.
If you don’t like corn tortillas, substitute your favorite low carb flour tortilla or one that is a combination of corn and flour.
For those who prefer to go no carb, use lettuce leafs in place of the tortillas.
If you prefer green enchilada sauce, use that. It typically is a little spicier than the red sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 2enchilada tacos, Calories: 200kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 693mg, Potassium: 255mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 595IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 213mg, Iron: 2mg

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

Additional Info

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

Recipe source: Eat What You Love Quick & Easy (affiliate link) by Marlene Koch

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About Brenda Garrison

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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