Chicken Enchiladas

For me, comfort food tends to be Tex-Mex food. I’m from West Texas and that’s what I grew up eating.  So, making this Chicken Enchilada Casserole was a sure fire way to show my favorite comfort food while showcasing their chicken.

Many years ago, my Aunt Gloria created her own cookbook and she gave a copy to family members for Christmas one year. I have treasured this cookbook. All of her recipes basically reminded me of home and I was able to learn how to make many of the comfort food dishes I missed so much. (You may recall I moved away from Texas to become a military wife 16 years ago and have never had the chance to move back.) I loved the recipes, but I do not use the same cooking methods that I grew up on. I moved to Oregon a long time ago and learned more and more about the importance of what you eat. I now make a new kind of comfort food! For example, I would never soften a tortilla in a skillet of grease nowadays, instead, I wrapped them in a wet paper towel and nuke them in the microwave. You still achieve the desired results with 100% lease grease! I also no longer buy chicken broth in a can. You can make your own healthier, cleaner chicken broth by simply boiling your chicken. The new comfort food is still satisfyingly delicious, but one you can also feel good eating.

One of my favorite recipes in her cookbook is her chicken enchiladas. I make my own version of these enchiladas using Foster Farms Simply Raised chicken. I am lucky that I am on the West Coast and have access to Foster Farms Simply Raised chicken, it has no antibiotics ever and is 100 percent vegetarian fed. It’s nice to be able to feed my kids, my favorite meal made with local, fresh and premium quality ingredients. Again, it is so important to think about what you and your kids are putting into your bodies. This is especially true when it comes to meat. Just because the food is comforting doesn’t mean it has to be unhealthy. Here is my new, healthier version of my favorite comfort food: Chicken Enchiladas.

Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Ingredients:

4 Foster Farms Simply Raised chicken breasts

1 cup of water

1/2 onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. cumin powder

4 oz. tomato sauce

1 large can red enchilada sauce

1 lb. colby jack cheese, shredded

12 to 18 corn tortillas

Directions:

Boil chicken in water until cooked (This will take at least 10 minutes). Remove the chicken from stockpot and let cool. Save broth. Shred chicken into small pieces. In a sauce pan, add shredded chicken, chopped onion, salt, garlic, cumin, tomato sauce, and 1/2 cup chicken broth from boiled chicken. Simmer for 20 minutes until most of the liquid has cooked out.

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

Heat enchilada sauce at a medium heat. Dip one corn tortilla at a time in the enchilada sauce.

Lay the tortilla onto a flat baking dish and add seasoned chicken and cheese, then roll seam side down. Continue this process until all the chicken has been used. Lay the rolled tortillas side by side. Add the remaining sauce and cheese over the rolled enchiladas. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

This chicken enchilada casserole is a great healthier spin on my childhood favorite comfort food.  Tex-Mex doesn’t have to be unhealthy.  This chicken enchilada casserole proves that it can be a healthy and delicious family-friendly meal!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Foster Farms Simply Raised Chicken.

MORE CHICKEN RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

• Fancy Pants Chicken Casserole
• Sheet Pan Spanish Chicken
• Buffalo Chicken Casserole
• Easy Cranberry Chicken
• Chinese Chicken Salad like the Cheesecake Factory
• Mediterranean Chicken – Slow cooker recipe
• Easy BBQ Chicken
• Crockpot Chicken Parmesan 
• Spicy Chicken Spaghetti
• White Chicken Chili
• Baked Wine Chicken Casserole
• Tex-Mex Chicken Curry