Indulge your taste buds in a symphony of flavors with our Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole! Imagine tender shredded chicken, vibrant enchilada sauce, and layers of melted cheese, all perfectly harmonized in the convenience of your Instant Pot. You're going to love this chicken enchilada recipe!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Comfort Food Delight: This Instant Pot enchilada casserole offers a hearty, satisfying meal with layers of flavor.
- Efficient Cooking: The Instant Pot ensures tender chicken and melded flavors in less time.
- Versatile Dish: Easily customizable this Instant Pot chicken enchilda casserole with your favorite toppings or additional ingredients.
📋 Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: The core protein of the dish, they become tender and juicy when cooked in the Instant Pot.
- Salsa Verde: Adds a tangy, zesty flavor that permeates the chicken and enhances the overall taste of the casserole.
- Green Enchilada Sauce: Deepens the flavor profile of the dish with its rich, spicy, and slightly sweet notes.
- Shredded Cheese: Melts into a gooey, creamy layer that binds all the ingredients together and adds a comforting richness.
- White Corn Tortillas: Cut into strips, they provide structure to the casserole and absorb the flavors of the other ingredients, becoming soft and flavorful.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Protein Options: Use chicken thighs for extra juiciness, shredded rotisserie chicken for convenience, or even a mix of chicken breast and thigh to balance flavor and tenderness.
- Sauce & Cheese Variations: Experiment with different enchilada sauces—such as green, red, or even a smoky chipotle version—to suit your taste. Mix and match cheeses like Monterey Jack, cheddar, or a queso fresco blend for added creaminess and depth.
- Additional Ingredients & Toppings: Enhance the casserole with black beans, corn, or bell peppers for extra texture and flavor. Top with fresh cilantro, avocado slices, or a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the dish before serving.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Step One: Pour the salsa verde and enchilada sauce into your Instant Pot. Placed your chicken breast on top of the liquid. Pressure cook for 10 minutes then naturally release for 10 minutes.
Step Two: Using two forks, or a hand mixer, shred your chicken inside your Instant Pot with the liquid.
Step Three: Add to your Instant Pot half of your cheese (1 cup). Mix well. Next add the tortilla strips and mix well.
Step Four: Finish by adding the remaining cheese to your Instant Pot. With your Instant Pot remaining on Keep Warm, lock the lid in place and allow it to sit for about five minutes. This will allow the remaining cheese to melt, as well as the tortillas to take on the flavors of the casserole.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Tortilla Strips: Tortilla strips are preferred over whole tortillas in the Instant Pot for enchilada casserole to ensure even cooking and improved texture.
- Add Cheese: Cheese plays a crucial role in an enchilada casserole recipe, providing a rich and creamy texture, enhancing the overall flavor profile, and creating a gooey, melty topping that adds a satisfying element to the dish.
💭 FAQs
Technically, no. There are chilis in it but that doesn’t always equate to heat. If you’re wanting to make it spicy, you easily can. Add in some green chiles or some fresh jalapeño peppers and that will really take up the heat.
While both share similar ingredients, such as tomatillos and green chilies, there's a key difference: green enchilada sauce is typically cooked, whereas salsa verde is often served raw. This cooking process gives enchilada sauce a deeper flavor, making it more suitable for baking dishes like enchiladas.
Yes, you can use salsa verde in place of green enchilada sauce. However, be aware that the flavor profile will differ slightly due to the raw versus cooked nature of the sauces. Both options can yield delicious results, so it often comes down to personal preference.
The heat level of enchilada sauces depends on the specific chilies used in their preparation. Generally, green enchilada sauce, made from green chilies like jalapeños or serranos, tends to be spicier than red enchilada sauce, which is typically made from milder red chilies.
Place the Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole in an airtight container or wrap the baking dish tightly in plastic, then refrigerate for up to 3-4 days, ensuring to label with the date for freshness tracking.
For longer storage, transfer the casserole to a freezer-safe container or resealable bag, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn, and it can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Green Enchiladas:
- Mexican Street Corn Salad: Grilled corn tossed with mayo, lime juice, and chili powder.
- Black Bean Corn Salad: A refreshing mix of black beans, corn, and cherry tomatoes.
- Homemade Guacamole: Creamy avocados mashed with onions, tomatoes, and a hint of garlic.
- Refried Beans: Creamy and flavorful beans cooked with spices and a touch of cheese.
- Chips and Salsa: Classic tortilla chips served with a vibrant tomato salsa.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Green Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 2 cups Salsa Verde
- 1 cup Green Enchilada Sauce
- 2 cups Cheese Shredded
- 10 Corn Tortillas cut into strips
Instructions
- Pour the salsa verde and enchilada sauce into your instant pot. Placed your chicken breast on top of the liquid.
- Close your instant pot lid. Close the valve by pushing it away from you. Set your instant pot to high-pressure for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes is done, allow your instant pot to naturally release for about 10 more minutes. Once that is complete, manually release by pulling the valve towards you to open the pressure. Make sure to use a towel or hot pad to protect your hands from steam.
- Using two forks, or a hand mixer, shred your chicken inside your instant pot with the liquid. Then add to your instant pot half of your cheese (1 cup). Mix well. Add to your instant pot your tortillas. Mix well. Finish by adding the remaining cheese to your instant pot.
- With your instant pot remaining on warm, lock the lid in place and allow it to sit for about five minutes. This will allow the remaining cheese to melt, as well as the tortillas to take on the flavors of the casserole.
- Open your instant pot and give it one more good stir. ou can serve on a plate, or in a bowl. Top with sour cream, cilantro, avocado chunks, more cheese, jalapeños, hot sauce, etc.! Enjoy!
Notes
- Tortilla Strips: Tortilla strips are preferred over whole tortillas in the Instant Pot for enchilada casserole to ensure even cooking and improved texture.
- Add Cheese: Cheese plays a crucial role in an enchilada casserole recipe, providing a rich and creamy texture, enhancing the overall flavor profile, and creating a gooey, melty topping that adds a satisfying element to the dish.
Nutrition
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