chicken tres quesos (layered chicken enchiladas)
This dish is a family favorite and comfort food at its best. It can be made and assembled the day before if needed and is really a crowd-pleaser. Tres Quesos means 3 Cheeses, so you know it's going to be ooey-gooey good! Serve with beans or rice, guacamole, tortilla chips, your favorite beverage, and you're good to go!
prep time
30 Min
cook time
35 Min
method
Bake
yield
8-10 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breasts cooked & diced
- 8 ounces fat free cottage cheese (sm curd)
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 12-16 ounces monterey jack cheese or a mexican blend shredded
- 12-16 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 package corn tostadas (i use a brand that are baked) could possibly try corn tortilla chips, but not the super thin kind.)
- 1 large can of green enchilada sauce. ( i use las palmas brand)
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1-2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- - garlic salt, pepper, and salt to taste
- - optional garnish items include: diced tomatoes, green onions , cilantro, avocado
How To Make chicken tres quesos (layered chicken enchiladas)
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Step 1Cut up cooked chicken into bite sized pieces, mix together chicken,tomatoes,onions in a skillet to warm and to season chicken. Add up to 1/4 Cup of broth if chicken is dry. Season chicken with 2 Tsp Cumin, 1 Tsp Coriander, pinch of red pepper flakes, garlic salt & pepper to taste. Set aside after onions are tender and meat is warmed through. (When I have time, I cook the chicken breasts on the bone with skin and a can of Rotel in a slow cooker just until it falls off bone.) You can use your favorite method.
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Step 2In a medium mixing bowl, blend together cream cheese, cottage cheese and cheddar cheese. (Your favorite mexican blend cheese may be substituted for cheddar.
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Step 3Spray the bottom of a large casserole dish. At least 9x13. I use a really heavy stoneware casserole dish. Open the can or cans of enchilada sauce. You can use one large can or 2 small cans. You can use red sauce or green sauce or one of each. It really doesn't matter much. I really like the green sauce, but I've used one of each before and it didn't matter. Just use what you have! The large can gives you more sauce to work with, I think.
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Step 4Begin the layering process with a very thin layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the dish. (I use about 1/2 of a small can) Next add a layer of tostada rounds. Break them apart slightly to fit into the dish. The tostadas will soften during the baking process.
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Step 5Next add a layer of 1/2 the chicken mixture. Drizzle Chicken layer with enchilada sauce. Cover chicken with a layer of 1/2 the cheese mixture using a spatula of some sort.
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Step 6After getting a nice layer of the cheese mixture over the chicken, Add another layer of tostadas. (that is really the hardest part) don't worry if the layers get mixed up and aren't perfect, it's basically a casserole so it all blends together in the end!
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Step 7Add the rest of the Chicken, More enchilada sauce, and the other 1/2 of the cheese mixture (spread as best you can - it doesn't have to be pretty, cuz it will all melt!)
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Step 8For the top layer, add your reserved cheese, plus a little more if you need/like it.
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Step 9Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until brown and beginning to bubble a bit. Takes a bit longer if you've refrigerated it overnight.
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Step 10Garnish with your choice of pico de gallo or diced tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, black olives, etc...
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
Discover More
Category:
Chicken
Culture:
Mexican
Keyword:
#cheese
Keyword:
#Casserole
Keyword:
#enchiladas
Keyword:
#texmex
Keyword:
#make-ahead
Keyword:
#chicken enchiladas
Keyword:
#Chicken entree
Ingredient:
Chicken
Method:
Bake
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