Mexican / Southwestern Archives

Category: Mexican / Southwestern

24
Jan
2026

Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas

categories: Air Fryer Recipes, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Mexican / Southwestern

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Make air fryer cheese enchiladas in under 15 minutes, using only 5 ingredients! They taste wonderful and are simple to prepare (yields 4).

Do you like enchiladas? I sure do, and today I want to share how easy they are to make in an air fryer! I’ve been eating AND MAKING enchiladas for many, many years, but recently began using my air fryer to make them when it’s really hot and I don’t want to turn on our oven.

Using an air fryer to make delicious cheese enchiladas is simple. Enchiladas are easily stuffed with cheese, onions and sauce, etc., then covered in more sauce and into the air fryer they go!

The results are amazing, so I hope you try making them this way and see what I’m talking about! Here’s how to make air fryer cheese enchiladas.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Corn Tortillas

Corn tortillas can crack a bit at times if you simply roll them around a meat filling. There is a fairly quick and easy solution to ensure the tortillas for the enchiladas are very pliable.

Heat 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil in a small skillet on medium heat until it is very hot but not smoking. Carefully place one tortilla into the hot oil.

Very quickly flip the tortilla to the other side and then remove it from the hot oil onto paper towels to absorb excess oil. Use tongs to carefully remove the tortilla.

NOTE: Do not fry the tortilla… simply let it get coated on both sides with the hot oil and then remove it!

Continue until all the tortillas have been slightly heated in the oil. Stack them, then pat each one dry before adding the cheese filling.

Prepare The Cooking Dish

Find an ovenproof baking dish that will fit in the basket of your model of air fryer. The glass baking dish I use fit perfectly in the basket of my Cosori air fryer.

Spread ¼ cup of the red enchilada sauce you are using on the bottom of the baking dish and spread until the bottom of the dish is fully covered. Once that is done, you are ready to fill the enchiladas.

TIP: If you don’t have any store-bought red enchilada sauce you can make your own using my recipe for Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce (it’s easy and really GOOD).

Fill The Tortillas

Fill one tortilla at a time, evenly filling each one with ¼ of the grated cheddar cheese down the middle of the tortilla.

Sprinkle ¼ of the chopped onions on top of the cheese, then spoon a little bit of the remaining enchilada sauce in a line on top of the cheese and onions.

TIP: Reserve a small amount of chopped onions and cheese to sprinkle on top of the enchiladas before you cook them!

Roll one side of the tortilla up and over the filling fairly tightly. Place the enchilada SEAM SIDE DOWN on top of the enchilada sauce in the baking dish.

Top Enchiladas With Onions And Cheese

Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce evenly over the tortillas, fully covering the tortillas. Sprinkle the enchiladas with the small amount of reserved onions.

Evenly divide the reserved grated cheddar cheese on top of the enchiladas. Now the air fryer cheese enchiladas are ready to cook!

NOTE: If your air fryer has a “preheat” function, you can preheat it to 350°F. before filling the enchiladas, in order to save time.

Cook The Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas

Air fry the cheese enchiladas for 7-8 minutes at 350°F (check on them at the 7-minute mark). When they’re done, the sauce should be bubbling around the edges of the dish, and the cheese should be fully melted.

Carefully remove the dish out of the air fryer basket using hot pads (it’s HOT). Let the air fryer cheese enchiladas cool for a minute to let the cheese cool slightly before they are served.

Optional Garnish For Serving

If you want, garnish the enchiladas with fresh cilantro leaves, guacamole, and/or dollops of sour cream for more color and flavor. This is optional, but you can add those if desired.

Use a spatula to remove the enchiladas one at a time out of the baking dish and onto plates for serving. These enchiladas are cheesy good!

If you have any leftover, cover the dish well and store it in the refrigerator. The enchiladas can easily be reheated in a microwave for another meal.

I really hope you have the opportunity to make and enjoy these delicious air fryer cheese enchiladas. It is easy to make additional batches of them if you need more servings for you and your family.

If you enjoy enchiladas (oven-baked), then be sure to check out my other recipes for Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas, Pork Enchiladas with Lime Cilantro Sauce and Easy Cheesy Enchiladas.

Thank you for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

Looking For More AIR FRYER Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a nice variety of Air Fryer recipes to choose from, including:

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Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

7 mins

Total Time

17 mins

Make air fryer cheese enchiladas in under 15 minutes, using only 5 ingredients! They taste wonderful and are simple to prepare (yields 4).

Category: Main Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: air fryer, cheese enchiladas

Servings: 4 enchiladas

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Enchiladas:

4 small corn tortillas
1½ Tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
1½ cups grated cheddar cheese
¼ cup chopped yellow onion *divided use
1 cup red enchilada sauce *divided use

For Garnish (optional): cilantro leaves, sour cream, guacamole

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Heat vegetable oil in small skillet on medium heat until hot. Place 1 tortilla into hot oil. Using tongs, quickly flip tortilla to the other side and then transfer it onto paper towels to absorb excess oil. NOTE: Do not fry the tortilla... simply let it get coated on both sides with hot oil and then remove it! Continue until all the tortillas have been heated in the oil. Pat each one dry before filling.
Use ovenproof pan that fits in your air fryer basket. Spread ¼ cup of enchilada sauce on the bottom of dish until covered. NOTE: If your air fryer has a "preheat" function, preheat to 350°F. in order to save time.
Fill one tortilla at a time with ¼ of the grated cheese down the middle of the tortilla. Sprinkle ¼ of the onions on top, then spoon a little bit of remaining enchilada sauce in a line on top of cheese/onions. TIP: Reserve small amount of onions/cheese to sprinkle on top of enchiladas before they're cooked! Roll one side of the tortilla up and over the filling fairly tightly. Place enchilada SEAM SIDE DOWN on top of sauce in the dish.
Pour remaining enchilada sauce evenly over enchiladas, to cover. Top enchiladas with reserved onions and cheese.
Air fry enchiladas for 7-8 minutes at 350°F (check them at 7 minutes). When done, sauce should be bubbly around edges, and cheese should be fully melted.
Carefully remove dish out of the air fryer basket using hot pads. Let enchiladas cool for a minute before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, dollops of sour cream or guacamole (optional). Serve and enjoy!

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

31
Jul
2024

Refried Bean Tostadas

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Mexican / Southwestern

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Refried Bean Tostadas are an easy, meatless meal! Corn tortillas are fried until crisp, then topped with beans, cheese, lettuce, salsa, etc.

Looking for a simple yet delicious meal that is perfect to serve any time of the year? We LOVE making homemade refried bean tostadas!

I’ve been making this simple meatless dish for over 50 years and absolutely believe they are a wonderfully tasty meal!

It’s easy to prepare the toppings ahead of time (and refrigerate), then when you’re ready to make them, it’s as easy as frying the tortillas and heating refried beans on the stovetop! Here’s how to make refried bean tostadas.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare Refried Beans And Tostada Toppings

Combine a can of refried beans (regular or low-fat) with 2 Tablespoons of water in a small saucepan. I always add a little water to very slightly “thin” the refried beans to make them easier to spread on a cooked tortilla later.

NOTE: I use canned refried beans to make this a very convenient, quick recipe, but if you’re interested in making homemade refried beans, be sure to check out my recipe for Easy Crock Pot Refried Beans!

Stir and cook the refried beans (and water) on low heat until heated through. Keep the beans warm while you prepare the other ingredients.

I find it helpful to get all the tostada toppings ready BEFORE beginning this recipe. Place the toppings in small bowls or containers and place them out on the counter. *If getting toppings ready early in the day, cover and refrigerate the bowls of toppings until ready to use.

Fry The Tortillas Until Crispy

Pour oil about ½” deep in a medium sized skillet. Heat the oil on Medium until very hot but not smoking. A drop of water should sizzle when added to the hot oil, indicating the oil is ready.

Carefully place one corn tortilla into the hot oil. The oil should instantly sizzle around the edges. Let it cook for about 30 seconds, then carefully turn it to the other side using tongs (remember that the oil is very HOT).

Continue to cook the tortilla until it is very crisp on both sides. Use the tongs to press the tortilla down in the center if it puffs up, because you want the middle of the tortilla very crisp to hold the weight of the toppings. If necessary, turn the tortilla back over to ensure the first side is crisp.

When the tortilla is crisp all the way through on both sides, transfer it from the hot oil to several layers of paper towels using tongs. As you lift each tortilla out of the oil, let excess oil drip back into the skillet.

The paper towels will help absorb any excess oil. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining tortillas, until all are cooked, crispy, and well-drained.

“Build” The Tostadas

Now it’s time to “build” the refried bean tostadas. Place 2 big Tablespoons of hot refried beans onto each tortilla (there will be some beans leftover).

Use the back of a spoon to GENTLY spread the beans over the surface of the tortilla without cracking it.

Add shredded lettuce on top of the beans, then add grated cheddar cheese (or Colby Jack), dividing these ingredients evenly between the tostadas.

Top each tostada with diced fresh tomatoes. Add garnishes of your choosing to top off the tostadas before serving. We love to add taco sauce (or salsa), chopped cilantro, and a small dollop of sour cream to ours… yum!

The best part of putting out the bowls of toppings is everyone can build their own tostada the way they like it!

The recipe, as written, will yield enough for 4 tostadas, but can EASILY be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled to meet your needs. Some people may eat one tostada, and others may want to enjoy two, so plan accordingly!

TIP: *Remember that you will have some leftover refried beans, so adjust the amount of other ingredients to fit your needs, especially if you want more refried bean tostadas!

Serve And Enjoy Refried Bean Tostadas

Serve and enjoy these delicious, refried bean tostadas. they should be crisp enough to hold all those toppings safe and secure in your hands.

Lift that beautiful tostada up using both hands, and take a big, crispy, delicious bite! Yummy!

I really hope you have the chance to make some yummy, refried bean tostadas! I think they’re a perfect meal for busy days because you can easily prepare the toppings ahead of time.

Cover and refrigerate the prepared toppings, then all you will need to do at dinner time is fry the tortillas, heat the beans, add the toppings and serve!

Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you… and have a wonderful day!

Looking For More MEXICAN-INSPIRED Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of Mexican-inspired recipes to choose from, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1^st and 15^th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

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0 from 0 votes

Refried Bean Tostadas

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

20 mins

Refried Bean Tostadas are an easy, meatless meal! Corn tortillas are fried until crisp, then topped with beans, cheese, lettuce, salsa, etc.

Category: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: refried bean tostadas

Servings: 4 tostadas

Calories Per Serving: 213 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

4 medium corn tortillas
vegetable oil, for frying ½" deep in small skillet
8 ounces canned refried beans = approx. ½ of a 16 oz. can
2 Tablespoons water
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1 cup grated cheddar cheese or Colby Jack
1 medium red tomato diced

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS: taco sauce or salsa, sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced olives, as desired

Instructions

Prep and place tostada toppings (lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, etc.) in small bowls; place them on the counter. *If getting toppings ready early in the day, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Combine refried beans and water in a small saucepan. Stir and cook on low heat until heated through. Keep beans warm while you prepare tortillas.
Pour oil ½" deep in a medium skillet. Heat on Medium until very hot, but not smoking. A drop of water should sizzle when added. Carefully place a tortilla in the hot oil. The oil should instantly sizzle around the edges. Cook for 30 seconds, then turn tortilla to the other side using tongs. Continue to cook until tortilla is very crisp on both sides. Use tongs to press the tortilla down (in the center) in the oil, so the middle of the tortilla is very crisp to hold the weight of the toppings. Turn tortilla over again (if necessary) to ensure crispness on all sides.
Transfer tortilla to several layers of paper towels, which will absorb excess oil as it drains. Repeat with remaining tortillas, until all are cooked, and well-drained.
Spoon 2 big Tablespoons of hot refried beans on each tortilla (there'll be beans leftover). Gently use the back of a spoon to spread beans over the tortilla without cracking it.
Add shredded lettuce on top of the beans, then grated cheese and diced tomatoes, dividing evenly between tostadas. Garnish with taco sauce, salsa, sour cream, cilantro and/or olives, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: Optional toppings such as taco sauce, sour cream, cilantro, and/or olives were not considered in the caloric calculation.

Nutrition Facts

Refried Bean Tostadas

Amount Per Serving (1 tostada)

Calories 213 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 28mg9%

Sodium 525mg23%

Potassium 96mg3%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 422IU8%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 243mg24%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

10
May
2024

Chicken Suizas Hand Pies

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern

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Chicken Suizas Hand Pies are delicious, baked, hand-held pastries filled with chicken, cream cheese, green chiles, jack and cheddar cheeses.

Hand-held filled pastries filled with meat, vegetables or fruit are known and loved around the world. They are called by many titles such as empanadas, hand-pies, turnovers, pasties, pirozhki, calzones, etc., depending on which country they are from.

The recipe I am sharing today is a hand-held pastry, filled with shredded chicken, green chiles, 3 cheeses, and spices. You can make them using homemade pie crust OR a box of store-bought pastry dough, enough for a double crust pie.

I found this recipe online several years ago and made several changes to the original recipe, to suit our taste. The end result is 12 cute, filled hand pies (similar in taste to suizas enchiladas) that can be enjoyed as a hand-held snack or meal.

They are fairly small in size (around 5″ wide), and are low in calories, so go ahead and eat a couple of them if you want! Here’s how to make chicken suizas hand pies.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Make The Chicken Filling

Place cooked shredded chicken, soft cream cheese, chopped green chiles, grated cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses and spices in a large bowl.

Stir well to fully incorporate these ingredients. Be sure to use room temperature cream cheese to make this step MUCH easier!

Cut Out Pastry Circles

Lightly flour a work surface. Whether you’re using purchased or homemade pie dough, lay one crust at a time on the floured surface. Cut 5″ circles out of the dough. I use the top of a 5″ jar to do this!

NOTE: You don’t want to buy pie crusts pre-formed in aluminum pie tins. The dough needs to be flat and round. If purchasing, buy a box of ready made pie pastry (for a double crust pie, like Pillsbury).

Try to get as many 5″ circles out of the two crusts as possible (re-rolling the scraps as necessary). Typically I end up with 12 circles, using the dough from 2 homemade pie crusts.

Fill The Hand Pies

Once the pastry dough has been cut into 5″ circles, place them on an ungreased large cookie sheet (or sheets), leaving space between each one.

Place a couple Tablespoonfuls of the chicken filling on one half of the circle, being careful to NOT add too much filling. Leave the edge free of filling (as shown below).

Carefully fold the empty half of the pastry dough up and over the filling until it meets the opposite edge. Use a fork (or your fingers) to crimp the edges of the hand pie together to seal.

Try your best to make sure the pies are sealed tightly, so the filling doesn’t run out of them while they bake.

Brush the pastry dough with a lightly beaten egg. This step will help the pastry dough to brown slightly while baking.

Bake The Chicken Suizas Hand Pies

Bake the Chicken Suizas Hand Pies on an ungreased, large baking sheet (or 2 sheets) at 425°F. for 15-17 minutes. TIP: Oven temperatures can vary slightly, so I recommend checking on them after 14 minutes.

When done, the crust should be lightly crisp/flaky on the outside and golden brown in color. Remove the baking sheet(s) from the oven and transfer the hand pies to a wire rack using a spatula.

Serve The Chicken Suizas Hand Pies

Let them cool 1-2 minutes, then serve. I’m confident you’ll enjoy the creamy seasoned chicken and cheese filling, and the flaky, golden crust on the outside!

These hand pies are at their best eaten on the same day they are baked, but you can reheat them in a microwave oven the next day, if necessary.

I hope you have the opportunity to make these absolutely delicious Chicken Suizas Hand Pies, because they’re so GOOD!

Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to stop by. I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have many delicious recipes featuring chicken, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1^st and 15^th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

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Recipe adapted from (and with thanks to) Rebekah at: https://www.kitchengidget.com/2016/03/09/green-chile-chicken-enchilada-hand-pies/

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0 from 0 votes

Chicken Suizas Hand Pies

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Chicken Suizas Hand Pies are delicious, baked, hand-held pastries filled with chicken, cream cheese, green chiles, jack and cheddar cheeses.

Category: Lunch, Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken suizas hand pies

Servings: 12

Calories Per Serving: 109 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

1¾ cups cooked, shredded chicken breast approx. 2 small breasts
8 ounces cream cheese softened (room temp.)
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded jack cheese
4.5 ounces chopped green chiles (canned) = 1 can
¼ teaspoon salt and pepper (each)
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
2 unbaked pie crusts purchased pastry dough or homemade
1 large egg lightly beaten

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425℉.
Place chicken, cream cheese, green chiles, cheddar cheese, jack cheese and spices in a large bowl. Stir well until combined.
Roll out and/ or lay pie crust dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut 5" circles out of the dough, cutting 12 circles out (re-rolling scraps as necessary).
Place pastry rounds on ungreased cookie sheets, leaving space between each. Spoon 2 T. of filling on ½ of each circle; DO NOT over fill! Leave filled edge free of filling. Carefully fold the empty side of dough up and over filling until it meets the opposite edge. Use a fork (or fingers) to crimp edges of dough together to seal completely, so filling doesn't escape while baking. Brush dough with beaten egg.
Bake for 15-17 minutes. TIP: Oven temperatures can vary so I recommend checking on them after 14 minutes. When done, crust should be crisp/flaky on the outside and golden brown.
Remove pan(s) from oven; transfer hand pies to a wire rack. Let cool 1-2 minutes, then serve and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Suizas Hand Pies

Amount Per Serving (1 hand pie)

Calories 109 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Trans Fat 0.004g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 49mg16%

Sodium 250mg11%

Potassium 155mg4%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 0.2g1%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 231IU5%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 104mg10%

Iron 0.4mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

09
Feb
2024

Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern

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Delicious Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas are filled with shredded chicken, 3 cheeses, green chiles, and are covered in green sauce (makes 8)!

Do you enjoy enchiladas? We LOVE them, and I make several kinds (cheese, pork, beef and chicken). This recipe is one I came up with many years ago, and continue to make for my husband and I.

The recipe is simple enough. Combine the filling ingredients, fill eight medium sized flour tortillas, place in pan, and cover with green enchilada sauce and more cheese. After baking them, the finished enchiladas taste wonderful!

I try to cook the chicken ahead of time, then the preparation of these yummy, cheesy chicken enchiladas goes really quickly. Here’s how to make chicken green chile enchiladas. I think you’re going to enjoy them!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Shred Cooked Chicken

This recipe for enchiladas requires 2 cups of shredded chicken. I simply boil boneless chicken breasts in water until fully cooked, and try to cook them ahead of time.

Once cooked, drain and then shred the chicken using two forks OR put them in a Kitchen Aid mixer, and let the machine do the work!

Have you ever tried shredding chicken with a Kitchen Aid mixer before? It’s so easy. Put the cooked chicken in the bowl, and turn it on from low progressing to medium speed and in a very short time, the chicken will be shredded!

Prepare The Enchilada Filling

Place the shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, diced green chiles, jack cheese, and cheddar cheese in a medium sized mixing bowl.

Add cumin, onion powder and garlic powder. Use a fork to mix these ingredients until fully combined. Take a tiny bite, then season with salt and pepper, to suit your taste.

Fill the Enchiladas

Before filling the enchiladas, spoon enough of the green enchilada sauce into a rimmed baking pan to barely cover the bottom (approx. 3-4 Tablespoons). If using smaller baking dishes, you may have to use two pans for the enchiladas (see my 2nd photo below).

Fill eight medium sized flour tortillas with the chicken mixture by evenly dividing it between the tortillas. NOTE: This “typically” is about 3-4 Tablespoons of chicken filling per enchilada.

Spoon the chicken mixture in a strip down the middle of each tortilla. Roll the tortilla around the filling, and then place the filled tortillas, seam side down into the prepared baking pan.

Evenly divide the remaining green enchilada sauce over the top of each of the enchiladas, spreading it, to cover.

Bake The Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas

Sprinkle the chicken green chile enchiladas with the reserved jack and cheddar cheeses. Now it’s time to cook them.

Bake the enchiladas at 375°F (covered) for 20-22 minutes, removing the foil halfway through the baking time. When done, the cheese on top will be melted, and the sauce should be bubbly around the edges of the pan.

Serve The Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas

Transfer the baking pan(s) from the oven to a wire rack, and let the enchiladas cool for a couple minutes before removing them from the pan.

Use a spatulas (or two, if needed) to transfer the chicken green chile enchiladas onto individual plates. If desired, garnish the enchiladas with sour cream, guacamole, and/or cilantro.

The garnishes are your choice, of course. Honestly, these enchiladas are good just the way they are, so many times we don’t add a thing to them! Serve them while they are hot… and enjoy!

I hope you have the chance to make these enchiladas, and trust you will enjoy them as much as we do. They’re really tasty!

Thank you for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More Mexican/Southwestern Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some delicious Mexican and Southwestern-style recipes to check out, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1^st and 15^th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Delicious Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas are filled with shredded chicken, 3 cheeses, green chiles, and are covered in green sauce (makes 8)!

Category: Main Dish

Cuisine: Mexican, Southwestern

Keyword: chicken green chile enchiladas

Servings: 8 enchiladas

Calories Per Serving: 320 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
8 ounces light cream cheese softened
4.5 ounces chopped green chiles (canned)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese **DIVIDED USE
1 cup grated jack cheese **DIVIDED USE
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
salt and pepper, to taste
8 medium flour tortillas
10 ounces green enchilada sauce (canned)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375℉. Spoon enough enchilada sauce into a 9"x13" baking pan to barely cover the bottom (approx. 3-4 Tablespoons). Set aside.
Place shredded chicken, cream cheese, green chiles, ¾ cup of jack cheese, and ¾ cup of cheddar cheese in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add cumin, onion powder and garlic powder. Use a fork to mix until combined. Take bite; season with salt and pepper, as desired.
Fill tortillas with chicken mixture, evenly dividing it between 8 tortillas. NOTE: This "typically" is about 3-4 Tablespoons filling per enchilada. Spoon chicken mixture in a strip down the middle of each tortilla. Roll the tortilla around the filling; place seam side down in prepared baking pan.
Evenly divide remaining enchilada sauce over the top of the enchiladas, spreading to cover. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup jack cheese and ¼ cup cheddar cheese. Cover pan with aluminum foil.
Bake enchiladas at 375°F (covered) for 20-22 minutes, removing the foil halfway through baking time. When done, cheese should be melted, enchiladas are heated through, and sauce is bubbly around edges of the pan.
Transfer pan to a wire rack; let enchiladas cool 1-2 minutes before removing them from the pan. Use a spatula (or two) to transfer enchiladas onto plates. If desired, garnish with sour cream, guacamole, and/or cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas

Amount Per Serving (1 enchilada)

Calories 320 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Trans Fat 0.01g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 66mg22%

Sodium 1011mg44%

Potassium 289mg8%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 20g40%

Vitamin A 675IU14%

Vitamin C 7mg8%

Calcium 300mg30%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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20
Jan
2023

Easy Tamale Pie

categories: Beef, Casseroles, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern

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Easy Tamale Pie is a delicious meal featuring ground beef, tomatoes, onions, corn and Mexican spices, topped with a cornbread-style crust.

Years ago I found a recipe for tamale pie in one of my old cookbooks. I made a couple slight changes to the original recipe, and this recipe for easy tamale pie was “born”. I recently cooked it again and took photos so I could share it here on my blog.

Tamale pie is very simple to prepare, and this recipe makes 8 servings. Since there’s only two of us at home now, the yummy leftovers can be enjoyed for several days!

My husband and I enjoy reheating a slice of tamale pie for a quick lunch, since we both work from home! Let me show you how to make this delicious meal.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Filling for The Easy Tamale Pie

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add ground beef and chopped yellow onion to the hot oil, and cook until the meat is fully cooked and browned, and the onions are tender.

Stir the meat and onions often as they cook. When the meat is cooked through, tilt the skillet and use a spoon to remove any accumulated grease from the skillet. Discard the grease.

Add a can of corn (drained) and a can of diced tomatoes (including juice) to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt, chili powder, and ground cumin, and stir to combine them with the ground beef.

NOTE: If you want (optional) to add diced green chilis, sliced olives, or jalapeños to the dish to make it spicier, this is the time to add these ingredients!

Cook this mixture (uncovered) on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, then remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.

Prepare The Batter For The Cornbread-Style Topping

While the ground beef filling is cooking, make the batter to top the easy tamale pie. Whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, and egg in a large bowl until a lump-free batter is formed.

Assemble The Tamale Pie

Lightly grease a 9″ pie pan with non-stick baking spray on the bottom and sides. TIP: **If you do not have access to a 9″ pie pan, you can make this in a greased 9 x 9 baking dish.**

Add the ground beef filling to the pie pan, spreading it out with a spoon to cover the pan. Slowly pour the cornmeal batter over the top of this mixture until the meat filling is covered

NOTE: You MAY have a few Tablespoons of batter left, depending on the dish you use. You do not have to use it all. However, make sure the pie dish is full and the batter covers the filling!

Time To Bake!

Bake the easy tamale pie at 425°F. for 25-30 minutes. It is done when a toothpick inserted into the top of the tamale pie comes out clean. The tamale pie should also be nicely browned on top.

NOTE: Sometimes people add grated cheese to the top of the tamale pie halfway through the baking time. We don’t add it, but I’m letting you know in case you’re interested.

Time To Serve The Easy Tamale Pie

When the tamale pie is finished baking, remove it from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack. Let it cool for 5-6 minutes before slicing it for serving.

Once the tamale pie has cooled slightly, slice it into 8 pie-shaped wedges. Transfer the slices to plates, and serve immediately. This time, I served it with lemon garlic cauliflower rice on the side.

NOTE: The first time I made this, I wasn’t sure it would be “sliceable” Yes… it will be, once cooled slightly! Use a spatula to transfer the slices to each plate. If desired, garnish each slice with a dollop of sour cream.

I really hope you enjoy easy tamale pie, and have the opportunity to make it for those you love. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I invite you to come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More TexMex-Inspired Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have quite a few TexMex-inspired meals for you to choose from, including:

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Recipe adapted from: Jean O’Brien in the book “Church Suppers”, page 256, published in 2005 by Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Easy Tamale Pie

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

50 mins

Easy Tamale Pie is a delicious meal featuring ground beef, tomatoes, onions, corn and Mexican spices, topped with a cornbread-style crust.

Category: Main Dish

Cuisine: Southwestern

Keyword: easy tamale pie

Servings: 8

Calories Per Serving: 292 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Filling:

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef
½ cup chopped yellow onion
15.2 ounce can whole kernel corn drained
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes do NOT drain
1 teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt

For Top Crust:

½ cup yellow cornmeal
½ cup all purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a 9" deep dish pie pan or a 9" x 9" baking dish
Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add ground beef and onions: cook until meat is browned and fully cooked, stirring often Remove/discard accumulated grease.
Add corn, tomatoes, salt, chili powder, and ground cumin to meat, stirring to combine. **If adding optional ingredients (olives, green chilis, jalapeños), do it now.** Cook (uncovered) on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; set skillet aside.
In a large bowl, whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, and egg together until smooth and lump-free.
Spoon beef mixture to greased pie pan, spreading evenly. Slowly pour cornmeal batter over the top until meat filling is covered NOTE: You MAY have a few Tablespoons of extra batter left, depending on dish you use. You do not have to use it all. Just make sure pie dish is full and batter covers the filling!
Bake at 425°F. for 25-30 minutes. It's done when a toothpick inserted into the top/middle comes out clean, and top crust is nicely browned. **NOTE: If desired (OPTIONAL), add grated cheese on top of the pie halfway through baking time.
When tamale pie is finished baking, remove it from oven; transfer to a wire rack. Let cool 5-6 minutes before slicing. Once slightly cooled, cut pie into 8 wedges. Transfer slices to individual plates, and serve. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Easy Tamale Pie

Amount Per Serving (1 slice (1/8 of total))

Calories 292 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 5g

Cholesterol 63mg21%

Sodium 428mg19%

Potassium 548mg16%

Carbohydrates 31g10%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 368IU7%

Vitamin C 8mg10%

Calcium 94mg9%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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19
Dec
2022

Chicken Enchilada Meatballs

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern

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Make a dozen cheesy, baked Chicken Enchilada Meatballs in about 30 minutes! Serve them on a bed of rice for a simple, delicious meal.

Today I want to share a recipe I created for yummy Chicken Enchilada Meatballs. One day I thawed out a pound of ground chicken, but didn’t quite know what I wanted to make with it.

I put on my “thinking cap”, and came up with this recipe for Chicken Enchilada Meatballs! It was fun playing around with ingredients I thought would work well, and we loved the results.

I love meatball recipes (beef, chicken or pork), because they’re very budget friendly. To be able to get four servings out of a pound of chicken, ground beef or pork is a win-win in my book! Of course, this recipe would also work perfectly with ground beef instead of ground chicken, but I was going for lower calories, so the ground chicken won out!

The meatballs come together VERY EASILY, are quickly browned in a skillet, then bake for 20-25 minutes before serving. Chicken Enchilada meatballs not only have cheddar cheese inside, but they’re covered with enchilada sauce and more cheese before baking!

They are only a tiny bit spicy, but if you prefer your food less spicy, simply use less of the chili powder and ground cumin called for in my recipe! Here’s how to make this dish:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Let’s Make Some Meatballs!

Place one pound of ground chicken, a large egg, and 2 Tablespoons of chunky salsa in a large bowl. Stir, to combine these three ingredients well. It will be a very “wet” meat mixture.

Measure finely crushed tortilla chips, grated cheddar, garlic powder, ground cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and salt into a SEPARATE bowl, and stir to combine. Add these “dry” ingredients to the ground chicken mixture, and stir well, to fully incorporate these ingredients.

Divide the seasoned ground chicken mixture evenly into 12 portions, shaping each portion into a meatball by rolling mixture between your hands. Place each meatball (after forming) on a piece of wax paper or foil. Continue until all the meatballs have been formed.

Pan-Sear The Chicken Enchilada Meatballs

Heat oil on Medium-High heat in a large, non-stick skillet until very hot, but not smoking. Add the meatballs carefully to the hot oil in a single layer and let them cook for 1-2 minutes before turning.

Let the meatballs brown on all sides and be cooked through before removing them from the skillet. This usually takes about 5-6 minutes.

Prepare The Meatballs For Baking

Pour enough red enchilada sauce into a 2 quart baking dish to just lightly cover the bottom. Place the browned/cooked meatballs on top of the sauce in a single layer. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the top, making sure to cover all the meatballs.

Sprinkle the top of the meatballs with additional grated cheddar cheese, to cover. Now the chicken enchilada meatballs are ready to be baked!

Bake And Serve the Chicken Enchilada Meatballs

Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake the chicken enchilada meatballs in a preheated 350°F. oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly around the edges, and the cheese has melted.

We especially enjoy these meatballs served on top of hot, steamed rice. We portion out three meatballs per serving, which will provide you with 4 total servings. When served with the rice, it is a very filling meal.

Leftover meatballs reheat very well in the microwave, so we always make a full batch and then enjoy leftovers for our lunches. Store leftover meatballs and sauce, covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days.

I hope you enjoy these delicious meatballs! Thanks for taking the time to stop by today, and I invite you to come back again, for more delicious, family friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More MEATBALL Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some wonderful meatball recipes for you to choose from, including:

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↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Chicken Enchilada Meatballs

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Make a dozen cheesy, baked Chicken Enchilada Meatballs in about 30 minutes! Serve them on a bed of rice for a simple, delicious meal.

Category: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken enchilada meatballs

Servings: 4 (3 meatballs per serving)

Calories Per Serving: 367 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Meatballs:

1 pound ground chicken
1 large egg
2 Tablespoons chunky salsa or picante sauce
⅓ cup grated cheddar cheese
⅓ cup finely crushed tortilla chips
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon salt

For Rest Of Recipe:

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil or other neutral oil
10 ounces canned red enchilada sauce
⅓ cup grated cheese

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place ground chicken, egg, and salsa in large bowl. Stir, to combine.
In SEPARATE bowl, combine crushed tortilla chips, ⅓ cup grated cheddar, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and salt. Add to chicken mixture. Stir well, to fully incorporate ingredients.
Divide chicken mixture evenly into 12 portions, shaping each portion into a meatball. Place each meatball (after forming) on wax paper.
Heat oil on Medium-High heat in a large, non-stick skillet until very hot, but not smoking. Add meatballs carefully to hot oil, in a single layer. Cook 1-2 minutes before turning. Cook meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through before removing them from skillet (approx. 5-6 minutes total).
Pour enough enchilada sauce in a 2 quart baking dish to lightly cover the bottom. Place meatballs on top of the sauce in a single layer. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the top, covering the meatballs. Top with additional grated cheese.
Cover baking dish with foil. Bake at 350°F. for 20-25 minutes, or until sauce is bubbly around edges, and cheese has melted. Remove from oven; serve meatballs on top of hot, steamed rice, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Enchilada Meatballs

Amount Per Serving (3 meatballs)

Calories 367 Calories from Fat 198

% Daily Value*

Fat 22g34%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Trans Fat 0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 5g

Monounsaturated Fat 7g

Cholesterol 163mg54%

Sodium 1058mg46%

Potassium 678mg19%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 28g56%

Vitamin A 845IU17%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 164mg16%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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24
Aug
2022

Chicken Enchilada Quiche

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern

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Make a delicious Chicken Enchilada Quiche, with a corn tortilla crust filled with two cheeses, chicken, eggs, spices, onions and green chilis!

If you enjoy eating quiche or chicken enchiladas, then I’m confident you’ll enjoy this Chicken Enchilada Quiche! This Mexican-inspired quiche comes together easily and then it’s cooked in a MICROWAVE! How convenient is that? That’s a big plus, especially when it’s hot outside, so your kitchen doesn’t heat up from using an oven. Hooray!

Another cool feature about this yummy quiche is that the crust is made entirely from corn tortillas. Yep… you don’t have to make a pastry crust… you use corn tortillas! They’re layered into a pie plate, then two cheeses, shredded chicken, green chilis, spices and an egg filling are added. As the filling cooks, it “bonds” with the corn tortillas, creating a nice, simple crust for this tasty quiche.

Are you a Vegetarian but want to try this recipe? If you follow a vegetarian diet or just want a “meatless” meal occasionally, simply leave the chicken out! This quiche will still taste wonderful! Here’s how easy the quiche is to make:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The “Crust” And Chicken Filling

For this recipe I use 6 small corn tortillas to fill a standard 9″ pie plate. There is no need for any cooking spray! Overlap the tortillas enough to cover the pie plate, being sure to leave some up on the rim, which will become the visible “crust”. If you use larger corn tortillas, you may only need 4 or 5 of them, but using little standard sized ones require 6 to fill the dish.

Mix together the grated Jack and Cheddar cheeses, then measure out 1/2 cup of the cheese and set it aside for later (used during cooking). Once the tortillas have been arranged, sprinkle grated cheeses on top (except for reserved cheese).

Sprinkle the cheese with shredded chicken breast, sliced green onions, and diced green chilis. I use rotisserie chicken because it’s convenient, but feel free to use any cooked chicken breast, as long as you shred it with a couple of forks. Set the pie plate aside while you make the egg filling.

Prepare The Egg Filling

Combine six lightly beaten eggs, salt, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and a Tablespoon of salsa in a medium bowl. Whisk well, to fully combine these ingredients. Set the bowl aside.

In a glass measuring cup, heat milk in the microwave for 2 minutes on HIGH power, stirring once after 1 minute. Remove the milk from the microwave, and let it cool slightly. Drizzle the milk VERY SLOWLY into the egg mixture, whisking the entire time you are adding the milk. Keep whisking as you SLOWLY pour, to ensure the eggs don’t scramble from the heated milk.

Prepare The Quiche For Cooking

Carefully pour the egg mixture over the top of the chicken enchilada quiche ingredients in the pie pan. Gently stir the filling, doing the best you can to combine the cheeses, onions, etc. with the egg mixture. Try to evenly distribute the chicken, etc. throughout the quiche. Once combined, the quiche is ready to be cooked in the microwave.

Final Step

Cook the chicken enchilada quiche (uncovered) in the microwave on 70% power for 15 minutes. NOTE: If your microwave does NOT have a carousel (that moves in a circle), rotate the quiche a 1/3 turn every 5 minutes. At the end of 15 minutes, sprinkle the reserved ½ cup of cheese evenly over the top of the quiche and put it back into the microwave.

Continue to cook for 3 minutes on HIGH (100% power), then remove the chicken enchilada quiche from the microwave. When done, the cheese should be melted and the surface will be fairly firm to the touch. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the quiche cool 5-6 minutes before slicing. This gives the filling and the melted cheeses time to firm up and solidify even more, as well.

Serving The Chicken Enchilada Quiche

Slice the chicken enchilada quiche into 6 wedges. Dollop each serving with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa, if desired. Those extra ingredients are optional, but they do add even more color and flavor to the quiche! All that’s left to do is “Dig In!” and enjoy this yummy meal.

I really hope you enjoy this absolutely delicious chicken enchilada quiche! Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit this blog today. Please come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More QUICHE Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some delicious quiche recipes you might want to check out, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

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Recipe inspired by: Bonnie Spycher’s recipe for Acapulco Quiche in the “Cooking With Love” Monte Vista Chapel Ladies Fellowship cookbook, page 110, published in 1988

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Chicken Enchilada Quiche

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

18 mins

Total Time

33 mins

Make a delicious Chicken Enchilada Quiche, with a corn tortilla crust filled with two cheeses, chicken, eggs, spices, onions and green chilis!

Category: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Mexican, Southwestern

Keyword: chicken enchilada quiche

Servings: 6 slices

Calories Per Serving: 292 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

6 6" corn tortillas
1 cup Cheddar cheese grated
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese grated
1 large cooked chicken breast shredded
1 stalk green onion (green stem and white bulb) thinly sliced
4 ounces diced green chilis (4 oz.) drained
6 large eggs lightly beaten
1 Tablespoon salsa
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup milk

OPTIONAL GARNISHES: guacamole, sour cream, salsa, etc.

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Layer tortillas in pie pan. Overlap tortillas enough to cover bottom and sides, leaving some on the rim, to become a visible "crust".
Mix together grated Jack/Cheddar cheeses. Measure out ½ cup of cheese and set aside for later. Sprinkle grated cheese evenly on top of tortillas (except for reserved cheese). Add chicken, green onion, and green chilis. Set pie pan aside.
Combine eggs, salt, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and salsa in a medium bowl. Whisk well, to fully combine. Set bowl aside. Heat milk in a glass measuring cup in microwave for 2 minutes on HIGH, stirring once after 1 minute. Remove milk; let cool slightly. Drizzle milk VERY SLOWLY into egg mixture, whisking constantly, to ensure eggs don't scramble from heated milk. Carefully pour over ingredients in pie pan. Gently stir filling to evenly distribute ingredients.
Cook (uncovered) in microwave on 70% power for 15 minutes. NOTE: If your microwave does NOT have a carousel (that moves in a circle), rotate ⅕ turn every 5 minutes. After 15 minutes, sprinkle reserved cheese evenly on top; put quiche back in microwave. Continue to cook for 3 minutes on HIGH. When done, cheese should be melted and surface will be fairly firm to the touch. Transfer pan to wire rack; let quiche cool 5-6 minutes before slicing.
To serve, slice quiche into 6 wedges. Dollop each serving with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa, if desired. Serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Enchilada Quiche

Amount Per Serving (1 slice (1/6 of total))

Calories 292 Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Trans Fat 0.02g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 5g

Cholesterol 248mg83%

Sodium 631mg27%

Potassium 278mg8%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 26g52%

Vitamin A 745IU15%

Vitamin C 7mg8%

Calcium 367mg37%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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15
Jan
2021

Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce

categories: Mexican / Southwestern, Sauces and Dressings

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Make a batch of Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce in 10 minutes to use to make your favorite enchiladas, with this step by step EASY tutorial.

Do you like enchiladas? We sure do in our family! I typically keep a large can of store-bought enchilada sauce (for backup) in our pantry, but many times I forget to buy another one once it’s gone. If you’re like me, you don’t want to stop everything and run to the grocery store for one item (especially during Covid-19, right?). Have no fear!

It is so very simple to make it right at home. It’s a cinch to make 4 cups (32 ounces) of easy homemade enchilada sauce in only a few minutes! A LARGE can of enchilada sauce at the store is 28 ounces, so this recipe will give you a bit more that that (and it freezes well), so it’s a win-win.

Today I want to show you, step by step, how EASY it is to make this flavorful enchilada sauce. I found the handwritten recipe in my old recipe box, but there was no source noted to give credit where it is due! I’ve had the recipe for many years, and let me tell you, this is one great tasting red enchilada sauce! Here’s how to make it:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe At The Bottom Of The Page

What Ingredients Will I Need To Make The Sauce?

The ingredients you will use to make this delicious enchilada sauce are olive oil, flour, cocoa, tomato paste, sugar, water, and fresh garlic. You will also use the following spices to add the perfect flavor: chili powder, salt, oregano, basil, thyme, and ground cumin.

How To Make Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan on medium-low heat. Add flour, cocoa powder, salt, chili powder, sugar, minced fresh garlic, oregano, basil, cumin and thyme into a large saucepan. Stir these ingredients together until blended.

The mixture will be very thick and will be dark brown in color. Perfect! Cook for 1 minute on medium-low heat, stirring often.

Whisk or stir a small (6 oz.) can of tomato paste and 3 cups of water into the mixture until fully combined. Cook the easy homemade enchilada sauce on medium heat (uncovered) for 5-6 minutes. Stir often while it cooks. The enchilada sauce will thicken slightly as it cooks.

Once the sauce is slightly thickened, it is ready to be put to good use in a favorite enchilada recipe. That’s it! See how easy it is to make this sauce?

Time To USE Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce!

I like to use a good flavored red sauce for my Easy Cheesy Enchiladas, and this sauce is perfect for that! Simply pour a base of the sauce on the bottom of the dish, add rolled filled enchiladas, and top them with more sauce, cheese and onions before baking. YUMMO!

After baking, I serve enchiladas (made with my easy homemade enchilada sauce) with dollops of sour cream and some chopped fresh cilantro. They’re delicious, and this wonderful homemade sauce plays a large part of that.

I hope you will consider trying this easy to make homemade enchilada sauce. It really does taste GREAT! Any leftover sauce freezes well, so even if I only make 4-5 enchiladas for my husband and myself, I know I always have sauce ready for another round in our freezer.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful day, filled with love, laughter, and encouragement. Please come back for another visit soon to find more delicious recipes to make for those you love.

Looking For More MEXICAN-INSPIRED Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few Mexican-inspired recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Original recipe source: unknown (old recipe found written on a recipe card from years ago)

0 from 0 votes

EASY Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

10 mins

Make a batch of Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce in 10 minutes to use to make your favorite enchiladas, with this step by step EASY tutorial.

Category: Sauce

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: easy homemade enchilada sauce

Servings: 12 (1/3 cup per serving)

Calories Per Serving: 66 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
6 cloves fresh garlic finely minced
1 Tablespoon chile powder
1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon salt
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons sugar
6 ounces tomato paste (canned)
3 cups water

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Heat olive oil on medium-low heat in a large saucepan. Add flour, cocoa, salt, chili powder, sugar, garlic, oregano, basil, cumin and thyme to pan. Stir until blended. Mixture will be thick and dark brown in color. Cook for 1 minute on medium-low heat, stirring often.
Whisk or stir tomato paste and water into the mixture until fully combined. Cook sauce on medium heat (uncovered) for 5-6 minutes. Stir often while it cooks. The enchilada sauce will thicken slightly as it cooks.
Once sauce has slightly thickened, remove from heat, and use in your favorite recipes. Sauce may be frozen, if stored in a sealed, airtight container. Thaw fully before using.

Recipe Notes

The recipe makes approx. 4 cups enchilada sauce. Caloric calculation is made based on using 1/3 cup per portion.

Nutrition Facts

EASY Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Amount Per Serving (1 (1/3 cup portion))

Calories 66 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 708mg31%

Potassium 169mg5%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 414IU8%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 12mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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02
Oct
2020

Black Beans And Rice

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Mexican / Southwestern

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Black Beans and Rice is a scrumptious, budget-friendly, meatless meal for the family! A lot of flavor, fiber, and protein in this easy dish!

If you’re looking for a “meatless Monday” kind of meal, may I suggest this easy recipe for black beans and rice? Not only is it meatless, it is fairly inexpensive to prepare, and tastes fantastic! My husband and I recently began setting aside at least one night a week for meatless meals. We are true meat-eaters, but find it to be a wonderful break for us. I originally found this recipe while searching for meatless meals online. I only “tweaked” the original recipe I used very slightly.

This recipe features black beans, brown rice, veggies and spices, which are great options in any tasty meal. Black beans are a wonderful source of protein and have lots of fiber, which helps add to a feeling of fulness. Brown rice also has more fiber, antioxidants, vitamins & minerals than white rice, so it will also help “fill you up”. That’s a win-win, in my book. Here’s how to make black beans and rice:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page.

Prepare The Spice Mixture

Before beginning to cook this simple dish, I start by getting the spices together, so they’ll be ready to dump into the skillet later! The spices used add wonderful flavor (and is not too spicy) to the black beans and rice.

The spices you will need for this dish are dried parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Measure them into a small bowl, and give them a stir, to combine. Set the spice mixture aside until later.

A Note About Cooking The Brown Rice

You will need to cook the brown rice in broth (vegetable OR chicken). Brown rice tends to take a bit longer to cook than white rice, so plan a bit ahead on this one, ok? I try to get the rice almost fully cooked before preparing the rest of the dish. You can make it ahead to save time, and then fluff it with a fork before adding it to this dish, if that’s more convenient.

Cook the rice according to the package instructions, but substitute vegetable or chicken broth for the water needed. The broth adds another layer of flavor. It is not absolutely essential to do this, but I highly recommend it! Once the rice is fully cooked, and the liquid has been absorbed, remove it from the heat source, fluff it with a fork, and set aside.

Preparing The Black Beans And Rice

Now it’s time to put this meal together. Heat olive oil on medium heat in a large skillet until very hot. Add chopped green peppers and yellow onion to the hot oil. Sauté the veggies for 4-5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking or burning.

Once done, add drained black beans, minced garlic, diced fresh tomatoes, and the spice mixture to the skillet. Stir well, to fully combine all the spices with the ingredients. I was happy to be able to use a jar of my homemade canned black beans in this meal (YAY).

Add one more cup of vegetable or chicken broth to the skillet. Cook the mixture, uncovered, on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often. This just adds in another layer of flavor. When finished cooking, the liquid should be reduced/absorbed.

Add the cooked brown rice to the skillet, and stir well, to incorporate it into the veggies. Cook on medium heat for a couple minutes, stirring often, until the black beans and rice are heated through. Remove the skillet from the heat source.

Time To Serve The Black Beans And Rice

Now the black beans and rice are ready to serve immediately, while hot. The recipe make 3 good sized servings, or 4 smaller servings, and can be easily doubled. When we enjoy this meal, we like to top each portion with a few fresh avocado slices, and a dollop of sour cream (optional). These toppings add color, extra flavor, creamy texture and taste to perfectly complete this yummy, filling meal!

We really love flavor-filled black beans and rice, and I hope you have the opportunity to try this meal soon! Pretty sure you won’t even miss the meat! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you will come back for a visit again soon.

Looking For More MEATLESS MEALS?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a variety of meatless meals you might enjoy, including:

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Original recipe source: Ginny, at https://veganinthefreezer.com/acadian-black-beans/

0 from 0 votes

Black Beans and Rice

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Black Beans and Rice is a scrumptious, budget-friendly, meatless meal for the family! A lot of flavor, fiber, and protein in this easy dish!

Category: Entree, Meatless Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: black beans and rice

Servings: 3

Calories Per Serving: 352 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

Spice Mix:

½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅛ teaspoon black pepper

For Remainder Of Dish:

1¾ cup vegetable or chicken broth , low sodium
¾ cup uncooked brown rice
½ Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
¼ medium yellow onion , peeled and chopped
½ medium green bell pepper , seeded and chopped
15 ounces canned black beans , rinsed and drained
¼ cup diced fresh tomatoes
1 large garlic clove , minced
1 cup vegetable or chicken broth (additional) , low sodium

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Measure spices into small bowl. Stir to combine/set aside.
Cook rice according to pkg. instructions, substituting 1¾ cups vegetable or chicken broth for water called for. Once done, and liquid has fully reduced, remove from heat; set aside.
Heat olive oil (medium heat) in a large skillet until hot. Add green peppers and onion. Sauté 4-5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking/burning. When done, add black beans, minced garlic, diced tomatoes, and spice mixture to skillet. Stir well.
Add one add'l. cup of broth to skillet. Cook uncovered, on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often. When finished, liquid should be fully reduced/absorbed. Add brown rice. Stir well. Cook on medium heat 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until heated through.
Serve immediately, topping each portion with avocado slices/sour cream dollop, if desired, Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Black Beans and Rice

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 352 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 936mg41%

Potassium 641mg18%

Carbohydrates 66g22%

Fiber 13g54%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 246IU5%

Vitamin C 22mg27%

Calcium 71mg7%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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14
Aug
2020

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Mexican / Southwestern

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Make a yummy batch of Easy Cheesy Enchiladas in a flash, with cheddar and jack cheese, canned enchilada sauce, onions, and corn tortillas.

One of my lifetime friends gave me her family’s “recipe” for making basic cheese enchiladas over 42 years ago. I have been making them, in one form or another ever since! The recipe (as shown in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page) is her recipe for basic cheese enchiladas, perfect for “Meatless Mondays” (or anytime, for that matter!).

My friend, Nadine, says lightly frying the corn tortillas in hot oil BEFORE filling them, is the secret to making them. Nadine says it’s because the slightly cooked tortillas won’t tear as easily as dry tortillas might when filling them.

I’ve always made our enchiladas this way, and now (42 years later), I’ve probably used this little basic recipe hundreds of times! You can even go WILD (ha ha) and add seasoned ground beef, chicken, turkey or shredded pork, if you want to add some “meat”.

We have enjoyed these little enchiladas so long now, I feel like they are part of our family! It really doesn’t take much effort to make a pan of eight enchiladas (and the recipe can be easily doubled). Here’s how to make them:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Preparing To Make Enchiladas

Preheat your oven to 350° Place the chopped onion, and grated jack and cheddar cheeses into individual bowls. NOTE: Set aside about 1/4 cup each of the two cheeses and save for later. You will need this cheese to sprinkle on top of the filled enchiladas before baking.

I like to set the bowls close together, right next to where I will be filling the enchiladas, so it is easy for me to grab the ingredients.

Quick Fry To Soften Tortillas

Heat the oil in a small skillet (large enough for the tortillas, though!). You only need a small amount of oil, (usually about 3 Tablespoons) to barely cover the bottom of the skillet. You amount may vary, based on the size skillet you are using.

Heat the oil on medium-high heat until it is very hot, but NOT smoking. Lay a tortilla in the hot oil, and let it cook for about 15 seconds, then flip it to the other side, using tongs.

Cook 15 more seconds, and then carefully (using tongs) lift the tortilla out of the hot oil, letting the excess oil drip back into skillet, and place tortilla on a paper towel.

Repeat process with all 8 tortillas. When done, carefully blot the tortillas with paper towels to soak up any extra oil. Stack the tortillas on top of each other. Now you’re ready to fill the tortillas, and they should be nice and pliable, so they don’t tear.

Filling And Rolling Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

Before filling the enchiladas, spoon just enough of the enchilada sauce in a 9×13 baking dish to cover the bottom. Then, as you fill each enchilada, place it directly on top of the enchilada sauce.

If you’re interested in making your own enchilada sauce (it’s a cinch!), check out my recipe for Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce!

To fill the enchiladas, place a small handful of grated cheddar cheese right down the middle of the tortilla. Top with the grated jack cheese, and then sprinkle with chopped onion.

TIP: You will have to “guesstimate” on the amount of cheese used to fill each tortilla. Remember you need to divide the cheeses and onions evenly between 8 tortillas!

Once filled, roll the tortilla tightly up and over the filling. Place it in the prepared baking dish, with the seam side DOWN. Repeat this process for each enchilada. Your fingers can get a little messy, but who cares? It’s homemade enchiladas!

Finishing Enchiladas BEFORE Baking

Lay each remaining filled enchilada tightly next to the others. Pour or spoon the remaining enchilada sauce over the top of the enchiladas, until all are fully covered. Cover any exposed tortilla with the sauce (that will help them not dry out while baking).

Use all the sauce to cover those enchiladas! Once done, sprinkle the reserved cheddar and jack cheeses over the top of the enchiladas. If you want more, simply add as much as you wish. Sometimes I even add a bit more chopped onion or chopped black olives, too!

Time To Bake

Easy cheesy enchiladas should be baked in a preheated 350°F. oven. Bake them for approximately 20 minutes. When done, the sauce and cheese should be bubbly around the edges, the cheese on top will be melted, and enchiladas will be heated through.

Transfer the baking dish to a wire rack, and let the easy cheesy enchiladas cool for just a couple minutes. This lets the cheese slightly firm up, so they are easier to remove from the dish for serving.

Serving Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

Use a spatula to remove each enchilada from the pan, and transfer to individual serving plates. These enchiladas go really well with my crock pot refried beans or Spanish rice.

Some of our favorite ways to serve cheesy enchiladas include adding chopped cilantro the the top of each enchilada. It’s really your own personal taste that will determine how you top them (and totally optional to add any extra topping at all!).

You can also just go with a dollop of sour cream on each one, OR you can go wild, and add fresh guacamole AND sour cream. However you serve these enchiladas, I’m pretty sure you will enjoy them. We sure do!

I hope you enjoy these easy cheesy enchiladas. We sure do! It’s a perfectly delicious tasting “meatless meal”. Thank you for stopping by, and I sincerely hope you will stop by again. The printable recipe card is below.

Looking for for Mexican/Southwestern Main Dishes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few Mexican or Southwestern inspired recipes, including:

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Original recipe source: my friend Nadine Massey, over 42 years ago

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Make a yummy batch of Easy Cheesy Enchiladas in a flash, with cheddar and jack cheese, canned enchilada sauce, onions, and corn tortillas.

Category: Main Dish

Cuisine: Mexican, Southwest

Keyword: easy cheesy enchiladas

Servings: 8 enchiladas

Calories Per Serving: 305 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

8 medium corn tortillas
19 ounces red enchilada sauce (canned) , 1 lb. 3 ounce can
2 cups grated cheddar cheese , divided
2 cups grated jack cheese , divided
⅓ cup onion (yellow) , chopped
enough oil to cover bottom of small skillet (approx. 3 Tablespoons)

OPTIONAL GARNISH: sour cream, guacamole, chopped cilantro

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

PREP:

Preheat oven to 350° Place chopped onion, and grated jack and cheddar cheeses into individual bowls. NOTE: Set aside about 1/4 cup each of the two cheeses and save for later. You will need this cheese to sprinkle on top of the filled enchiladas before baking. Pour just enough of the enchilada sauce in a 9x13 baking dish to cover the bottom.

Making Enchiladas:

Heat oil in a small skillet (large enough for tortillas) on medium-high heat until very hot, but NOT smoking. Lay a tortilla in hot oil; let it cook for about 15 seconds, then flip it to other side, using tongs. Cook 15 seconds, and then carefully (using tongs) lift tortilla from oil, letting excess oil drip into skillet; place on a paper towel. Repeat process with all tortillas. Blot tortillas with paper towels to soak up oil.
Fill enchiladas: place a small handful of grated cheddar cheese down the middle of the tortilla. Top with grated jack cheese, and then sprinkle with chopped onion, dividing cheeses and onion evenly between 8 tortillas. Once filled, roll tortilla tightly up and over the filling. Place in prepared baking dish, seam side DOWN. Repeat process with each enchilada.
Pour or spoon remaining sauce over enchiladas, until fully covered. Once done, sprinkle reserved cheddar and jack cheeses over the top.
Baked at 350°F. for approx. 20 minutes. When done, sauce and cheese should be bubbly around the edges, cheese melted, and enchiladas heated through. Transfer dish to a wire rack; let cool for 2 minutes, before serving. OPTIONAL: Serve, topped with sour cream, cilantro, guacamole or other toppings of your choice. Enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Oil used to quickly "fry" tortillas not included in caloric calculation. Most oil remains unused (and amount to cover skillet bottom will vary per user).

Nutrition Facts

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

Amount Per Serving (1 enchilada)

Calories 305 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Fat 19g29%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Cholesterol 55mg18%

Sodium 923mg40%

Potassium 109mg3%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 949IU19%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 437mg44%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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