This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
Here’s an updated recipe for Creamy Chicken Enchiladas with Poblano Sauce (AKA White Chicken Enchiladas) a cozy, comforting meal that is full of delicious flavor! Feel free to swap out roasted cauliflower for the chicken. Vegetarian adaptable! (updated recipe)
Roasted Poblano Enchiladas with Caulifower! | Video
How to roast Poblano Peppers!
- On the Stovetop: If you have a gas stovetop, place directly over a medium-low flame, turning often, for about 5 minutes until blistered and blackened. The easiest, fastest way.
- Broiled In the oven: turning until they blister, about 10- 15 minutes. If you don’t have a broil setting, you can still roast in a very hot oven, but it will take a little longer for the skins to blister.
If making this with chicken, use leftover rotisserie chicken, baked chicken breast, shredded chicken, or even this chicken carnitas recipe.
Of course, you can make homemade tortillas from scratch!
For this recipe, I used 8-inch tortillas that were half corn/half flour.
Roll them up and place seam side down in a greased 9×13 baking dish, coated with 2/3 cup creamy poblano sauce.
I usually can fit 6-7 enchiladas, but if you make them very tight, you can fit 8.
What to serve with Enchiladas:
- Mexican Slaw with Cilantro and Lime
- Mexican Pinto Beans
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Refried Beans! | Instant Pot or Stove Top
- Killer Guac!
- Fermented Hot Sauce!
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas with Poblano Sauce (or Cauliflower)
- Prep Time: 35 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
- Yield: 8 enchiladas 1x
- Category: Main, vegetarian
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican,
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas (AKA White Chicken Enchiladas) with Creamy Poblano Sauce! Vegetarian adaptable! Sub roasted cauliflower for the chicken! See notes.
Ingredients
Filling ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked shredded chicken – see notes (or sub 3 cups roasted cauliflower – see notes)
- 1–2 cups corn – fresh or frozen, or sub spinach, sauteed bell pepper, mushroom or onion
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 scallions, sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
Poblano Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 fresh poblano chili roasted, peeled and finely chopped (use half) or sub-4-ounce can green chilies (use half)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- 1 shallot, chopped (or half an onion, finely diced)
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/4 cups chicken broth or stock (or veggie broth)
- 3/4 cup Sour Cream
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
Enchilada Ingredients:
- 6–8 x 8-inch tortillas (flour, corn, or a blend- my preference) or make homemade tortillas !
- 1 1/2 cups queso fresco cheese, or shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F
- Make the Filling: Prepare chicken (or cauliflower/spinach) see notes, and place in a bowl. Add corn. Mix with cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, scallions, fresh cilantro and lime zest. Set aside.
- Roast the poblano (or use canned green chilies) directly over a gas flame (or on a baking sheet 4 inches below a very hot broiler) turning regularly, until the skins have blackened and blistered. Place in a bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and let cool. Under running water rub off the blackened skin, carefully tear open and pull out the seed pod and stem and rinse all the seeds away. Dice finely. (If pressed for time, you can skip this step entirely by substituting 1 small can of green chiles)
- Make the sauce: In a medium pot, over medium heat 2 T oil or butter and saute shallot until golden and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add 2 T flour, and toast, stirring 2-3 minutes on med-low heat. Whisk in 1 1/4 cups broth. Stir in the sour cream, and whisk until smooth. If using canned chilies, add 1/2 the can now, along with coriander, salt and pepper. Save the remaining chilies and add to the filling. Alternatively, if using the poblano, add a cautious 1/3 of the diced poblanos to start, tasting for heat. (Most are mild, but some, very occasionally are hot!) Then, according to your heat tolerance, add the remaining poblanos to taste. Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Add some to the filling if you want.
- Assemble: Grease one 9 x 13-inch pan. Place 2/3 cup Poblano Cream Sauce in the bottom of the baking dish, just enough to lightly coat the bottom. If your tortillas are not soft and pliable, which is often the case with 100 % corn tortillas, lightly toast over a gas flame on the stovetop, or place them in a microwave covered for a few seconds, or spread on a sheet pan and place in a warm oven for a few minutes, or quickly pan-sear.
- Assemble: Add 2-3 tablespoons cheese to the center of the tortilla add about 1/2-3/4 cup filling and roll them up. Place them seam-side down in the pan on top of the sauce. Pour remaining sauce over top. Add more cheese if you like.
- Cover with foil, place in a 400 F oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and scallions.
Notes
Use leftover rotisserie chicken, or make this simple baked chicken and shred, or this Chicken Carnitas recipe.
If subbing cauliflower/spinach: Preheat oven to 425 F. Chop one head of cauliflower into very small bite-size pieces, toss with olive oil to coat, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander and toss to coat well. Roast on a parchment-lined sheet pan until tender, and edges are slightly crispy. Wilt Spinach: Heat a little olive oil in a skillet, saute 1/2 cup diced onion until tender, add 2-3 handfuls of baby spinach and stir or toss until spinach is just barely wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Combine the cauliflower and spinach in a bowl, mix in cilantro, scallions and lime zest. Add corn if you like, and taste for salt and pepper, adjusting. Use this to stuff the enchiladas.
If making ahead, either bake and reheat, or assemble ahead, leaving the sauce off the top until baking time.
Cotija cheese, a Mexican style cheese is much saltier than queso fresco, so make sure to use queso fresco, not cotija….the packages look similar, but there is a big difference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: one enchilada - chicken and cheese
- Calories: 309
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 1591 mg
- Fat: 9.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 33.8 g
- Fiber: 1.8 g
- Protein: 22.9 g
- Cholesterol: 35.6 mg
Keywords: best chicken enchiladas, cauliflower enchiladas, Creamy chicken enchiladas, white chicken enchiladas, chicken enchiladas with green chilies, cauliflower enchiladas
Reporting back – HUGE SUCCESS. Yes, Greek yogurt works great. I went with both chicken and cauliflower. I marinated the chopped chicken first in lime zest & juice, half the spices & salt, and a clove of garlic. I took MadisonHomeCook’s advice and added the juice of half a lime to the sauce. The cheese I used was cheddar – because this makes the whole thing reminiscent of a recipe my mom made when I was kid (only this one is way better). Completely delicious. Thanks so much, Sylvia!
★★★★★
Thanks so much Carrie Lynn! Appreciate your notes-helpful!
If I could give this 4.5 stars, I would. This was healthy and delicious and my husband and teenage son also liked it. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because I feel the sauce needs some more pizzazz. My poblano was mildly spicy but I added lime juice, cumin and a pinch of adobo spice to the sauce. I used an immersion blender in the sauce and cooked off some of the liquid before adding sour cream, which made the finished sauce nice creamy. If I’d had cilantro, I would have added a bunch- like 1/2c – 1 cup of cilantro blended into sauce. Even so, it was tasty and satisfying. Also, I used mozzarella cheese, which I could not really taste. I think the saltier Cotija option or the goat cheese that other reviewers used would have been more flavorful. I’ll definitely be making this again. Thanks!
★★★★
Thanks for the feedback!
Hi, wondering if the sour cream could be replaced with plain Greek-style yogurt?
I’m worried it would get grainy?
This recipe is so flavorful and adaptable! We used our homegrown poblanos, fresh corn and great refrigerated corn tortillas from our grocer. We made a half batch of chicken and a half batch of cauliflower. Both were so very good. Thank you for your excellent recipes – and for your time in perfecting them!
★★★★★
Love it Cindy, so fresh! So glad you are enjoying.
Lovely dish. The enchiladas were surprisingly delicate and seasoned perfectly. I did roast the poblano chili and used fresh corn. Corn tortillas were wonderful with the chicken and corn filling. Would increase sauce amount next time. Thank you for the recipe
★★★★★
Thanks Lynne- glad you enjoyed this!
Just made these for lunch…used cauliflower and spinach. They turned out perfect and looked just like yours…yeah! We felt they still needed some hot sauce or salsa…but loved them. You’re really improving my cooking and I truly appreciate that. Also, I love all your personal comments and glimpses into your world. I consider you part of my world now and look forward to your emails.
thanks, Inanna! Appreciate this!
woweee that poblano sauce is *chefs kiss*… my husband ate four of these and immediately wanted me to make a second batch because he loved them so much! another winner, thank you sylvia.
★★★★★
Thanks Nicole! Glad you both liked it!
So delicious and quick….love the sauce-used greek yogurt and it worked great…used pulled pork from previous dinner, sweet potato, corn and goat cheese. Thank you for the good base recipe…saved me tonight:)
★★★★★
Yes! love the improvising Melissa!
I did this recipe and we all loved it. I discovered your blog through my daughter and have tried a few so far and we are just in love with everything we tried. We are trying to eat less meat/poultry and i feel I will be able to slowly transition to more of a plant base diet.
Love it Christine! So happy you are enjoying the blog!