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Home / Recipes / Chicken Recipes / Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce

Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce

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Author:

Kimber Matherne

Published:

February 28, 2023
August 17, 2023

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These Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce are delicious, creamy, and simple to make. Made with any kind of chicken you have and hearty spinach, these enchiladas are sure to be just as popular in your house as they are in mine!

Creamy enchiladas in a pan with golden brown cheese and on a plate topped with salsa. this Recipe
Contents hide
1 Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas – The EASY Way!
2 What to Serve with Spinach Chicken Enchiladas
3 Recipe Notes
4 Recipe Tips
5 Recipe Short Cuts
6 Recipe Variations
7 Freezer Meal Instructions
8 Enchilada Leftovers
9 More Quick Dinner Recipes
10 Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce

Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas – The EASY Way!

These chicken spinach enchiladas are so simple, packed with flavor, and come together in a few minutes. That’s a win for any family! This recipe utilizes pre-made chicken, any enchilada sauce you like, and frozen spinach which is what makes this recipe so quick. Plus, these basic ingredients can be found at any store and are very cost effective for a full family meal.

Why I LOVE this recipe!

  • Kid-Friendly – While my kids are typically pretty good about eating vegetables, it always helps to some what hide them in dishes. These enchiladas hide spinach in a delicious cream sauce making them very kid friendly because who doesn’t love a creamy sauce?!
  • Easy Ingredients – Frozen spinach, rotisserie chicken, and tortillas can be found at any store. These simple ingredients make this recipe easy and cheap to make.
  • Make What You Need – You can easily double or triple a batch of enchiladas. This means you can freezer one or two pans for later making them an exceptional freezer meal.
  • Quick– Just a few ingredients that are already mostly cooked makes this meal come together very quick.

What to Serve with Spinach Chicken Enchiladas

Since this dish has classic Mexican flavors, it will pair well with many of your favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex side dishes. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.

Side Dish Ideas

  • Black Beans– Make them in the crock pot or use this easy canned black beans recipe!
  • Mexican Rice– This recipe tastes just like your favorite restaurant!
  • Mexican Corn Salad– this is a tasty and refreshing salad that pairs perfectly with these chicken spinach enchiladas.
  • Mexican Street Corn Casserole – is another super quick meal that can be put in the oven next to the enchiladas. It’s one of our most popular recipes on Easy Family Recipes for a reason!
  • Chipotle Corn Salsa – this salsa is just like my favorite one at Chipotle! This is perfect for serving with chips on the side of the spinach chicken enchiladas!
  • Mexican Roasted Vegetables– are so so easy to make! You just have to spread them over a baking tray with spices and bake.
  • Fresh Guacamole– Just like they make it tableside in the restaurant!

You can choose one or add a few sides to make a wholesome, well rounded dinner. 

Recipe Notes

This chicken and spinach enchiladas with green sauce recipe is as simple as promised! Just 15 minutes for a family friendly meal.

In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

Ingredients for chicken spinach enchiladas including shredded chicken, green enchilada sauce, colby jack cheese, sour cream, spices, corn tortillas, and frozen spinach.

Ingredients + Substitutions

  • Corn tortillas – These are what are used for traditional enchiladas and what I prefer. I use standard size corn tortillas but you could also use 8″ or 9″ flour tortillas. If using flour tortillas, you do not need to soften them before rolling.
  • Shredded chicken – I often grab a rotisserie chicken for this recipe because it is already cooked and ready to go. You can use any mild or Mexican flavored shredded chicken though. This can be baked, boiled, canned, or leftover from another recipe or restaurant.
  • Spinach – I use frozen spinach because I do not find a different in flavor between fresh and frozen spinach for this dish. I use chopped frozen spinach because it is easier to eat and less work for me.

    Pro Tip: Make sure you squeeze all the liquid out before adding to the enchiladas!
  • Colby jack – Colby jack is my preferred cheese for this recipe because it has a slight tang. I shred it myself, but you could use pre-shredded. Pepper jack, a Mexican blend, or cheddar cheese could also be used.
  • Spices – For these enchiladas, I use standard Mexican spices. These include cumin, chili powder, and salt. You can adjust the chili powder up or down to match the spice level you like.
  • Green enchilada sauce – I use store bought enchilada sauce for this recipe but you could make homemade green enchilada sauce or even use a green salsa. You could use red enchilada sauce, but I think the green pairs better with spinach and chicken.
  • Sour cream – Any sour cream will work to create the delicious creamy sauce for these chicken and spinach enchiladas with sour cream sauce.
  • Garnish – Pico de Gallo, avocado, or cilantro would all be great!
Steps to make chicken spinach enchiladas step 1 soften the tortillas, step 2 mix the filling and the sauce step 3 roll the enchiladas and place in the pan topped with sauce step 4 bake and enjoy.

Recipe Tips

  1. Soften the tortillas – Corn tortillas are the most traditional, but require a little special attention to ensure they roll without cracking.

    They must be softened by heating to ensure they do not break. My preferred way to do this is to warm (just warm, not boiling) the enchilada sauce in a pan larger than the tortillas. Then quickly dip the corn tortillas into the sauce, flipping to coat each side, and then transfer to the pan, fill, and roll. This heat the tortillas just enough for rolling and ensures the flavor it spread throughout.

    Make sure you don’t leave the tortilla in more than a few seconds or it will get too soft and can tear. I like to use tongs to do the dipping to save my fingertips!
  2. Drain the spinach – It is super important that you thaw and drain the spinach of any water prior to mixing it into the enchiladas. Otherwise, the tortillas will end up soggy.
  3. Bulk up – To add a little more “oomph” to enchiladas, you can add fillings like black beans or pinto beans or potatoes. This not only makes them more filling, but you can get more enchiladas using the same amount of protein.

Recipe Short Cuts

If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!

  • Make it a double– When making these enchiladas, the amount of effort it takes to make one batch verses two is nearly identical. So, to speed up dinner next time, you can simply double this recipe and store an entire batch in the freezer for dinner down the road.
  • Make the filling– The chicken and spinach filling for these chicken and spinach enchiladas with white sauce can be mixed up and set aside up to 2 days in advance. When ready to make, simply assemble and bake.

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

  • Spinach Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas – This recipe variation is a super simple swap from this original recipe. Just use softened cream cheese, instead of sour cream in the sauce. Easy peasy!
  • Chicken Spinach Enchilada Casserole – I love to make enchilada casseroles when I don’t feel like rolling tortillas. We can make this in the same way we do our popular red Chicken Enchilada Casserole.

    To make this one, mix your enchilada filling ingredients and creamy green sauce separately. Then mix the filling with the half of the creamy green sauce together in a 9×13 pan. Add a layer of corn tortillas. Spread it out evenly and top with remaining green sauce. Finish with cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes.
Enchiladas in a pan with golden brown cheese and topped with pico de gallo.

Freezer Meal Instructions

Making this chicken enchilada recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.

  1. First, I recommend making this in a disposable baking dish that is lined with parchment paper for easy clean up and to ensure it can be frozen without the pan having issues.
  2. Make the enchiladas as directed in the recipe below but do not bake them.
  3. Once assembled, wrap tightly with foil or plastic wrap and place into a freezer safe bag.
  4. When ready to eat, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  5. Bake the enchiladas for 30 minutes from frozen. They should have an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.

Enchilada Leftovers

If you have leftovers after making these enchiladas, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.

To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:

  • in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
  • in the freezer up to a month

More Quick Dinner Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!

You can check out all of my dinner recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.

  • Carnitas Quesadilla
  • BBQ Brisket
  • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Enchiladas in a pan with golden brown cheese and topped with pico de gallo.

Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce

By: Kimber Matherne
5 from 1 vote
These super easy and quick chicken spinach enchiladas are a family favorite! Topped with a delicious creamy green sauce and filled with already prepped ingredients like shredded chicken and frozen spinach, they are a win for kids and parents!
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
6 Servings
Rate this Recipe Print SaveSaved!

Ingredients 

For the enchiladas

  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded chicken
  • 12 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of moisture
  • 1½ cups shredded Colby jack cheese, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

For the sauce

  • 1 can green enchilada sauce
  • 1/3 cup sour cream

Garnish

  • Pico de Gallo

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
  • Combine the shredded chicken, spinach, and 1 cup of the cheese together until everything is evenly distributed.
  • In a pot bigger than the diameter of your tortillas, heat the enchilada sauce to a rolling simmer.
  • To assemble the enchiladas, dip the tortilla quickly in the sauce to coat both sides. This will make the tortilla soft and pliable. The sauce needs to be hot/simmering. This method will not work with cold or room temperature sauce.
    Place the sauced tortilla on a plate and add filling down the middle then roll the sides and place it in a 13×9 baking dish.
    Repeat for all 12 enchiladas.
  • Then, whisk 1/3 cup sour cream into the rest of the sauce and pour over the top of the enchiladas. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the enchiladas are heated through. Garnish with pico de gallo and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Last step!Share a picture on Instagram and tag me at @easyfamilyrecipes!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2enchiladas, Calories: 417kcal (21%), Carbohydrates: 38g (13%), Protein: 27g (54%), Fat: 18g (28%), Saturated Fat: 9g (56%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 74mg (25%), Sodium: 1647mg (72%), Potassium: 464mg (13%), Fiber: 7g (29%), Sugar: 10g (11%), Vitamin A: 8010IU (160%), Vitamin C: 6mg (7%), Calcium: 362mg (36%), Iron: 3mg (17%)

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2 responses

  1. Laila Y.
    March 29, 2023

    5 stars
    This was absolutely amazing. Everyone in the household loved the enchiladas. I was substituting frozen spinach for fresh. I chopped it up into small pieces. And I added them directly to the mixture, not realizing that they should have already been thawed. I will know that for next time. This will be a regular meal for my family. So easy, and delicious.

    Reply
  2. Tara Hanson
    September 29, 2023

    I’m assuming you add the spices in with the chicken/cheese/spinach mixture?

    Reply
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