This Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole is an easy way to enjoy everything you love about enchiladas without having to deal with the fuss of rolling each one. It’s made with tender shredded chicken, soft tortillas, and melty cheese, all layered in a zesty, creamy enchilada sauce.
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: instant pot, instant pot chicken enchilada casserole, mexican
Servings: 10servings
Calories: 355kcal
Author: Lillie
Ingredients
10ozfrozen diced onionor 1 medium onion, diced (284g)
20ozfrozen chopped bell pepperor 3 large fresh (567g)
10ozfrozen cauliflower rice283g
6frozen garlic cubesor fresh minced cloves
3lbchicken tenderloins1344g
2Tbspcumin34g
2Tbspchili powder34g
1Tbsppaprika17g
1Tbsporegano17g
2-3tspkosher salt17g
2tsponion powder12g
1tspblack pepper6g
15ozcan green enchilada sauce420g
4oz⅓ less fat cream cheese112g
½cuplow fat Greek yogurt120g
1cupcilantrochopped (45g)
¼cupgreen onionchopped (15g)
16corn tortillasdivided (416g)
1 ½cupcheddar or jack cheesegrated (120g)
Instructions
Set the Instant Pot to sauté. Spray with a mist of olive oil and let it heat. Add the onion, bell peppers, and cauliflower rice. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the veggies are aromatic and softening. Add the garlic, chicken, spices, and enchilada sauce. Give everything a good stir. Turn off the sauté setting, close the lid and seal the valve, and set on manual high pressure for 12 minutes.
When it’s done, allow the pot to naturally release for ten minutes (or longer if you’re busy!) Then open the valve to release the rest of the steam. Remove the lid and turn on the sauté setting. Add the cream cheese and yogurt, and use the sauté feature to help cook down some of the liquid. In the meantime, shred the chicken. You can use two forks, or I like to use my meat masher. You can also transfer the chicken to your standing mixer to shred, or CAREFULLY use a hand mixer right in the pot.
Let the mixture boil on sauté for at least fifteen minutes to reduce the liquid while you continue to mix the shredded chicken, cream cheese, and yogurt. Turn the pressure cooker off, and stir in your cilantro, green onion, and 10 of the corn tortillas, chopped into strips or squares. It will still be pretty soupy. That’s ok!
At this point, you can transfer everything to a very large casserole dish (or two smaller dishes) and top with the remaining 6 tortillas. Make sure they’re not dry by “dipping” each side in your saucy chicken mixture. Top tortillas with grated cheese. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes. Broil for an extra minute or two for more color.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
Add the chicken, onion, bell peppers, cauliflower rice, garlic, spices, and enchilada sauce to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 3-4 hours until chicken is nice and shreddable. Open the lid and carefully remove about a cup of liquid. Add the cream cheese and yogurt. Let that cook with the slow cooker open while you shred the chicken. You can use two forks, or I like to use my meat masher. You can also transfer the chicken to your standing mixer to shred.
Cook on high in the slow cooker for at least fifteen minutes to reduce the liquid while you get the chicken shredded and the cream cheese and yogurt mixed in well. Turn the slow cooker off, and stir in your cilantro, green onion, and half of the corn tortillas, chopped into strips or squares. It will still be pretty soupy. That's ok!
At this point you can transfer everything to a very large casserole dish (or two smaller dishes if needed). You can leave behind a little juice if it seems excessive. Top with remaining tortillas. Make sure they're not dry by "dipping" each side in your saucy chicken mixture. Top tortillas with grated cheese. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes. Broil for an extra minute or two for more color.
Notes
Search: Lillie Eats and Tells Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole