Keto Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Mexican food is always one of my favorite choices for dinner, especially on busy weeknights.

Traditional enchiladas usually come wrapped in corn tortillas, which quickly adds a lot of extra carbs to your plate.

That is why I love making this keto chicken enchilada casserole instead. It gives you all the bold flavors you enjoy without the heavy starch.

It is naturally low carb and keto friendly, so you can enjoy a hearty dinner while staying on track with your eating plan.

The creamy chicken combined with warm spices and melted cheese makes it an instant comfort food staple in my house.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Real Enchilada Flavor – You get all the bold, smoky enchilada flavors you crave without all the high carb tortillas.

Ultra Creamy Texture – Rich cream cheese and sour cream melt into the chicken to create an irresistibly creamy filling.

Golden Cheesy Crust – A blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack creates a glorious, bubbly blanket of melted cheese.

Fresh Homemade Sauce – Making your own quick spice simmer takes minutes and tastes far better than canned sauce.

Recipe Ingredients

For the Enchilada Sauce

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Ground Cumin
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
• 1 cup Tomato Sauce
• 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
• 1/2 tsp Salt

For the Casserole

• 4 cups Cooked Chicken, Shredded
• 4 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream
• 1 can (4 oz) Diced Green Chiles
• 1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro, Chopped
• 1 cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

For Topping

• 1 Medium Avocado, Diced
• 2 tbsp Green Onions, Sliced
• 1/4 cup Sour Cream

How To Make

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and oregano and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant, then whisk in the tomato sauce, chicken broth and salt. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until slightly thickened.

Step 3

In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Stir in the chicken, green chiles, cilantro and 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce.

Step 4

Spread the chicken mixture into the baking dish and pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top.

Step 5

Sprinkle with the monterey jack and cheddar.

Step 6

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.

Step 7

Let it rest for 5 minutes, then top with the avocado, green onions and dollops of sour cream.

Tips

Soften the Cream Cheese Completely

From my experience, the cream cheese needs to be genuinely soft before you mix it with the sour cream.

If it is even a little bit cold, it will leave tiny white clumps throughout the dish instead of blending into a silky sauce.

You can leave the block on the counter for about an hour, or microwave it in short 10-second bursts until it stirs easily.

Grate Your Own Cheese

I recommend buying blocks of Monterey Jack and cheddar and shredding them yourself at home.

Pre-packaged bagged cheese is coated in powdery starches to keep the shreds apart, which adds hidden carbs that you do not need on a low carb diet.

Freshly grated cheese melts much smoother and gives you that perfect stretchy layer on top of the casserole.

Drain the Green Chiles Thoroughly

My favorite trick here is to press the diced green chiles into a small strainer with a spoon before adding them to the bowl.

Canned chiles pack a lot of extra liquid that can make your casserole watery instead of thick and rich.

Removing that excess water ensures the cream cheese mixture stays thick and clings to the chicken while baking.

More Recipes

• Keto Almond Flour Tortilla Chips
• Keto Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
• Keto Crack Chicken Casserole
• Keto Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
• Keto Tortillas

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use store-bought enchilada sauce instead of making the homemade sauce?

Yes, you can use a store-bought red sauce to save time in the kitchen. Just check the nutrition label closely, because many canned options add flour or sugar that raise the carb count.

Pick a brand with clean ingredients and no added sweeteners to keep your meal strictly low carb.