Chicken Chilaquiles Casserole Recipes

CHICKEN CHILAQUILES CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in 10-inch skillet until hot. Cook tortilla strips in oil 30 to 60 seconds or until light golden brown; drain.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 2-quart casserole.
• Layer half of the tortilla strips in casserole; top with chicken, half of the salsa verde (about 2/3 cup) and 1 cup of the cheese. Press layers gently down into casserole. Repeat with remaining tortilla strips, sauce and cheese.
• Bake about 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden brown.

CHICKEN CHILAQUILES CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Adjust the oven racks to the upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the tortilla wedges on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Lightly coat both sides of the tortilla with vegetable oil spray.
• Bake the tortilla wedges until they are lightly browned and begin to crisp, 8 to 12 minutes. Flip the tortilla wedges and continue to bake until the chips are fully toasted, 8 to 12 minutes longer. Set the tortilla wedges aside and turn the oven to 500 degrees.
• Combine the poblano chiles, 1 cup of the onions, Melt®, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a 12-inch skillet. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until the vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat to medium-high, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes longer.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons of the cilantro, garlic, and chipotles and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes with their juice and the broth. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season with 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Nestle the chicken breasts into the sauce and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, about 5 minutes. When the sauce simmers, flip the chicken, cover, and continue to cook until the chicken registers 160 to 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 10 to 12 minutes longer.
• Transfer the chicken to a plate. When cool enough to handle, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Process the sauce in a blender until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Return the sauce to the skillet, season with salt and pepper to taste, bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Stir in the tortillas and cook until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in the shredded chicken, then transfer the mixture to an 8-inch square baking dish. Sprinkle with the cheese and bake on the lower-middle rack until hot throughout, 5 to 10 minutes.

CHICKEN CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Cook the chorizo in a skillet over medium heat, stirring to break it into tiny pieces. Place the raw chicken into the skillet with the chorizo; cook and stir the meats together until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes.
• Spread half of the tortilla chips over the bottom of a casserole dish; top the chips with the cooked chorizo and chicken mixture. Sprinkle the corn evenly over the meats and layer the remaining chips over the top. Whisk together the green enchilada sauce and sour cream in a mixing bowl; pour over the top of the casserole. Top the casserole with the shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
• Bake the chilaquiles in the preheated oven until the casserole is bubbly and the chips begin to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

CHICKEN CHILAQUILES CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Stack the tortillas, cut them into thin (3/8-inch) strips, then cut the strips in half crosswise.
• Add about 1/8-inch of vegetable oil to a large, heavy skillet. Heat over medium-high heat and once the oil is shimmering, add about 1/3 of the tortilla strips. Fry the strips until crisp and golden, tossing them frequently to ensure even cooking.
• Transfer the cooked strips to a paper towel-lined plate and season with a pinch of salt while they're still hot. Repeat the process with the remaining 2 batches of tortilla strips, adding a little extra oil if necessary. Set aside and wipe out the pan.
• Note: You can cut your prep time for this recipe by using store-bought tortilla chips. Just break up them up a bit and proceed with the rest of the recipe as written.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick spray.
• If necessary, trim any white tendons from the chicken tenderloins and cut each one into 4 or 5 bite-sized pieces. Place 3 tablespoons of the flour in a shallow dish (a pie plate works well) and add the cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, a few grinds of black pepper and combine well. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour, shake off the excess and set aside.
• Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan you fried the tortilla strips in and return it to the stove over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and pale golden in color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, sauté just until fragrant, then sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour. Combine well and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the flour takes on a golden color, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Add the chicken broth and lime juice and whisk until smooth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cream, then pour the sauce into a measuring cup (2-cup) and set aside.
• Wipe out the pan, return it to the stove over medium-high heat and add a little more oil. Add the chicken and cook, turning frequently, until the floured exterior is light gold, 2 minutes. Add the bell pepper and jalapeño, cook 1 minute longer, then add half of the reserved sauce. Stir in the scallions and cilantro and remove from the heat.
• Scatter half of the fried tortilla strips in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add the chicken mixture in an even layer and top with the remaining tortilla strips. Pour the rest of the sauce over the top, then sprinkle with the cheese.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately.

GREEN CHICKEN CHILAQUILES CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a large saucepan. Place the breasts in the stock, reduce the heat to moderate, cover and cook until the meat is tender, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool in the stock. When cool, remove the skin and bones and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Strain and reserve the stock for another use.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the fresh tomatillo salsa, heavy cream, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, the onion and shredded chicken pieces.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the tortillas just about 5 seconds per side to soften, and then transfer to a large colander to drain.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 4 quart casserole or 6 to 8 individual casseroles (at the restaurant, we use small soup bowls).
• Combine the cheeses in a mixing bowl.
• To assemble the chilaquiles, spread a thin layer of the cheese mixture over the bottom of the baking dish. Push the solids in the bowl of chicken and tomatillo sauce to the side so the liquids form a pool in the bottom. Dip all the softened tortillas in the pool to moisten. Layer one third of the moist tortillas over the cheese and top with half of the chicken mixture with its sauce. Sprinkle half of the remaining cheese over the chicken. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of tortillas on top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake 30 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown. Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving or unmolding.
• In blender place tomatillos, jalapenos and water. Puree until just chunky. Add remaining ingredients and puree about 2 minutes more, or until no large chunks remain. This salsa keeps in the refrigerator, in a covered container, about 3 days.
• In large bowl combine all ingredients and stir until smooth. The dough should be slightly sticky and form a ball when pressed together. To test, flatten a small piece of dough between your palms. If the edges crack, add water to the dough, a tablespoon at a time, until a test piece does not crack.
• Divide the dough into 24 golf ball size pieces for tacos and 12 large balls for quesadillas. Place on a platter and cover with a damp towel. Line a tortilla press with 2 sheets of plastic cut from a plastic freezer bag or other heavy duty plastic bag.
• Heat a dry cast iron skillet, or non-stick pan until moderately hot. Flatten each ball of dough in the tortilla press, then remove the plastic from the top and, holding the tortilla with your fingertips, peel off the bottom sheet. Lay the tortillas one by one on the skillet and cook about 30 to 45 seconds per side, pressing the top of each tortilla with your fingertips to make it puff. Place the hot tortillas on a towel.
• When they are still warm but not hot, stack and wrap in a towel. Serve immediately or let cool, wrap well in plastic or a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator up to a week.

CHILAQUILES CON POLLO: TORTILLA CASSEROLE WITH CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pan boil the water, add the tomatillos and serrano chiles and let them cook for about 8 minutes. In a blender puree the tomatillos, chiles, garlic, and onions using enough of the tomatillo water to make a sauce consistency. Strain.
• Cut the tortillas in half and then in quarters making 8 triangles from each one. In a medium-size skillet heat the oil, fry the tortillas until crisp and remove from heat.
• In a medium-size skillet saute the chicken breast until done and then slice into 1-inch strips.
• In a medium sauce pan bring the tomatillo salsa to a boil, taste for salt, and season if necessary, add the crispy tortillas and let simmer for about 4 minutes or until the tortillas get soft.
• In a 8 by 8 inch baking dish, place some of the chilaquiles with sauce, add some of the chicken strips, cover with more tortillas then top with the grated cheese. Bake in a preheated 400 degree F. oven until the cheese melts, garnish with the cream, chopped onion, and avocado slices.

CHILAQUILES WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• To make the fried tortilla strips, slice corn tortillas into thin strips.
• Fry in a large skillet of hot oil until light golden brown and crisp, watching carefully so they do not burn.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• To assemble the casserole, spread the corn strips on the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish.
• Place the chicken on top and cover with the sauce, then top with cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until heated through.
• Spread the sour cream over the top of the casserole and serve.

TURKEY/CHICKEN CHILAQUILES CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Prepare New Mexico Green Sauce; Set oven control to broil. Arrange poblano chilies on broiler rack with tops about 5 inches from heat. Broil 12 to 17 minutes, turning occasionally, until skin is blistered and evenly browned (not burned). Remove chilies to plastic bag; close tightly. Let stand 20 minutes. Peel, seed and finely chop chilies.
• Cook onion, poblano and jalapeno chilies and garlic in 2 tbls oil over medium heat about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender. Stir in whipping cream and salt. Set aside.
• Heat 1/2 cup oil in 10-inch skillet until hot. Cook tortilla strips in hot oil 30 to 60 seconds or until light golden brown; drain.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2-quart casserole.
• Layer half of the tortilla strips in bottom of casserole. Top with turkey, half of the New Mexico Green Sauce (about 2/3 cups) and 1 cup of the cheese.
• Press layers gently down into casserole.
• Repeat with remaining tortilla strips, sauce and cheese.
• Bake about 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden brown.