Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole

4.33 from 31 votes

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole is easy, delicious, and full of vegetables. It’s a kid-approved recipe that is perfect for dinner! I also have a non-crockpot version (Chicken Enchilada Casserole) too!

crockpot chicken enchilada casserole on a white plate with sour cream and avocado slices on top

Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole | Kid-Approved

This healthy Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole is all the yummy flavors of a pan of enchiladas but made in a crockpot with nearly zero grams of fat. Plus I filled it up with veggies galore!

My only caution for this recipe is to not cook the daylights out of it. Overcooked rice is not delicious. So, start stirring and checking in after 2 hours. I know that seems like very little time in the crockpot, but I promise this one step will ensure an evenly cooked, tasty meal.

Main Ingredients Needed

This list may look long but trust me the prep is minimal! This crockpot chicken enchilada casserole is still nice and easy. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Long Grain White Rice – you can also use brown rice, but the cooking time might be longer. It’s super important that you keep an eye on the rice so that it doesn’t overcook. If you’re not into that, simply cook separately and mic in after.
  • Chicken Broth – to help everything cook together while adding some flavor. Vegetarian? Simply use vegetable broth instead.
  • Zucchini, Green Bell Pepper, Red Bell Pepper, Carrots + Red Onion – all of the veggies that come together and make this casserole healthy.
  • Black Beans – for protein! You could also use pinto or cannellini beans if that’s all you have.
  • Cumin – for some more savory flavor.
  • Red Enchilada Sauce – either use your favorite store-bought brand or use my homemade enchilada sauce.
  • Chicken Breasts – more protein! I put these babies in thawed and raw. If you want to create a vegetarian meal leave this out.
  • Salt + Pepper – don’t forget to season!
  • Cheddar Cheese – this is all melty and delicious right on top of the whole casserole.
  • Frozen Corn – this is cooked right near the end. So yummy!

How to Make Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole

For full details on how to make Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole, see the recipe card down below 🙂

Prep Veggies


So, the biggest reason I can claim this recipe is so healthy is because I pack it full of veggies! Chop up some red onion, zucchini, carrots, red peppers, and green peppers. This is the most prep work you do for this entire recipe.

Add Ingredients to Crockpot


Throw those veggies into your crockpot with some rice and chicken stock {which are hiding under all those veggies!} Rinse and drain a can of black beans and dump those bad boys in. Pour in a little red enchilada sauce, salt, and pepper, and stir.

Then grab some chicken breasts and pop those up on top of the rice and veggie mixture. Cover with more salt, more pepper, and more red enchilada sauce.

Cook + Check Rice

Cover and cook two hours. Stir and check to see if your rice is done cooking. Things should look fluffier than when you left…and your chicken should be just about done! You may need to cook another 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how efficient your crockpot is.

Shred Chicken + Add Frozen Ingredients

Once your chicken is cooked and rice is done, remove the chicken and shred. Then stir it back in with some cheese, frozen corn, and more enchilada sauce if you like things saucy. Heat it through to melt the cheese {only a few more minutes} and then serve!

crockpot chicken enchilada casserole on a white plate with sour cream and avocado slices on top

More Enchilada Recipes to Try!

It’s a comforting and hearty meal, which, for me seems odd considering its a super healthy dinner.

Either way, it’s delicious and a great way to sneak those veggies and lean proteins into your kiddos! Love love love it. Save this one for your new years resolutions!

Have a great day, friends! Printable recipe below:

crockpot chicken enchilada casserole on a white plate with sour cream and avocado slices on top
PrintPrint Pin ItPin It
4.33 from 31 votes

Crockpot Enchilada Casserole

This Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole is easy, delicious, and full of vegetables. It's a kid-approved recipe that is perfect for dinner!
servings 5 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup long grain white rice
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 small zucchini diced
  • 1 red pepper diced
  • 1 green pepper diced
  • 1/2 large red onion diced
  • 1 cup carrot diced
  • 15.25 oz black beans 1 can rinsed and drained (I used Kroger)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 16 oz mild Red Enchilada Sauce divided, 2 cups
  • 1.5 lbs chicken breasts I used Simple Truth Organic
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 cup frozen corn

toppings:

  • tortilla chips
  • shredded cheese
  • sour cream
  • avocado
  • cilantro
  • green onion
  • lime wedges etc.

Instructions

  • In a cold crockpot, stir together rice, chicken broth, zucchini, red peppers, green peppers, red onion, carrot, black beans, cumin, 1/2 cup enchilada sauce, and salt and pepper. Top with chicken, more salt, and pepper. Pour over another 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce, cover, and cook on high for 3 hours.
  • Stir after 2 hours and check rice doneness. After 2 hours, adjust the cooking time until rice is just finished cooking.
  • To finish, remove chicken and shred. Replace back into the crockpot. Stir in another cup of enchilada sauce {if desired}, shredded cheese and frozen corn. Switch crockpot to low, cover and cook another 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve and top with any desired toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 487kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 1283mg | Potassium: 1002mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 6060IU | Vitamin C: 68mg | Calcium: 206mg | Iron: 2.5mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Crockpot Enchilada Casserole

Share a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




48 Responses
  1. Nicole Knutson

    3 stars
    This is the first recipe where I wasn’t pleased with the outcome. At 90 min the chicken was still raw, so I came back to check at 2hrs. By then the chicken was done, and the rice was cooked….but it was mush. I followed everything on the recipe exact and am quite sad with the turnout. The flavoring isn’t bad, but if I make this again I will fold in cooked rice at the end once the rest of the stuff has cooked.

  2. Mary T.

    4 stars
    The flavor is great. But the cooking time is way off. It actually took 6 hours for the rice and all the veggies to not be crunchy and cooked completely. I may use frozen carrots along with the frozen corn. And may even cook the rice separately and add it in at the end just to make sure it’s cooked all the way. Love the enchilada flavors. Overall a really great recipe. Thanks!

  3. 8 Essential Spices to Keep in Your Pantry | Openfit

    […] seafood, sprinkle it on rice and beans, or toss it into your next stew. Or, try this recipe for Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole. It’s seasoned with cumin and can satisfy even the strongest cravings for rich Mexican […]

  4. Jill Shelley

    5 stars
    This was a winner tonight! I know I will be making it again and again. Love the flavor! I did make the rice separately, and I did use brown rice instead of white. And I didn’t have a zucchini so I put in a little more red pepper. But those were the only changes. Great recipe! Thank you.

  5. Lesly

    Has anyone tried this in a pressure cooker? I am thinking cooker the chicken and rice for 6 mins, then add the veggies for another 6 – 8 mins. Thoughts?

  6. 5 Delicious (and Healthy) Slow Cooker Recipes that your Family and Friends will LOVE! – Told you, Tori.

    […] Since there are so many veggies in this recipe, It does produce a lot of extra “juice.” I actually pulled out my colander and strained the entire casserole before adding in the frozen corn, the last cup of enchilada sauce, and cheese. It eliminated the runny portions and made it a much more solid dish. The original recipe was actually for chicken enchilada casserole, but I decided that I wanted to substitute lean, ground turkey. If you prefer chicken, follow the exact recipe from Lauren’s Latest. […]

    1. Lauren

      Every crockpot seems to have different temps they cook at so the recipe is just a ballpark. If you’re going to use brown rice, the cooking time will increase, though I don’t know how much. I’ve never tried it so I’m not sure how it would work.

  7. Natalie Minnick

    Sounds delicious! Will have to try this when the weather cools down (even having the crockpot on makes me apartment warm). 😋

  8. Healthy Recipes : Healthy Crockpot Enchilada Casserole...a low-fat dinner packed with veggies, chi... - Fitness Magazine | Magazine numéro 1 fitness, mode de vie, santé, bien-être, workouts

    […] -Read More – […]

  9. Alicia

    5 stars
    I will be trying this tonight. I’m going to leave out the rice & broth to cook seperately, and crockpot on LOW for 4 hours because I won’t be home to watch the rice. My crockpot usually cooks defrosted chicken in this time frame & I don’t have to worry about them getting dried out from the HIGH setting. I’ve been really striking out on dinners lately, bad juju for some reason right now! So fingers crossed this works!

  10. Genius Ways To Use Up Vegetables - Treasured Mom

    […] Healthy Crockpot Enchilada Casserole made by Lauren’s Latest – Here’s another one that really packs a veggie punch with zucchini, peppers, onion, carrots, and corn.  Go ahead and throw a few more in there, too. […]

  11. Wendy

    I made this today for a potluck at my husband’s work…the rice just would not get soft 🙁
    I followed the recipe exactly but the rice was still crunchy at the 3 hr mark. After almost another hour it was still not done. So disappointed.

  12. LAURA-LEE HUBERT

    I made this yesterday, and stirred it after 2 hours, but the rice was not cooked. I waited another hour/hour and a half and saw that the rice was cooked, so I stirred in the cheese and more enchilada sauce, but the rice had turned to mush. Have you ever made this on low? If so, how did it turn out? This had good flavor, but I think next time I might make the rice separately, and possibly just reduce or eliminate the chicken broth so that it’s not too soupy, and serve it over rice.

  13. Shawn @ I Wash You Dry

    5 stars
    This looks so great! I love how it’s packed full of veggies. I can definitely use more veggies in my life right now! 🙂

  14. Bonita

    5 stars
    My husband loved it…(even if the rice was overcooked & the carrots were chewy…he wants to put it on a flour tortillas with sour cream & salsa for lunch…I will make it again…Bonita

  15. Valentina | The Baking Fairy

    5 stars
    This sounds fabulous! I’m totally with you on the 12 pounds of Christmas, like… where did all this food come from?! I am loving the idea of crockpot enchiladas, and I totally appreciate all the veggies you snuck in there!

“logos”