Keto Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Indulge in a delicious Mexican-inspired dinner with these low-carb and keto chicken enchiladas – a flavorful option that seamlessly disguises its low-carb nature. The use of keto-friendly tortillas allows you to savor the rich taste of enchiladas while adhering to your keto diet.

Accompany your keto chicken enchiladas with sides like cauliflower rice, riced broccoli, or a crisp salad. For those not following a low-carb regimen, consider serving quick Spanish rice or refried beans as delectable additions on the side. It’s a satisfying meal that caters to diverse dietary preferences without compromising on taste.

Our family has a genuine love for Mexican cuisine, and it’s a flavor-packed delight we could easily relish several times a week. While we have our go-to Mexican restaurant, navigating the carb-heavy options can be challenging. Consequently, we often find ourselves opting for fajitas without the shells or a taco salad devoid of tortillas, chips, or beans.

Creating your own Mexican dishes at home not only slashes your food bill but also grants you full control over the ingredients and carb content of your meals.

Crafting keto chicken enchiladas using low-carb tortillas emerges as an excellent solution to enjoy the allure of restaurant-quality Mexican fare. The beauty lies not just in the delectable flavors but also in the convenience of serving a crowd with a single pan. Homemade Mexican delights not only satisfy your cravings but also provide a cost-effective and carb-conscious alternative to dining out.

Are chicken enchiladas keto Friendly?

Including keto diet enchiladas in a low-carb health plan is entirely feasible, provided you make a simple substitution: swap regular grocery store tortillas with the now-available low-carb, high-fiber tortillas in the market. While these tortillas still contain a notable amount of carbs, their high fiber content helps offset the carb count.

If the thought of sacrificing 8 net carbs for a single keto enchilada seems daunting, consider adopting a strategy similar to my keto husband’s approach. When he desires a periodic meal that leans toward the higher end for a keto diet, he strategically plans 1-2 zero-carb meals for that specific day. This typically involves enjoying a filling bullet coffee for breakfast and a carefully curated selection of almost no-carb snacks, creating the perfect low-carb lunch for work. It’s a practical approach to balance occasional indulgences while adhering to the principles of a keto diet. Also, If you’re a fan of chicken dishes, you’ll also love our Keto Chicken Nuggets.

Ingredients

• 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 (4oz) can green chilis, drained
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 1 jar red enchilada sauce
• 8 Mission Carb Balance tortillas
• 2 cups shredded Colby jack cheese
• Non-stick cooking spray

For our low-carb chicken enchiladas recipe, we opted for Mission Carb Balance taco shells, readily available at your local grocery store. While there might be even lower-carb tortilla options on the market, my husband, who follows a keto diet, regularly enjoys these without any issues.

If you prefer, you can also substitute homemade low-carb tortillas, which boast 2 fewer net carbs than their store-bought counterparts.

Many commercially available enchilada sauces contain a trace of sugar. To keep carb counts at a minimum, consider selecting a brand like Rosarita that excludes sugar (commonly found at most grocery stores) or whip up your own homemade enchilada sauce.

In the event that you’re out of cumin and chili powder, don’t hesitate to blend in a bit of taco seasoning or fajita seasoning as an alternative!

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onions for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add chicken, cumin, and chili powder. Cook until the chicken is white on the outside. Stir in drained green chilis.
3. Assemble the Keto Enchilada in Red Sauce: Spray a 9×13″ pan with non-stick cooking spray—spoon enchilada sauce onto each tortilla, spreading it on one side. Place about ½ cup of chicken down the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle generously with cheese. Roll up the tortillas and place them in the baking dish, seam side up or down. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the top. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the enchiladas.
4. Bake and Serve: Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked, and the cheese is melted. Garnish with cilantro if desired, and serve with sour cream, avocado, salsa, or chives on the side. Makes 8 servings. Enjoy!

Explore Different Takes on the Keto Enchilada Bake

Consider these alternative approaches to the keto enchilada recipe for a flavorful twist:

• Protein Variations: Experiment with ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey, or incorporate pre-cooked roasted shredded chicken as an alternative to pan-cooked chicken.
• Cheese Swaps: Diversify your cheese choice by opting for a different variety or creating a blend of your favorites. Some suggestions include cheddar, sharp cheddar, Mexican cotija cheese, Monterey jack, a 3-cheese blend, or a Mexican cheese blend. Avoid pre-shredded cheese, as it often contains potato starch, contributing unnecessary carbs and hindering optimal melting.
• Sauce Switch: Trade the keto enchilada red sauce for a green sauce to add a unique flavor profile.
• Vegetable Additions: Enhance the dish with extra low-carb veggies such as mushrooms, black olives, or bell peppers.
• Spicy Kick: Introduce some heat by cooking a jalapeno with the vegetable mix or replacing the green chilis with canned jalapenos.
• Garnish Options: Elevate your keto enchilada bake by serving it with accompaniments like avocado, sliced black olives, sour cream, sliced jalapenos, or salsa.

Feel free to mix and match these variations to customize your keto enchilada bake to suit your preferences and create a diverse range of mouthwatering options. Also. For a flavorful sauce, don’t miss our Keto Gravy Recipe.

Notes:

• Instead of pan-frying, you can boil or pressure-cook the chicken.
• Shred the Colby Jack cheese yourself to avoid added carbs.
• Feel free to substitute red enchilada sauce with green for variety.

Nutrition Information

Please use the nutritional info as an estimate, as numbers can vary based on brands.