These Low-Carb Chicken Enchiladas use low-carb tortillas for a version of green chile chicken enchiladas that’s much lower in carbs! And this recipe uses canned green chile enchilada sauce, so it’s quick and easy to make!

PIN the Low-Carb Chicken Enchiladas to try them later!

These Low-Carb Chicken Enchiladas are a favorite recipe I’m reminding you about for Friday Favorites this week. I bet this is a Mexican dinner you’re going to love! And recently I discovered the nutritional calculator I first used didn’t always calculated the carbs correctly for low-carb tortillas. So these enchiladas are even lower in carbs than I first thought!

This is one of those Denny Family Recipes that has good memories for me. Years ago my nephew Jake and I made a canned soup version of Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas when I was visiting my sister and her family. Of course that was delicious, but loaded with carbs!

Fast forward to when Jake had moved to Salt Lake and was coming to cook with me every other week, and we decided to create a low-carb version of chicken enchiladas to share on Kalyn’s Kitchen. And after quite a few tries we ended up with this delicious recipe. And if you’re looking for something to make for Cinco de Mayo in a few weeks, this will be just the thing!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

What kind of enchilada sauce did I use?

I love Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce (affiliate link) for this chicken enchilada recipe, but you can make it with any green chile sauce that’s low in carbs.

What tortillas did I use for Low-Carb Chicken Enchiladas?

I used Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat Burrito Size Tortillas (affiliate link) for this recipe, but you can use any low-carb tortillas you prefer. Two other brands I have enjoyed are Mr. Tortilla 2 Net Carb Multigrain Tortillas (affiliate link) and La Banderita Low-Carb Tortillas (affiliate link).

Can you make this chicken enchilada recipe with leftover chicken or turkey?

This recipe calls for chicken breasts that you cook in water or stock with seasonings, but if you have leftover rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey you can use about 4 cups of diced leftover chicken or turkey.

How low in carbs are the Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas?

I recently discovered that the nutritional information had been calculated incorrectly for some of my recipes with low-carb tortillas. With the improved nutrition analyzer I am now using, these enchiladas have only 10 net carbs each, with 22 grams of protein!

How to make Low-Carb Chicken Enchiladas:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. Trim chicken breasts and cut into 3 or 4 strips. Simmer the chicken in seasoned stock. 
2. Simmer two cans of green chile enchilada sauce over low heat until it’s thickened and reduced to 2 cups. I used Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce (affiliate link), but there are many good brands. Check the carb count if that’s important to you.
3. When sauce has reduced and cooled a little, whisk in cream cheese and sour cream. 
4. When it’s cool enough to handle, shred or cut the chicken into small pieces.
5. Put chicken into a bowl and mix in 1 1/2 cups of the sauce mixture and 1 cup of the cheese. 
6. Divide chicken mixture among the 8 tortillas, and roll up enchilada style. I used Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat Burrito Size Tortillas (affiliate link) with only 5 net carbs per tortilla.
7. Spray the casserole dish with non-stick spray and spread a layer of sauce on the bottom. 
8. Put the rolled enchiladas in a single layer in the dish and top with remaining sauce and cheese.
9. Bake 375F/190C for 30-40 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling and cheese is lightly browned on top.

Make it a Low-Carb Mexican Meal:

Here are some ideas for things I think would taste great with the enchiladas:

More Low Carb Mexican Food:

Check out my collections of Keto Mexican Food Dinners and Low-Carb Mexican Food Favorites for lots more ideas to satisfy that craving for Mexican food! And if you’re a fan of low-carb tortillas to expand your options for low-carb Mexican food, here are my favorite recipes with low-carb tortillas.

Weekend Food Prep:

This recipe for Low-Carb Chicken Enchiladas has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep where you’ll find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week! And if I made this on the weekend, I would LOVE to have some left over for another meal.

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
These Chicken Enchiladas have low-carb ingredients like low-carb tortillas, chicken, cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream, and they are great for low-carb diets. I’m not tagging them Keto, but see the nutritional information based on the low-carb tortillas I used. This recipe is calorie dense and probably best for Phase 3 for the original South Beach Diet, or maybe an occasional treat for Phase 2.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Casserole Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe for Low-Carb Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas was first posted in October 2014. It was updated and improved in 2021 and last updated with more information in 2026.

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This easy chicken enchilada recipe has tender, shredded chicken in a rich, homemade red sauce, all rolled in corn tortillas and baked with bubbly, melted cheese.

These enchiladas filled with chicken and cheese are the very definition of a delicious, feel-good meal and are guaranteed to be a hit with everyone at the table. This is the kind of Mexican-inspired dinner you’ll want to make again and again.

If you can’t get enough of this dish, you’re in luck! We also have these green chicken enchiladas made with salsa verde. Or, for a hearty meatless option, be sure to try our veggie enchiladas.

Key Ingredients

• Tortillas: Use store-bought or homemade corn tortillas for authentic enchiladas. I love how the corn flavor of the tortillas mingles with the sauce. If you prefer flour, here’s our recipe for flour tortillas.
• Enchilada Sauce: Use store-bought (I like Hatch) or try one of our homemade sauces. Our authentic red enchilada sauce, which calls for dried chilies, is simple to make and is what we used in our photos. I also love this homemade enchilada sauce, which uses dried spices and chili powder, and takes minutes to throw together.
• Chicken: You will need cooked and shredded chicken. Use rotisserie chicken, leftover roasted chicken, or cook it using one of these easy methods: stovetop shredded chicken (1 hour), slow cooker shredded chicken (4 to 6 hours), or poached chicken (15 minutes).
• Cheese: Use mild, melty cheese like Oaxaca cheese, white cheddar cheese, or Monterey Jack.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

My Tips for Making the Best Enchiladas

Tip 1: Soften the tortillas. Corn tortillas can crack easily. To make them soft and pliable, you need to warm them up. While you can fry them in oil, I prefer to oven-fry them. Lightly coat the tortillas with oil and bake them until warm. This easy method lets you prepare a large batch at once.

Tip 2: Dip the tortillas in sauce. For an extra layer of flavor, quickly dip the warm tortillas into your enchilada sauce before filling them with the filling.

Tip 3: Place them seam-side down. Roll your tortillas up as tightly as possible and place them seam-side down in a baking dish. Since the seam is on the bottom, the enchiladas will stay tightly rolled while baking in the oven.

Tip 4: Finish with more sauce and cheese. Once the enchiladas are in the pan, spoon more sauce on top and add a final layer of cheese. For the best result, bake them covered for 15 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10 minutes to get that perfect golden crust. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving, and dig in!

Tip 5: More variations. We love this as-written, but don’t be afraid to make it your own! Stir in some pinto beans or sautéed veggies like bell peppers, onions, and zucchini. You can make beef enchiladas by swapping the chicken for shredded beef, or a pork version by using leftover pork carnitas. Finally, for a different flavor, use green enchilada sauce or a homemade salsa verde (made with tomatillos) instead of the red sauce.

Serving Suggestions

I love serving these enchiladas with some chopped avocado and fresh cilantro, but there are so many ways to top them. For a little crunch, try scattering some chopped tomatoes, diced onions, diced jalapeños, sliced green onions, black olives, or even shredded cabbage or lettuce over the top.

To make a complete meal, serve them alongside classic Mexican side dishes. Our Mexican rice and refried beans are perfect for this, as are our creamy black beans. And you can never go wrong with a bowl of homemade guacamole or pico de gallo with a side of homemade tortilla chips!

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