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Chicken Chilaquiles

Chicken Chilaquiles with tortilla chips. chicken, red chile sauce, and cotija or queso fresco cheese. So good!

 

Chicken Chilaquiles is a scrumptious Mexican-style casserole cooked on the stovetop. Corn tortillas are fried until cripsy and layered with chicken cooked in a red chile sauce. Tomatoes form the base of the chile sauce and it is spiced up with ancho peppers, jalapeno pepper, and garlic.

The edges of this Chicken Chilaquiles stay crispy while the central part becomes more like a casserole in texture. And yes, the chips get soggy and that maybe sounds a little off-putting. But you wouldn’t believe how good soggy can taste.

Chicken Chilaquiles with tortilla chips, chicken, red chile sauce and cotija or queso fresco cheese.

 

I love to use a Cast Iron Pan to make this dish, but you can use any type of pan. I also I love that there is no rolling or stuffing involved in this recipe. It’s totally fuss-free food but the end result is so pretty.

Chicken Chilaquiles with corn tortilla chips, chicken, red chili sauce, and cotija or queso fresco cheese. So good!

 

Chicken Chilaquiles with corn tortilla chips, chicken, red chile sauce, and cotija or queso fresco cheese.

 

I am not as familiar with chilaquiles as I am with some other Mexican foods and this was my first time making this dish. From what I understand they are often done with eggs and served for breakfast. Any variation of them is most likely going to taste like true Mexican comfort food and I look forward to making them again.

Chicken Chilaquiles with corn tortilla chips, chicken, red chile sauce, and cotija or queso fresco cheese. So good!

And  what does everyone love about Mexican food? The toppings!!

There are so many toppings you can add to chilaquiles. A little cheese is a must. Queso fresco, cotija, or even crumbled feta cheese if your store doesn’t carry Mexican cheese. Red onion, thinly sliced radishes, diced avocado, cilantro, and sour cream are also good additions.

If you want to drizzle the sour cream across it as I did instead of having one big dollop of it in the middle, mix a little water or milk into it to thin it a touch, place it in a plastic bag, snip the corner, and drizzle away.

Chicken Chilaquiles with corn tortilla chips, chicken, red chile sauce, and cotija or queso fresco cheese. So good!

 

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Chicken Chilaquiles with tortilla chips. chicken, red chile sauce, and cotija or queso fresco cheese. So good!

Chicken Chilaquiles

SERVINGS: 6

Ingredients

  • 3 dried ancho peppers, stemmed and seeded
  • 1 jalapeno, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 15 corn tortillas (6-inch), each cut into 4 wedges
  • 2 cups Vegetable oil
  • salt
  • 1/4 cup queso fresco cheese, or feta cheese
  • Garnish: chopped red onion, chopped avocado, sliced radishes, sour cream, lime, cilantro

Instructions

  • Rip the ancho chili peppers apart and discard the seeds and stem. Toast the peppers in a pan over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes per side. Place them in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let soak for 15 minutes and then drain off the water.
  • Place ancho peppers in a blender with jalapeno, undrained can of tomatoes, onion, garlic, and cilantro. Process for 60 to 90 seconds, until fairly smooth.
  • Transfer sauce to a large cast iron skillet (or regular pan or Dutch oven).
  • Stir chicken broth into sauce.
  • Add chicken breasts to sauce. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, turning chicken over halfway through.
  • Turn heat to low and remove chicken from skillet. Shred chicken or cut into bite-size pieces and return to skillet. Keep warm while you make the tortilla chips. (Or you can refrigerate the sauce at this point and finish the recipe the next day.)
  • Heat 2 cups oil in a Dutch oven to about 350 degrees. In batches, fry corn tortilla wedges for about 1 minute, flipping over halfway through. Place on a paper towel lined plate and sprinkle with salt.
  • Turn heat off under the skillet with sauce. Add chips to the skillet, sticking them into the sauce as much as possible.
  • Sprinkle feta cheese and toppings on top.

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Needed for this recipe:
Ancho Chiles

Cast Iron Pan

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14 thoughts on “Chicken Chilaquiles”

  1. Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes)

    My life would be so complete with a bowl of this in my lap right now. It looks beyond words!

  2. I soften, blend, then dehydrate a whole bag of anchos at time, then powder them in my Nutribullet blender so I always have pure ancho chili powder on hand, or to blend with other chilies like chipotle chiles, New Mexico chilies, or even arbol chiles. It makes recipe prep go so much faster! Obviously, we love Mexican food and eat it often, and I am familiar with this dish served with eggs, but since my hubs won’t eat eggs, it never occurred to me to make it without them! (Forehead thump) That will be remedied soon. This sounds scrumptious and I will absolutely prepare it after cutting it in half for we two tired old retirees.

  3. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel

    Oh, this looks AMAZING!! Loving all the toppings. And I agree… soggy definitely works here!! Yum!

  4. I just love the word “chilaquiles”! : ) This looks fabulous! I’m no expert but looks like you nailed it to me. This is the best kind of family food where everyone can just dig in and before you know it, the pan is empty!

  5. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    Chilaquiles are the best! Love the colors going on here, especially the brightness from the sour cream, avocado, and red onion 🙂

  6. Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong

    Love fuss free and delicious recipes like this.. So flavourful! Perfect! 🙂

  7. Looks and sounds so delicious, Christin! I’ve never had chilaquiles before but we love anything Mexican so I know this would be a hit at our house!

  8. Jessica @ Sweetest Menu

    WOW! This is amazing! Talk about taking one of my favourite meals – nanhos – to the next level! Love it!

  9. I’ve never heard the word chilaquile before but these look SO amazing! Stovetop=my fave in the summer time

  10. We eat Mexican food several times a week for dinner, so this definitely sounds perfect! I love how fuss-free this recipe is too!

  11. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    Oh this sounds delicious, Christin! I could pretty much eat Mexican every night of the week, so I’m loving this casserole! Sounds like it makes such a delicious meal!

  12. Oh do these sound delicious! I can never turn down a mexican meal of any kind! Love all those toppings!!

  13. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor

    Nachos are one of my easy weeknight meals. I love these skillet chicken chilaquiles and definitely need to try these next time!

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