Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

You know that Bible verse that says, “To every thing, there is a season”? Well, for every season, there is a pan of chicken enchiladas: small group, company comin’, the Big Game, snow day, new baby, and holiday eve. There’s good reason this is the most popular recipe on my blog and on Pinterest!

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 (4.5-ounce) cans chopped green chiles

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese

2 teaspoons ground cumin

½ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons juice from jarred jalapeños

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

10 large flour tortillas

2 cups heavy cream

Paprika

Chili powder

Optional toppings: chopped fresh cilantro, salsa, sour cream, and sliced avocado

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

2. In a large skillet or deep saucepan, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent. Add the green chiles with their juice and sauté for a minute or two.

3. Turn the heat down to medium-low; add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Stir in the shredded chicken. Add the cumin, salt, and jalapeño juice. Stir well; taste for salt and add more if needed.

4. Pour the mixture into a large bowl. Allow it to cool for a few minutes, then add 1 ½ cups of each cheese, reserving ½ cup of each for later. Stir well to combine.

5. Spread each tortilla with the chicken-cheese mixture, roll up, and line them up in the prepared baking dish. Then pour the heavy cream over the enchiladas, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of each cheese over them, and shake a little paprika and chili powder over the top.

6. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes; remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes. Turn up the heat to 375°F and bake uncovered fo 10 minutes or so, until bubbly and beginning to brown on top.

7. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving with your favorite toppings.