This small slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole is the ultimate comfort food—easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights. Tender shredded chicken is slow-cooked in red enchilada sauce, then layered with soft corn tortillas, cheddar cheese, and briny black olives for a cozy, Tex-Mex-inspired one-pot meal.
Made in a 2-quart slow cooker using a rotisserie chicken makes this a fast, slow cooker recipe made for one. However, it’s easy to scale up if you’re feeding a few more. With minimal prep and hands-off cooking, this casserole brings big flavor with hardly any fuss.
Ingredients
Just 5 simple ingredients away from your chicken enchilada casserole! You need; chicken, red enchilada sauce or hot tomatoes sauce, corn tortillas, cheddar cheese, and a few black olives.
Variations
Make this slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole your own with these tasty twists:
- Cheese it up: Swap cheddar for Monterey Jack or a Mexican blend for extra gooey goodness. I went for the Mexican blend.
- Add beans: Stir in ¼ cup of black beans or pinto beans for more texture and protein.
- Spice it up: Mix in a few diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne for extra heat.
- Veggie boost: Add sautéed onions, bell peppers, or even frozen corn for more color and nutrition.
Using Raw Chicken: If you want to use uncooked chicken then you will add the chicken and enchilada sauce in step 1 and cook on High for 5 hours. Check the chicken is fully cooked, then use two fork to shred the chicken before moving to Step 2.
What to Serve with Chicken Enchiladas
This dish is filling on its own, but if you want to round out the meal, here are a few great side dish ideas:
- Simple green salad with lime vinaigrette
- Mexican rice or cilantro-lime rice
- Refried beans are classic.
- Sliced avocado or Pico de gallo with tortilla chips
- Sweet corn on the cob or elote-style corn salad
Recipe Notes
- Use a small 2-quart slow cooker for best results.
- If your enchilada sauce is on the thinner side, you can stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste.
- Cut the tortillas into strips about ½ inch wide so they blend well into the casserole without clumping.
- Letting the casserole cook for another for 45 minutes after adding the cheese allows the flavors to meld and the top to become perfectly melted and bubbly.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada
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Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole for One
Ingredients
- 6 ounce fully-cooked chicken breast skin and bones removed, shredded
- 1 cup Red Enchilada Sauce
- 2-3 corn tortillas
- ⅓ cup grated cheddar cheese
- 6 black olives sliced
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of a 2 quart slow cooker. Top with the enchilada sauce. Cover and cook on HIGH for 90 minutes.o6 ounce fully-cooked chicken breast, 1 cup Red Enchilada Sauce
- Cut the tortillas to ½ inch strips and add to the slow cooker. Add half of the cheese and and half the olives and stir to mix.2-3 corn tortillas
- With a spatula, even out the mixture so the top is fairly flat and add the remaining cheese and olives. Cover and continue to cook on the high setting for about 45 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Avoid using flour tortillas because the casserole will get too soggy.
- Frozen Spanish Rice is quick and easy.
- Top with a dollop of sour cream and sliced avocado.
Nutrition Disclaimer
I am not a certified Dietitian or Nutritionist. The nutrition amounts given below is an estimate only and provided as a general guide only.
Nutrition
Based on average U.S. supermarket prices as of April 2025, here’s an estimated cost breakdown for slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole recipe:
| Ingredient | Quantity | Estimated Price | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boneless skinless chicken breast | 6 ounces | $4.08 per pound | $1.53 |
| Red enchilada sauce | 1 cup (8 ounces) | $1.43 per 8-ounce can | $1.43 |
| Corn tortillas | 2 tortillas | $2.28 per 30-count package | $0.15 |
| Cheddar cheese (grated) | ⅓ cup (approximately 1.33 ounces) | $5.54 per pound | $0.46 |
| Black olives | 6 halves (approximately 0.5 ounces) | $2.47 per 6-ounce can | $0.21 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $3.78 |
Awesome Recipe, Unbelievably Tasty
I must say, this recipe is so easy and you can adjust to make it spicier, different meat and can scale it up to feed more people!