Enchiladas Suizas Recipe

This Enchiladas Suizas Recipe is one of my favorite main dishes for a Sunday night dinner because it’s pure comfort food. When tomatillos are in season, creating these enchiladas with tomatillo sauce is a snap and SO flavorful!

No tomatillos? No problem, if you want to use a canned sauce I think the Hatch Green Chile Enchiladas Sauce is the best. 

Enchiladas Suizas Recipe served in a terra cotta baking dish

Recipe Pairing Ideas:

Watch My Video Demo of This Recipe Below!

 

What are Enchiladas Suiza?

  • Suiza means Swiss in Spanish. When the Swiss immigrated to Mexico they brought their culinary heritage with them, which included a lot of dairy and cream.
  • So Enchiladas made with a sauce that includes cream would also be called Suiza.
  • This recipe includes the cream as “optional” because I think the tomatillo sauce is still great without it, but it’s your choice!

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

  • For juicy and flavorful chicken, I use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts.
  • I place these on a sheet tray with a roasting rack and roast at 400F (200C) degrees for about 30 minutes or just until the chicken is cooked through.

Raw chicken on wire rack in oven for Enchiladas Suizas

Shredding the Chicken

After the chicken has cooled, remove the skin and bones, and shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. I like to use two forks for the perfect shredding texture!

Shredding chicken with two forks

Seasoning the Chicken

  • Season with salt, pepper, and the juice of one lime. Don’t skip the lime juice!
  • It gives the chicken so much flavor and is a great match against the tomatillo sauce!
  • Set the chicken aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.

Seasoning chicken with salt in large mixing bowl

Step 2: Roast Tomatillos and Peppers

  • Fresh tomatillos are purchased in your produce department or you can find them in a Mexican grocery store.
  • They come in these curious little husks, that you will need to peel off.
  • You’ll then find the fruit is inside that resembles a green tomato.
Tomatillos in their husks on a cutting board
Tomatillos in their papery husks

What are tomatillos?

  • Tomatillos are in the nightshade family. They are a hard, under-ripe tomato with a paper-like husk.
  • Tomatillos are frequently used in salsas, Mexican sauces, or placed on the grill and tossed in salads.
  • To prepare the tomatillos, once the husks are removed quarter them and place them on a sheet tray. 

Slicing tomatillos into wedges on a cutting board

Preparing the Peppers

  • Then you are going to use two kinds of peppers: Poblano peppers for flavor and Serrano peppers for a little heat.
  • To prepare the peppers, slice longways down the pepper and remove the seeds with a spoon.
  • Place the peppers on the same sheet tray as the tomatillos.
Whole Poblano Peppers on a cutting board
Poblano Peppers
Serrano Peppers on a cutting board
Serrano Peppers

Roasting the Peppers

  • Place the sheet tray of tomatillos and peppers in your oven at about 500F (250C) degrees or on the broil setting.
  • I like to give these a head start in the oven by placing them under the broiler first, then finish them off by roasting them.
  • This way, the vegetables get a nice char and blister on them which will add a nice smoky flavor to your sauce.

a sheet pan of blistered peppers and tomatillos in the oven

Cooling and Peeling the Peppers

  • After they begin to blister, you can move your oven rack down to the middle of the oven and reduce the heat to 450F (200C) degrees and continue roasting for another 8-10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
  • Then, remove most of the charred skin, but retain some of it for the smoky flavor.

Charred Peppers on a plate

Step 3: Blend the Tomatillo Sauce

  • Now that your tomatillos are cooled and peeled. In a blender, add the roasted tomatillos and peppers, garlic, cumin, salt, and chicken broth, and onion.
  • Blend on high until a smooth green sauce develops.
  • If you like a runnier sauce go for the full cup of chicken broth, otherwise for a thicker sauce, leave it to ½ cup.

Blending peppers, tomatillos, and other ingredients in a blender for Enchilada sauce

Adding the “Suizas” Part

  • After the sauce is blended you can add 1-2 tbsp of sour cream or heavy cream, this is the “Suizas” part, or “Swiss” part, due to the addition of dairy.
  • It also tones down the heat a bit and makes it less spicy!

Step 4: Assemble the Enchiladas

  • Select a large heat-safe casserole. Make sure you lightly grease the bottom to avoid sticking!
  • Before you start filling the tortillas it’s helpful to microwave them, wrapped in a paper towel, for 15-20 seconds.
  • This will make them more pliable and easier to roll without cracking.

A Stack of Corn tortillas on a plate

How-To Fill the Tortillas

  • Fill each tortilla with the shredded chicken and Monterrey Jack cheese.
  • Roll tightly and place, seam side down in a greased baking dish. Repeat the process until 16-18 rolled tortillas fill the pan.
  • You can also fill some of the tortillas with just chicken or cheese, but I prefer a combination of both.

Rolling Enchilada with chicken and cheese in a corn tortilla

Make-Ahead Tip:

To make this ahead of time, cover the casserole and place it in the fridge. Add the sauce and extra cheese when you are ready to bake.

Step 5: Bake and Serve 

Then, pour the tomatillo sauce over the tortillas until completely covered. Then smooth out with a spatula.

pouring tomatillo green sauce over rolled enchiladas in a terra cotta casserole

Cover the top of the casserole with more Monterrey Jack cheese.

Covering the top of an Enchiladas casserole with Monterey Jack Cheese

Baking the Enchiladas

  • Bake at 375F (190C) degrees for 20-25 minutes until warmed through and cheese on top is melted.
  • When the cheese has melted, turn the broiler on for a few minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

Adding garnish of cilantro to a baked Enchiladas Suizas casserole

Garnish

Finally, add some Queso Fresco cheese on top and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve with rice!

Storage and Reheating

  • Place any leftovers in a shallow gratin pan or microwavable glass container.
  • You can either microwave the leftovers, covered to avoid drying out the enchiladas.
  • Or what I like to do is place them in a gratin pan, add a bit more sauce and cheese, and heat in the oven at 375F until warmed through and bubbling.
  • The extra sauce remoistens the tortillas which may have dried out overnight in the refrigerator, and the additional cheese gives you a bit more decadence the second time around. And feels more like they were freshly made too!

A whole wheel of Queso fresco cheese on a plate

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Enchiladas in a Large Terra Cotta Casserole

Enchiladas Suizas Recipe

Yield: 6-8
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Enchiladas Suizas is a great family friendly dinner recipe that always feeds a crowd. Makes for a great Sunday night dinner since there are always leftovers for the lunchbox the next day!

Ingredients

For the Filling

  • 3 Bone-In, Skin on Chicken Breasts (2.75 lbs)
  • juice of 1 lime
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 16-18 corn tortillas (Taco size)
  • 8 oz (230 g) Monterey Jack Cheese, Shredded

For the Sauce

  • 1 ½ pounds (675g) of Tomatillos (about 10 tomatillos)
  • 2 Poblano peppers
  • 2 Serrano peppers
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) ground cumin
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
  • ½ cup (120ml) chicken broth
  • ½ cup (75 g) white onion, diced
  • 1-2 tbsp of sour cream (or heavy cream)

For Garnish

  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) of Queso Fresco, crumbled
  • cilantro, for garnish
  • butter for greasing pan

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F (200C).
  2. Place chicken on a roast rack fitted on a sheet pan and roast for 30-35 mins or until chicken is cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
  3. To prepare the sauce, remove tomatillos from their husk, wash, and quarter. Place them in a single layer on a large sheet pan. Remove the seeds from Poblano and Serrano Peppers, slice in quarters and place on the pan, skin side up.
  4. Place tray on highest rack of your oven and broil 1-3 minutes or until the skins on the peppers begin to blister and char. Then turn down oven to 450F and place tray on middle rack and roast for 8-10 minutes until soft and tender. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
  5. To prep the chicken, remove the skin and shred the meat with two forks into bit sized pieces. Place in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper, and the juice of 1 lime. The lime juice really brightens up the chicken and creates a great flavor combination with the sauce once baked.
  6. In a blender, add the roasted tomatillos and peppers, garlic, cumin, salt, chicken broth (if you like a runnier sauce go the full 1 cup, otherwise for a thicker sauce leave at ½ cup) and onion.
  7. Blend on high until a smooth green sauce develops.
  8. At this point you can add 1-2 tbsp of sour cream or heavy cream, this is the “Suizas” part, or “Swiss part, due to the addition of dairy. But truthfully, I prefer it without the cream, opting for just the kick of the green sauce, but if it’s too spicy for you, by all means add the cream.
  9. To assemble, grease a 12" x 13" (or 13 x 9 works too!) heat safe casserole. Preheat oven to 375F (190C).
  10. Warm tortillas in the microwave (wrapped to paper towel to avoid trying out) about 15-20 seconds until soft and pliable.
  11. Fill each tortilla with chicken 2-3 tbsp of chicken and 1-2 tbsps of Monterrey Jack cheese. Roll tightly, and place, seam side down in the casserole dish. Repeat the process until 16-18 rolled tortillas fill the pan.
  12. Then pour sauce over the tortillas until completely covered. Top with 1 cup of Monterrey jack cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes until warmed through and cheese on top is melted. Place for 1-2 minutes under the broiler until cheese is golden brown and bubbling.
  13. Garnish with crumbled queso fresco cheese and sprigs of cilantro. Serve with brown rice.

Notes

This makes great leftovers! To moisten the enchiladas if reheating the day after, pour some chicken broth (1/4 cup or so) over the enchiladas.. It will moisten the chicken, and loosen the sauce and keep them from drying out.. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 358Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 510mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 16g
Brownie cake scooped into a mug with ice cream

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22 Comments

  1. These were delicious! You are my go to gal for great recipes. Your ingredients are easily accessible, your instructions are clear (love the videos!), and the flavors are fantastic. Thanks for sharing your creative genius with us!

  2. Thanks for the tomatillo/poblano salsa (sauce) recipe. Have been looking for one. I would like to try with a home made hatch chili sauce recipe since I can’t get tomatillos now in the market here. I have some hatch chilis frozen from last summer’s crop. I am not one to use a pre-made, canned sauce.
    Love your recipes!

  3. I used to eat the frozen chicken enchilada suiza entrees which led me to search for and then find this recipe. I made this last night. These are so much better! I really enjoyed them! I used flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas since that is what I was used to with the frozen entrees. Really delicious! Thanks!

  4. I am def going to mKe this recipe. It sounds soooo good. I just suggest only microwaving ur tortillas for 1 min on each side. Depending on how many u have. Should b ok for a stack of 6 or 7. But 15-20 is a lot?? It overcooks the tortillas.

  5. I made this recipe last night is amazing, like always . I know that when I make your recipes it never fail. Love your recipes and presentation are spectacular

  6. I made this recipe and it was delicious! I put all of the ingredients into My Fitness Pal and this recipe is only 445 calories (with 8 servings)! I’m looking forward to making it again. It is a great meal to make ahead for busy people. Thanks, Beth! ?