Keto Chicken Enchiladas

Your Tex-Mex dinner just got so much better with these Keto Enchiladas! If you thought making homemade enchiladas was hard, then this recipe for low carb chicken enchiladas will knock your socks off. It’s not only easy to make, but so delicious too.

My go-to order at a Mexican restaurant has always been enchiladas, chicken enchiladas preferably. I just have loved them since the first time I tried them. What’s funny is that I have never even tried making them from scratch, until just now. 

Guys, they are soooo easy to make!! And what’s even better is that I made them keto-friendly using our recipe for Low Carb Tortillas and they are sooooo good! 

I can’t wait for you to try our Keto Enchiladas, and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on them!

Are Enchiladas Keto-Friendly?

When you think of the classic enchiladas that you get at a Mexican restaurant they will not be keto-friendly. Why? Because they are typically made with corn or flour tortillas which are not ok on keto. 

However, the good news is that we have a super delicious keto chicken enchilada recipe that will totally satisfy that craving you have had. 

How did we make our low carb enchiladas? Well for starters we used our homemade low carb tortillas, and a great healthy enchilada sauce.

Is Enchilada Sauce Keto-Friendly?

Enchilada sauce can be keto-friendly depending on the brand you use. Some brands will vary in the quality of ingredients, fiber, carb count, and sugar. 

The brand I recommend using is Siete Red or Green Enchilada Sauce. It has super clean ingredients while being Whole30 approved, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and grain-free.

For ¼ cup it has :

• 35 Calories 
• 1g Fat 
• 5g Carbs
• 1g Fiber
• 3g Natural Sugar
• 0g Added Sugar

What Ingredients are in Low Carb Chicken Enchiladas?

• Chicken Thighs – Boneless chicken thighs are my favorite, the meat is so juicy and tender. 
• Taco Seasoning – 2 tablespoons of homemade Keto taco seasoning gets mixed in with the chicken thighs in the pressure cooker. 
• Enchilada Sauce – Siete Red Enchilada Sauce gets divided in half. ½ cup goes into the pressure cooker with the chicken and taco seasoning, and ½ cup gets poured over the enchiladas right before going into the oven. 
• Low Carb Tortillas – I like to use our homemade low carb tortillas, but feel free to use any kind of keto tortillas. 
• Cheese –  Shredded Mexican cheese is my go-to.

Different Variations and Substitutions 

There are different ingredients, variations, and substitutions you can make when cooking this keto chicken enchilada recipe. 

Low Carb Tortilla Options for Enchiladas

We have a few low carb tortilla options when making keto enchiladas. 

1. Homemade Almond Flour Tortillas – This is always the best instead of using store-bought. Try our recipe to see how easy they are to make.
2. Siete Tortillas (Almond Flour or Cassava Flour) – These are probably my favorite store-bought grain-free tortillas. You can’t find them at most grocery stores, I always get mine at Whole Foods. Siete tortillas are higher in carbs, but their ingredients are top-notch. Those who eat paleo tend to go with these. 
3. Mission Carb Balance Flour Tortillas – These will resemble your typical soft shell taco or burrito shells. You can find them at most grocery stores making them very accessible. They are perfect for burritos and quesadillas. 
4. NUCO Coconut Wraps – Loved by many and has great ingredients. Something to keep in mind they have a very strong coconut flavor. 
5. Crepini Egg Thins – These might be the best option when it comes to nutrition facts. In my opinion, they aren’t my favorite option, I don’t love the taste of them. But just because I don’t doesn’t mean you won’t. They can be bought for Costco. 
6.  La Tortilla Factory Low Carb Tortillas – Similar in taste to the Mission tortillas but probably is just a little healthier. These also can be found in a lot of grocery stores. They are pretty sturdy and will hold up well however they are cooked.

What Can You Put In Keto Enchiladas?

Usually enchiladas are stuffed with either chicken or beef, but you can add other ingredients to make them more filling. Here are a few things you could add: 

• Rice (non-keto)
• Cauliflower Rice (keto) 
• Black Beans (non-keto)
• Soy Black Beans 
• Bell Peppers 
• Onions 
• Jalapenos or diced green chiles

Cheese Options for Enchiladas

I’m all about using a Mexican cheese blend which consists of shredded cheddar cheese and monterey jack cheese. I tend to use it in a lot of my Mexican recipes, including this low carb enchilada recipe. 

Other good cheese options for enchiladas are: 

• Cotija Cheese
• Pepper Jack 
• Manchego Cheese 
• Queso Fresco

Best Chicken to Use

• Boneless Chicken Thighs – This is my favorite 
• Boneless Chicken Breasts 
• Pre-cooked Rotisserie Chicken – Easiest option

Sauce Options

I’m all about my red enchilada sauce, it’s always been my favorite. However, a friend of ours growing up used to always make her enchiladas with a green sauce…that was my brothers all-time favorite. 

• Red Enchilada Sauce – Probably the most common enchilada sauce, and my personal favorite. 
• Green Enchilada Sauce – Also known as verde sauce, it primarily consists of tomatillos, onions, garlic, and green chiles. 
• White Cream Enchilada Sauce – This is made with a combination of cream cheese, butter, heavy cream, green chiles, and cheese.

How to Make Low Carb Keto Chicken Enchiladas

Making low carb enchiladas are not intimidating, in fact they are super easy! To start, you’ll need low carb tortillas to wrap the filling with. Use our recipe for Keto Almond Flour Tortillas which are perfect for enchiladas.

Once you have the tortillas, follow these instructions on how to make them come out the best!

Making Keto Enchilada Sauce

I didn’t make my own enchilada sauce, instead I chose to use Siete Red Enchilada Sauce. It’s the cleanest store-bought enchilada sauce I’ve ever seen.

Preparing the Filling

There are two ways to make the chicken you will use for the enchiladas. Use whichever way you prefer:

Instant Pot Instructions:

STEP 1: Add the chicken thighs, 1 tablespoon of homemade taco seasoning, 1 cup of water, and ½ cup of enchilada sauce to the Instant Pot.

STEP 2: Close the lid and seal the vent. Pressure cook for 12 minutes. 

STEP 3: Carefully open the vent to release the pressure.

STEP 4: Transfer the chicken to a bowl and shred it.

Rotisserie Chicken Instructions:

STEP 1: Shred the rotisserie chicken and sprinkle homemade taco seasoning, then mix.

Rolling the Enchiladas

STEP 5: Fill one of the tortillas with shredded chicken.

STEP 6: Gently roll the tortilla up, and place in a baking dish, seam side down. 

STEP 7: Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Tightly pack the enchiladas in the dish so they don’t move too much.

Filling the Baking Dish

STEP 8: Pour the enchilada sauce over the enchiladas.

STEP 9: Cover with shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese.

Baking

STEP 10: Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.

Can I Make Keto Beef Enchiladas?

Sure! If you don’t like chicken or you just aren’t in the mood for it, then go ahead and use beef instead. Ground beef works perfectly, but you also could use steak. 

I always prefer keto chicken enchiladas, but honestly now that I’m sitting here writing about it I’m craving some beef enchiladas now! I think that’s gonna be dinner tomorrow night.

FAQs & Best Tips

• When rolling the keto chicken enchiladas, place them seam-side down in the pan. 
• Tightly pack the enchiladas into the casserole dish. 
• Reheat the low carb tortillas in a frying pan for 5-10 seconds to make them softer and easier to roll without cracking. 
• Use homemade keto taco seasoning instead of store-bought. 
• For fewer carbs, use Crepini Egg Thins instead of Almond Flour Tortillas.

How Do You Keep Enchiladas from Getting Soggy? (Crispy Enchiladas)

Don’t soak your low carb enchiladas in too much sauce! They are not meant to be sitting in a pool of enchilada sauce. If you dump too much sauce on them, you will end up with soggy keto enchiladas.

Do You Have to Fry Tortillas for Keto Enchiladas?

You want the tortillas to roll up easily without any cracking, so that might mean you need to slightly soften them up, especially if you are using homemade low carb tortillas.

The best way to do that is add them to a hot frying pan for 5-10 seconds.

How to Fix Dry Enchiladas?

One trick to fix dry enchiladas is you can dip the tortillas into the chicken cooking liquid. It not only gives a little extra flavor but it softens the tortilla and gives you some nice moisture. 

Also I prefer using chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. I have found that chicken breast meat can give you a drier keto enchilada.

What to Serve with Enchiladas?

Low carb chicken enchiladas are pretty much a whole meal just as it is, so you don’t really need any sides with it. But if you do, try making some Cauliflower Rice, or even some Roasted Broccoli or Roasted Asparagus. 

Don’t forget to add the fixings to these keto chicken enchiladas: 

• Sour Cream
• Extra Cheese 
• Cilantro 
• Guacamole 
• Chopped Scallions

Can I Make Keto Enchiladas Ahead of Time?

Meal prepping this keto chicken enchilada recipe is perfect for busy days. If you choose to make Low Carb Tortillas, they can be made a couple of days earlier and stored in the fridge. 

Once you assemble the enchiladas, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake the day of.

How to Store Keto Enchiladas

Storing leftover keto enchiladas is easy. Place them in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How to Reheat

To Reheat in the Microwave: Place on a microwave-safe plate or container and reheat for about 60-90 seconds.

To Reheat in the Oven: Place in a baking dish at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes until they are heated in the middle.

Can You Eat Enchiladas Cold?

Personally I recommend reheating leftover keto chicken enchiladas, but I have heard of a few of you out there that actually like them cold. It’s not my thing, but go ahead and try it if you would like to.

Can You Freeze Low Carb Enchiladas?

Sure thing! You can freeze low carb enchiladas either before they are baked or after they are baked. 

To Freeze Unbaked – Assemble the keto enchiladas in a freezer-safe pan, cover with plastic wrap and foil. Place in the freezer for up to 2 months. 

To Freeze Baked –  Place the leftovers in an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Tools to Use

Instant Pot – You don’t absolutely have to use an Instant Pot to cook the chicken thighs, but it’s so much easier. 

Baking Dish or Cast Iron Skillet – Any baking dish or skillet will work. The one we used is a 9×13 glass baking dish. But use whatever pan works best for you.

What Type of Pan is Best for Chicken Enchiladas?

I prefer using my 9×13 glass baking dish when making this keto chicken enchilada recipe. 

But you can use whatever pan you have and that fits the enchiladas evenly, including a cast iron pan or skillet.

Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Keto and Low Carb: This is a perfect keto and low carb dinner. We used our homemade low carb tortillas, chicken thighs, and homemade keto taco seasoning. Which ultimately makes for a great keto dinner. 
• Gluten-Free: 100% gluten-free and perfect for those with gluten intolerances and Celiac Disease. 
• Dairy-Free: We put shredded cheese on top of our keto chicken enchiladas but if you have a dairy allergy please feel free to leave it out, or use a vegan cheese instead.

Other Keto-Friendly Mexican Dishes

Here are a few of our other easy and delicious Mexican recipes that you may also like to make.

• Taco Salad with Ground Beef 
• Easy Keto Tacos
• Crispy Keto Cheese Taco Shells 
• Keto Chicken Enchilada Casserole 
• Keto Skinny Margaritas
• Low Carb Tortilla Chips 

All of them are easy to make, Keto-friendly, and will have your friends and family raving!

Print