Easy Turkey Enchilada Casserole
With leftover holiday turkey, I whipped up the usual turkey soup along with this hearty, spicy not to mention EASY Turkey Enchilada Casserole. Perfect comfort food and a tasty winter meal! Terrific with leftover or rotisserie chicken, too!
And when I say “spicy, ” if the picky hubby eats it, and goes back for seconds, it’s definitely not too spicy. Just the right amount for the tender palates around here.
Chicken OR Turkey Enchilada Casserole
I get in a rut with holiday leftovers. The family is just fine eating turkey sandwiches and I usually whip up a batch of turkey tetrazzini. But I’m always antsy to try something new.
We were given a pre-cooked turkey for the holidays this year. So I ditched my Christmas Eve menu and we dined on turkey and the fixings. But since I had a whole beef tenderloin in the fridge for Christmas, the turkey leftovers were set aside for later. I was in the mood for Tex-Mex, and instead of making a version of my chicken enchiladas from scratch, I used our turkey leftovers for a super easy turkey enchilada casserole! Never fear if you do not have plans for a turkey dinner soon, as the turkey is easily replaced with leftover chicken.
Tips for Making This Easy Turkey Enchilada Casserole
There is minimal prep work entailed when making this post-holiday dish. It’s perfect for leftovers, whether turkey or chicken!
- Make sure to set aside 2 cups of shredded turkey after your holiday dinner to make this enchilada casserole. This would also be great with ground beef, just cook it along with the onions, garlic and bell peppers, and drain the grease.
- PRO-Tip: You don’t need to wait for your next turkey dinner to make this as leftover chicken (or even shredded rotisserie chicken) works well.
- Make sure you buy the best enchilada sauce you can find. Look for a Mexican brand which will be more flavorful than the mass produced American brands.
- I added red bell pepper to my version, but you can also add a small can of chopped green chiles, black beans, defrosted frozen corn or black olives to jazz this up even more!
- I used tortillas that were part white corn part wheat. Use whatever tortillas you like with your enchiladas, but look for those with 6-inch diameter.
- If serving to company, sprinkle with some fresh oregano, parsley, cilantro or some thinly sliced green onions before serving for a pop of color.
If you like Tex-Mex recipes try this King Ranch Chicken Casserole or this Chile Relleno Casserole. This Fresh Corn and Black Bean Salad would be an excellent side dish, too.
Turkey Enchilada Casserole
An easy Tex-Mex casserole for those post holiday turkey leftovers! Feel free to use shredded chicken the rest of the year.
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded leftover turkey (may use cooked shredded chicken as an alternative)
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano leaves or 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 large can red enchilada sauce (I used three small 10 ounce cans good quality enchilada sauce)
- Salt
- 12 small corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
Instructions
In a large saute pan, cook turkey, onion, bell pepper, garlic, oregano, and cumin in oil until the vegetables are soft. Stir in 1 cup enchilada sauce. Taste for seasoning and add salt if needed.
Cut tortillas in half.
Layer 1/4 of the tortillas on the bottom of the casserole, then 1/4 of the cheese, 1/3 of the turkey mixture, 1/4 of the remaining enchilada sauce. Repeat these layers two more times, then finish off with the rest of the tortillas, sauce and cheese.
Preheat oven to 425°. Bake until cheese is melted and casserole is hot in the center, about 20 minutes.
Notes
May substitute chicken for turkey.
May add black beans, black olives, a small can of drained, chopped green chiles, and/or frozen corn kernels to the meat mixture if desired.
Recipe adapted from Sunset Magazine.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 358Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 479mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 26g
11 Comments on “Easy Turkey Enchilada Casserole”
I need to make two batches so I can give a dish to my daughter. She works nights and has a six-month-old baby girl and a 14-year girl. Maybe I should include a bottle of wine along with the casserole!
Pretty! I’ve never found a high quality enchilada sauce. Mind sharing what you use! Cause that will sure make things easier, although I don’t mind making my own.
Would love to try making this dish some day! Thanks for sharing the lovely recipe, dear! xoxo
What a simply good recipe. You have reminded me that I have a cajun turkey sitting in my freezer that was given to us at Christmas. I have yet to thaw it, but this seems like the perfect reason! Thanks Liz!
Liz, this enchilada casserole looks fabulous! It would be a huge hit in our house!
Turkey is kinda the new chicken, at least in terms of flavor — it still has some, which more and more chicken doesn’t. Alas. Anyway, love turkey in Mexican dishes! This looks excellent — thanks.
Wonderful comfort food and SO easy!! I’m always on the lookout for great recipes using leftover chicken and turkey – will definitely give this a try!
Great comfort food for another chilly day here, all of 3° this morning and yet more snow on the way. Now I know what to do with the chicken in the refrigerator, this has to be delicious. Thanks, Liz, for the recipe! Take care
Oh my this was a great way to use up some of the leftover turkey in my freezer!
Total comfort food! The leftovers are basically cause for celebration – so good!
A perfect use of leftover turkey! The casserole looks droolworthy, Liz.