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If winter dinners are feeling a little beige, these enchiladas bring the color back. We roll chili-spiced chicken and brown rice into warm tortillas, smother everything in tangy salsa verde, then finish with a juicy pineapple–avocado salsa. It’s hearty, lighter than most, and perfect for weeknights or a game-day spread.
Enchiladas are good and all, but I bet you’ve never had enchiladas like these lightened up salsa verde chicken enchiladas? With salsa verde, brown rice, chili seasoned chicken, and topped with the most delicious pineapple avocado salsa, oh my gosh, how could these not be insanely good. And healthy too…and don’t even go there with me on the whole cheese thing…there is lots of research to back me up! Moderation is the key.
Watch the how-to video here:
Anyway, I got the idea for these enchiladas just the other day and decided I needed to share them right away for a few reasons.
Reason one: after the first bite I knew the recipe was a winner and I am now addicted, meaning my excitement to share these was through the roof and I simply could not wait.
Reason two: today is Monday. Starting off a new week can sometimes be a little rough, so why not spice things up with a mini Mexican fiesta. I bring the enchiladas, someone make these margaritas…maybe only a splash of tequila though?
Reason three: the Super Bowl is quickly approaching. I’ve deemed this week Super Bowl Recipes Week and I thought these enchiladas could surely be added to the list. Bonus that they’re healthy too!
Speaking of the Super Bowl, how many of you guys are excited? I am going to be honest here, I am not much into watching football. I mean, I understand it and I can totally watch a game or have it on in the background and not be annoying, BUT I am much more excited about the food that goes along with it. Anyone with me?
PS. I totally just had to look up who was actually playing in the Super Bowl this year…ooops.
OK, but back to these enchiladas!! First off, aren’t these like a burst of color? I love when winter food can be so bright and inviting. I know January is all about the cozier foods and darker colors, but I dunno, I always crave colorful foods this time of year. I think they keep my spirits up!
Recently I’ve become a huge fan of salsa verde. These enchiladas were made thanks to the sole fact that I had ten tomatillos sitting on my counter just begging to be used. I hate throwing produce out, so I decided it was enchilada time. Salsa verde is really, really easy to make at home. You just char up some tomatillos, maybe add onions, garlic and some cilantro and that’s really all you need. While I made homemade salsa verde, there are some equally delicious store-bought versions out there too. When in a pinch, I buy mine from Whole Foods or this one on Amazon.
Once you have your salsa, all you need is chicken, brown rice, tortillas and plenty of fresh avocados and pineapple.
I’m a huge fan of mixing rice into my enchiladas as opposed to serving it on the side. Mixing the rice in allows for it to soak up all the yummy flavors from the sauce and the chicken. Plus, the rice gets covered in cheese and, let’s be honest, what’s not awesome about that?
I tried to make this recipe as simple as possible to put together, so the chicken and poblano peppers both get roasted on the same sheet pan. Then basically everything gets stuffed and rolled into some corn or flour tortillas, smothered in salsa verde, topped with cheese, and then baked to perfection.
Possibly my favorite part to these enchiladas though? The pineapple avocado salsa…or salad, I wasn’t sure just what to call it, but it’s a mix between the two. Either way, it’s delicious and I ate all the leftovers right out of the bowl after everyone was done eating. It’s just addicting to me, pineapple + avocado + lime + jalapeno + cilantro = all my favorites…seriously.
Put it all together and you have the perfect healthy, easy enchilada. Love it!
FAQ:
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes—shred 3–4 cups and toss with the spices and a splash of salsa verde. Skip the roasting step and proceed with the filling.
Corn or flour tortillas—what’s best?
Corn brings classic flavor and a slightly toastier edge; flour rolls easier and stays softer. Warm either type so they don’t crack.
How do I keep the enchiladas from drying out?
Fully coat the tortillas with salsa verde before baking, and cover if your oven runs hot. Look for melted cheese and gentle bubbling at the edges.
Can I make the pineapple–avocado salsa ahead?
You can mix it up to a few hours in advance; press plastic wrap directly on the surface to slow browning. Add extra lime and a pinch of salt right before serving to wake it up.
Lightened Up Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas with Pineapple Avocado Salsa.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken tenders or small breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- kosher salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 poblano pepper
- 2 cups homemade or store bought salsa verde
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 10-12 corn or flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack
Pineapple Avocado Salsa
- 1 avocado, diced or sliced
- 1 cup chopped pineapple
- 1 jalapeno, seeded + chopped
- juice of 1 lime
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the chicken on a baking sheet and rub with the olive oil, chili powder, cumin, and paprika. Season with salt and pepper. Add the poblano to the baking sheet. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Shred the chicken with two forks. De-seed the poblano and cut into slices. Add the shredded chicken and poblano to a bowl. Add 1/2 cup salsa verde, the rice, half the cheese, and the cilantro, toss to combine.
- Pour 1/2 cup of the salsa verde onto the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for one minute. Spoon a little of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla, tuck and roll, placing the tortilla, seam side down, into the baking dish. Pour the remaining salsa verde over top of the enchiladas and then top with the remaining the cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Remove and top with the Pineapple Avocado Salad.
Pineapple Avocado Salad
- In a medium bowl, gently toss together all the ingredients. Keep stored in the fridge for up 2 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Enchilada Monday in for the win!
This was fantastic! We doubled the recipe and kept half the rice/chicken mix to use throughout the week for quick individual meals. The pineapple salsa was the perfect balance for the enchiladas. We used the only green salsa available in our little local grocery and found that it was jalapeno based instead of tomatillo. It added a little kick and was awesome. The leftover mix was super yummy with a poached egg on top and in a quesadilla. Will definitely make this again!
Hey Jenny,
Happy Wednesday!!🎇 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! xx
Like every recipe I make from here, this was delicious! I followed it pretty much exactly. I would highly recommend the pineapple salsa, as it complements it very well. Not too much effort for a huge payoff! They are also not super heavy.
Hey Madeline,
Awesome!! 🍂 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a bunch for trying it out! xx
Made these tonight and they were such a hit! Great recipe!
Hey Kate,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it! Have the best weekend:) xTieghan
Can I make chicken and assemble next day?
Hey Nancy,
Totally, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Really disappointed in this. It was incredibly dry. Followed the recipe exactly. Will not make again
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for trying the recipe, so sorry it was not enjoyed. xTieghan
can this be frozen? if so, do you have any guidance on that?
Hey Nic,
Sure! I would just covered and freeze before baking. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These are phenomenal!!! Do NOT skimp on the Pineapple Avocado Salad, it ties everything together so well!
Hey Liz,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Hi! Is salsa verde the same as green enchilada sauce? Thanks 🙂
Hey Marie,
Not quite, salsa verde is more of a salsa with ingredients that are blended together while green enchilada sauce is cooked ingredients. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghajn
Total winner!!! I’ve made these twice. The second time we used red sauce. Everyone always freaks out and keeps saying: “this is SO good. This. Is. So. GOOD.” That’s the best thing to hear in the kitchen! I even made a side batch -veggie style- omitting the chicken & adding sautéed yellow onion & green onion! Yum!! Thanks so much!
Hey Shelly,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for trying it out! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
We made these last night and we’re still raving how delicious they were!
Thank you Jolene! xTieghan
Loved this recipe!! Cooked last minute for a date night and it was so easy and delicious!
Amazing! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Ashley! xTieghan
This was an explosion of flavors. Love the sweetness of the pineapple in contrast to the spicy salsa verde. Chicken was really tender to pull. Will definitely make again!
Thank you so much Jen!! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan
I made a version of your “Light Chicken and Poblano Enchiladas”. We are vegetarian, so I substituted cauliflower florets for the chicken and proceeded with the recipe. It turned out great and your pineapple-avocado salsa was a fantastic salsa. You have a real talent for salsas that really brighten and accentuate your main courses! Sorry I didn’t take a pic, but my enchiladas tend to be a little gloppy if I do the microwave version versus dipping them in hot oil…or I don’t let them cool enough to solidify their shape. Mealtimes are the most exciting time of the day with our self quarantine, so the whole family is at the table waiting for the main event to come out of the kitchen!
Hi Marie! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying it! I hope you are staying healthy and well! xTieghan
This looks delicious. I make tacos that are very similar. I am making this on Friday for a dinner party. Thinking of adding pickled red onion to the salsa. Thoughts on that?
Hey Andi!! LOVVE that idea. Delicious! in the instant pot
The whole family loved it, even the 2-year old. I swapped out mild canned green chilies for the poblanos since I couldn’t find them at the grocery store. It was delicious.
Thank you so much Christina! xTieghan
I made these for dinner tonight and they were so good!! I omitted the rice (because I forgot to make it ahead of time) and only used half of a jalapeno in the salsa (because we are wimps). My husband gave them an “A” and my 4 year old ate his with no complaints, and lots of sour cream. ? I almost didn’t make the salsa, but I’m so glad I did because it was so good and added so much to the enchiladas! Thanks for a great recipe!
Hi Michelle! I am so glad your family loved this recipe! Thank you!