Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas

April 18, 2018

In these Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas, corn tortillas are filled with tender, shredded chicken, black beans, and fresh spinach. Then they’re smothered in both roasted tomatillo salsa and a tangy sour cream sauce. These are addicting! 

Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce in cast iron skillet

Click HERE to save this recipe for Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas to Pinterest!

My sister-in-law, Erin, texted me the a couple weeks ago:

“We made your enchiladas!”

I could tell by the photo she sent that she meant this recipe for Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Sauce. I realized that I haven’t made these for dinner in a few years. Crazy!

I decided to add it to our menu for the week. When I went to the recipe, I realized that the photos on the post were over 8 years old, and in my opinion, a little cringe-worthy.

They were taken 2 cameras ago. I had absolutely no photography skills and very little experience.

Madeline just asked me “why do you not like the old pictures.” So, I showed her them and her reply was “wow…” I guess they were pretty bad!

I thought that since I was going to make them again, I might as well take some new photos. That way I could update this very, very old green enchiladas recipe and share it again.

I’ve never made this sour cream chicken enchiladas recipe for Kevin, Kendall, or Kayden, and I can’t even remember when the last time Logan and Madeline ate it, or if they ever did.

I was pretty excited to resurrect the recipe for one of my favorite spinach enchilada recipes, a classic Tex-Mex recipe from my childhood. My other favorite enchilada recipe is this one for Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Chili Gravy.

I just hoped that everyone else would like it as much as I did. Both the girls, Kendall and Madeline, LOVED the spinach and black bean enchiladas. Kendall actually ate 4 of them.

They both decided that these Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Sauce  was their favorite enchilada recipe, even ahead of the recipe for Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Chili Gravy.

The boys were another story. They didn’t hate or love this recipe. They prefer the other enchilada recipe, even though they ate a decent sized serving.

For sides, I like to serve tortilla chips and guacamole (5 Minute Basic Guacamole) and shredded or chopped lettuce topped with Pico de Gallo. They’re both easy things to make and the kids all love them, so no one ever complains.

green enchiladas smothered in sour cream sauce and tomatillo sauce

Click HERE to save this recipe for Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas to Pinterest!

Spinach Enchiladas Ingredients

For these green enchiladas, you’ll need:

  • Cooked and shredded chicken breasts
  • Black beans
  • Baby spinach
  • Grated cheese
  • Corn tortillas
  • Sour cream sauce
  • Tomatillo salsa

I prefer making my own roasted tomatillo salsa, but if you’re in a rush you can use store-bought salsa verde instead.

How to Make Enchiladas

Before starting in on the chicken and spinach enchiladas, you’ll first need to prep the tomatillo salsa and sour cream sauce. I’ve listed a few different methods for making tomatillo sauce in the recipe card below, so choose whichever method is easiest for you.

Then, combine the chicken and black bean enchilada filling ingredients in a large bowl. Distribute the enchilada filling among the corn tortillas and roll them up, placing them seam-side down in the baking pan.

Drizzle the spinach enchiladas with the two sauces and bake!

spinach enchiladas in round pan, drizzled with sour cream and tomatillo sauce

Click HERE to save this recipe for Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas to Pinterest!

How to Freeze Enchiladas

I’m glad that I was confident enough that no one would outright hate the recipe, because I made a double batch and froze some for later — that will be so great on a busy day.

If you want to freeze these green enchiladas, it is best to assemble the rolled tortillas (unbaked) in parchment paper lined square baking pans (8×8 or 9×9) without any sauce on them. Place the pan in the freezer until the enchiladas are frozen solid, an hour or two.

Then, lift the enchiladas out of the pan and place them in a zip top freezer bag. Zip the bag up, removing as much air as possible. Label, and store in the freezer.

The roasted tomatillo sauce freezes well in a container or in a zip top freezer bag as well. The sour cream sauce is best made right before baking.

When ready to bake, remove the enchiladas from the bag and place them in a baking pan. Thaw, covered with foil, for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator (thaw the tomatillo sauce as well).

Prepare the sour cream sauce. When thawed, remove the foil and drizzle the sauces on top. Proceed with the rest of the baking instructions.

Can I Make Enchiladas in Advance?

Though these Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Sauce might look time intensive, the great thing about them is that the individual elements can all be made ahead.

A lot of the elements are easily stored in the refrigerator or freezer until enchilada assembly time. The chicken can be made ahead and combined with the beans and spinach and refrigerated for up to 2 days until use.

For the chicken, my favorite recipe to use is this Crock Pot Mexican Chicken because it has a ton of flavor — it freezes well, too.

The tomatillo salsa can be made ahead as well and stored for up to 2 days, or even frozen for up to a month. And the sour cream sauce stores well in the fridge — not the freezer. It easily reheats in the microwave and returns to proper consistency with a few whisks with a fork.

See?

There is absolutely no excuse why you wouldn’t have time to make these Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas!

Thank you, Erin, for reminding me about one of my favorite green enchilada recipes. We’ll all be glad that these are back in rotation!

sour cream chicken enchiladas in cast iron skillet

More Mexican Recipes:

Looking some more of my favorite favorite Mexican recipes?

Check out some of these recipes, or browse the recipe index archives for even more great recipe ideas:

Shredded Beef, Black Bean and Quinoa Stuffed Poblanos are a healthier take on Chile Rellenos.

Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Chile Gravy Enchilada Sauce is a classic Tex-Mex dish from my childhood. Corn tortillas are stuffed with shredded chicken and smothered in a rich, chili gravy sauce before baked up to perfection with a gooey cheese topping.

Try a fun summer take on tacos with this recipe for Chicken Tacos with Grilled Corn Tomato Salsa. Chicken is flavored with a tasty Chipotle Lime Marinade and then grilled. Instead of traditional salsa, fresh, sweet summer corn is grilled until charred and combined with tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, and cilantro.

Kale, purple cabbage, carrot, and red bell pepper are tossed with a jalapeño lime vinaigrette for a healthy Mexican inspired Cilantro Lime Kale Slaw.

In this Mango Salsa with Grilled Corn and Blistered Red Pepper, juicy mango pairs well with grilled corn and blistered red bell peppers for a sweet and savory summertime salsa.

What’s your favorite enchilada filling?

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Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce

Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce

Yield: 24 enchiladas
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Corn tortillas are filled with tender, shredded chicken, black beans, and fresh spinach. Then, smothered in two contrasting sauces for one amazing Chicken Enchilada recipe.

Ingredients

Enchiladas

  • 4 large Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded (I like to use Crock Pot Mexican Chicken)
  • 1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 5 ounces Baby Spinach, chopped
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • 8 ounces Monterrey Jack Cheese, grated
  • 24 Corn Tortillas
  • Canola or Vegetable Oil for frying (if you fry instead of steam the tortillas)

Tomatillo Salsa

  • 6 large Tomatillos (about 1 1/4 pounds), husks removed and cut in half
  • 1 - 2 Jalapenos, cut in half with stems and seeds discarded
  • 1 Yellow Onion, quartered
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro Leaves, packed
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 3/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Pepper

Sour Cream Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons Butter
  • 1 clove Garlic
  • 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
  • 3/4 cup Sour Cream
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon Salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

Tomatillo Salsa*

  1. Place tomatillos in a medium sized sauce pan.
  2. Cover with hot water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Remove tomatillos from water and place in a food processor with remaining ingredients, starting with only one of the jalapenos.
  4. Process until smooth.
  5. Test for heat and add the remaining half of the jalapeno if desired. Set aside.

Sour Cream Sauce

  1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium high heat.
  2. Add 1 clove of minced garlic. Add the flour, whisking until golden and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Slowly whisk the broth into the flour mixture.
  4. Stir in the sour cream, whisking if necessary to remove any lumps.
  5. Simmer until sauce is thickened.
  6. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Prep the Tortillas**

  1. Steam the tortillas using a tortilla warmer. If you don't have a tortilla warmer, see the bottom of this article at Food & Wine for alternative methods. Set tortillas aside and keep warm.

Enchilada Assembly

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Spread 1/4 cup of the Tomatillo Sauce on the bottom of an oven safe pan or two, depending on the size of the pan. Set aside.
  3. Combine the chicken, spinach, salt, pepper and shredded cheese in a medium to large bowl. Stir until ingredients are evenly distributed.
  4. Add the beans and carefully stir in so as not to mash up the beans.
  5. One by one, fill a tortilla with a small handful of filling, about 1/4 - 1/3 cup.
  6. Roll the tortilla, placing the seam side down in the previously prepared pan(s). Repeat until all tortillas have been filled.
  7. Drizzle sour cream sauce on top, followed by the tomatillo salsa. Top with additional shredded cheese, if desired.
  8. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until tortillas are heated through. Makes 2 dozen enchiladas.

Notes

*Tomatillo salsa update: Now I prefer to toss the tomatillos, jalapenos, and yellow onion with a small amount of olive oil and spread out on a cookie sheet. Roast at 425 degrees F for 10 - 15 minutes (until everything is soft). Combine the roasted ingredients with the cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor and puree. Set aside.

**Tortillas update: Now I like to fry the tortillas as I think they stay together better. Add approximately 3/4 - 1 inch deep of canola oil in a well-seasoned cast iron pan.

Turn the heat to medium-high. Heat the oil until it is ready to fry the tortillas (around 375 degrees F if you are able to check with a thermometer). When the oil is ready, the edge of a tortilla will sizzle when dipped into the oil.

Add the tortillas one at a time and fry for about 5-7 seconds on each side, turning using kitchen tongs. They should be soft enough that they are easy to roll without breaking. Drain the tortillas on a paper towel lined cooling rack.

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© Good Life Eats
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Main Dish
Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce - Corn tortillas are filled with tender, shredded chicken, black beans, and fresh spinach. Then, smothered in two contrasting sauces for one amazing Chicken Enchilada recipe.

This recipe  for Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce was originally published January 13, 2010. It has been updated with new photos and the instructions have been improved for clarity with a few notes on some of the methods that I like to use now. 

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