How to Freeze Enchiladas
Having freezer enchiladas prepped and ready to bake is a huge time saver on busy weeknights! This post will walk you through how to freeze enchiladas (before or after baking!) and the best methods for reheating them.
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Enchiladas Are the Perfect Freezer Meal!
Although enchiladas aren’t difficult to prepare, they can be time consuming. Between making the filling, rolling up each tortilla, and baking them, enchiladas require advance preparation.
So, why not make an extra pan of enchiladas to freeze for later? You’ve already dirtied your pans, so you might as well make the most of it!
Here’s why I love having frozen enchiladas on hand:
✔ Can Be Frozen Before Baking: Enchiladas actually freeze the best when they’re uncooked, which means the only prep you have to do upfront is making the filling and rolling it in the tortillas.
✔ Can Be Baked From Frozen: Having a pan of freezer enchiladas ready to be baked at a moment’s notice is great for busy weeknights. Or, if you have older kids who can safely operate an oven, frozen enchiladas come in handy for nights when they need to feed themselves!
✔ Works With Any Filling: It doesn’t matter whether you’re making cheese, beef, veggie, or chicken enchiladas — any kind can be frozen!
Enjoy!
-Katie
Tools Needed
Katie’s Tip: I prefer freezing a whole pan of uncooked enchiladas in vacuum bags rather than baking pans. Baking pans take up a lot of space in the freezer, plus I can’t use them when they’re holding frozen enchiladas! You don’t need to have vacuum bags, though. I’ve given instructions on how to freeze enchiladas in disposable pans as well in the sections below.
- Vacuum sealer and bags: Storing enchiladas in airtight bags helps prevent freezer burn.
- Disposable foil pans: You’ll need either vacuum bags OR disposable foil pans.
- Parchment paper: I prefer lining my baking pans to make transferring the frozen enchiladas easier.
- Labeling supplies: Always label frozen enchiladas with the date you made them, plus any additional instructions required for baking them later.
How to Freeze Enchiladas (3 Methods)
Katie’s Tip: I prefer freezing uncooked enchiladas. The tortillas don’t become soggy after the enchiladas are baked, and the textures of the dish generally hold up better.
Freezing Uncooked Enchiladas (Best Method!)
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper. Be sure to take the parchment paper up the sides of the pan to make removing the enchiladas later much easier.
- Assemble the enchiladas in the lined baking dish as the recipe instructs.
- Cover the pan with foil, then freeze until completely firm (this could take up to 3 hours). This is called flash freezing.
- Once firm, lift the enchiladas out of the pan using the parchment paper.
- If using vacuum seal bags: Transfer the frozen enchiladas to a vacuum seal bag, label, and freeze.
- If using a disposable foil pan: Wrap the pan in two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Remove the wrappings prior to baking!
Freezing Cooked Enchiladas
- Line a freezer-safe baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang.
- Assemble and bake the enchiladas as instructed.
- If freezing in a disposable baking dish: Let the enchiladas cool completely, then cover with two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Then freeze.
- If using vacuum seal bags: Flash freeze the enchiladas (wrap the pan in foil and freeze for just 1 hour). Once firm, lift the enchiladas out of the pan using the parchment paper. Transfer the frozen enchiladas to a vacuum seal bag, label, and freeze.
Freezing Individual Enchiladas
- Assemble and bake the enchiladas as instructed.
- Let the pan of enchiladas cool completely, then slice into individual servings.
- Transfer each enchilada to a freezer bag or container. I use individual glass containers that are freezer- and microwave-safe.
- OR, wrap each slice in plastic wrap and then in foil before sealing inside a freezer bag.
- Label and freeze.
How to Cook Frozen Enchiladas
Before baking your freezer enchiladas, transfer them from the vacuum seal bag to a baking dish if needed. Once the enchiladas are in a parchment paper-lined baking dish, you can bake them as instructed below.
- If the enchiladas are frozen: Bake at 350ºF covered with foil for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake another 20 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
- If the enchiladas are thawed: Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake another 5 to 10 minutes.
How to Thaw Enchiladas After Freezing
Katie’s Tip: You don’t actually need to thaw frozen enchiladas prior to baking them. In fact, frozen uncooked enchiladas should be baked from frozen. This helps preserve the texture of the tortillas and prevents them from becoming soggy. However, cooked enchiladas can be thawed or baked from frozen. It’s your choice!
To thaw frozen enchiladas:
- Place them in the fridge overnight to thaw.
- If the enchiladas were sealed in a vacuum bag, transfer them to a baking dish before thawing them. If you wait to transfer them to a baking dish once they’re fully thawed, you’ll have a big mess on your hands!
- Bake as instructed.
I don’t recommend thawing frozen enchiladas in the microwave. That can make the cheese and / or tortillas dry or rubbery.
Freezing FAQs
Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
Is It Better to Freeze Cooked or Uncooked Enchiladas?
It depends on your personal preference! I prefer to freeze uncooked enchiladas, then bake them just before serving. This preserves the texture of the enchiladas, whereas freezing cooked enchiladas often results in soggy or rubbery tortillas.
Can You Freeze Leftover Enchiladas?
Yes! I freeze leftover enchiladas in single servings in freezer-safe glass storage containers. It’s so nice to be able to pull out one enchilada at a time for quick lunches throughout the week.
How Long Do Frozen Enchiladas Last?
Freeze enchiladas will last up to 3 months, if stored correctly. After that point they’ll still be safe to eat, but they may develop freezer burn which could cause textural changes.
How Soon Should You Bake Thawed Enchiladas?
If you opt to thaw the enchiladas before baking them, you’ll need to cook them within 24 hours.
Enchilada Recipes That Freeze Well
You can find all of my freezer tutorials here!
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How to Freeze Enchiladas
Having freezer enchiladas prepped and ready to bake is a huge time saver on busy weeknights! This post will walk you through how to freeze enchiladas and the best methods for reheating them.
Ingredients
- Enchiladas (baked or unbaked)
- Vacuum sealer and bags (or disposable foil pans)
- Parchment paper
- Labeling supplies
Instructions
Freezing Uncooked Enchiladas
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper. Be sure to take the parchment paper up the sides of the pan to make removing the enchiladas later much easier.
- Assemble the enchiladas in the lined baking dish as the recipe instructs.
- Cover the pan with foil, then freeze until completely firm (this could take up to 3 hours). This is called flash freezing.
- Once firm, lift the enchiladas out of the pan using the parchment paper.
- Transfer the frozen enchiladas to a vacuum seal bag, label, and freeze.
Tip: If you don’t have vacuum seal bags, I recommend freezing enchiladas in a disposable foil pan. Wrap the pan in two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Remove the wrappings prior to baking!
Freezing Cooked Enchiladas
- Line a baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang.
- Assemble and bake the enchiladas as instructed.
- Let the enchiladas cool completely, then cover with foil and freeze until firm.
- Once firm, lift the enchiladas out of the pan using the parchment paper.
- Transfer the frozen enchiladas to a vacuum seal bag, label, and freeze.
Tip: If you don’t want to mess with transferring the enchiladas to a vacuum bag, you can bake the enchiladas in a freezer-safe or disposable pan and freeze them in it as well. Just make sure to let the enchiladas cool completely before freezing.
Freezing Individual Enchiladas
- Assemble and bake the enchiladas as instructed.
- Let the pan of enchiladas cool completely, then slice into individual servings.
- Transfer each enchilada to a freezer bag or container. I use individual glass containers that are freezer- and microwave-safe.
- OR, wrap each slice in plastic wrap and then in foil before sealing inside a freezer bag.
- Label and freeze.
Cooking Frozen Enchiladas
If the enchiladas are frozen: Bake at 350F covered with foil for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake another 20 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
If the enchiladas are thawed: Bake at 350F for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake another 5 to 10 minutes.
Notes
Please read the post above for detailed instructions on thawing and cooking frozen enchiladas.
Try Freezing Enchiladas to Bake Later!
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Tee says
Hi! I’m a little unclear about freezing the unbaked enchiladas. Do you add the sauce before you bake them or are they frozen with the sauce and cheese on them already?
Katie Kick says
Either way works. These days I typically fully assemble with sauce and cheese and then freeze them before baking. But you can also freeze the sauce separately if you prefer, and then add the sauce and cheese after thawing just before baking. Hope that helps!
Andrea says
Quick clarification! When flash-freezing the uncooked enchiladas to go in vacuum bags, are you covering them with sauce and cheese as well? Or just freezing the enchiladas and adding sauce/cheese at baking time? If adding the sauce and cheese, do you leave the parchment paper in the vacuum bag or break everything off of it to store? I’m just imagining it being easier to freeze without the sauce/cheese and just have that handy in the pantry/fridge to add upon baking but would love to hear if there’s a benefit to freezing it!
Katie Kick says
Hi! You can freeze with the sauce and cheese (I just leave the parchment attached) or you can freeze without and freeze the sauce separately in a container, or make it fresh the day you cook the enchiladas.
AJ says
This is exactly everything I needed to know about freezing enchiladas but couldn’t find anywhere. Thank you for compiling all of this great information!!
Laura says
Great tips! I was wondering, is it better to freeze them with or without the enchilada sauce on the? I usually put sauce on bottom of pan and then spread around on top before baking, but wondered if it would make it soggy if it was frozen this way.
Katie Kick says
I always freeze them with the enchilada sauce poured over top. However, if you’re worried about them turning soggy I recommend freezing the rolled enchiladas and the sauce separately. You can freeze the sauce in portions needed for your recipe using freezer safe containers. Then, thaw both and add the sauce and cheese on top just before baking.