Sweet Chili Chicken Enchiladas

CHILI ENCHILADAS

Asian Mexican fusion has to be one of my most favorite cuisines like my Teriyaki Chicken Tacos and Asian Caramel Pulled Pork Tacos. The two cuisines might appear vastly different but they have strikingly similar flavor profiles (thus my two favs!:), that lend themselves beautifully to intermingling and creating unique, enticing flavor combinations like these delectable chili enchiladas! So, if you are a little apprehensive about “how good” these chili enchiladas will be – please rest assured that if you like honey lime and coconut, you will go crazy over these enchiladas. In the best kind of crazy way

HOW TO MAKE CHILI ENCHILADAS

The idea for these otherworldy creamy chili enchiladas came from my Salsa Verde Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas that are tangy, sweet and spicy and still one of Patrick’s favorite recipes of all time. Instead of the Salsa Verde based sauce, I swapped it for Asian Sweet Chili Sauce which is whisked with honey, lime and a rainbow of spices. You then reserve some of this sauce to mix with your chicken filling, and the rest you simmer with coconut milk to create a flavor bursting creamy sauce to smother your chili enchiladas. The filling itself of tender juicy, pineapple infused sweet chili chicken is created by simmering your chicken with a can of pineapple in its juice and then adding some carrots for a refreshing, textured filling. Sprinkle your filling and your smothered sweet chili enchiladas with Monterrey Jack Cheese and you are 30 minutes away from East meets West meets your mouth.

TIPS FOR CHILI ENCHILADAS

corn or flour tortillas? I prefer flour tortillas for this sweet chili chicken enchiladas recipe because we want the Asian flavors to shine and not fight with the nutty corn flavor of the tortillas. Can I use rotisserie chicken? I usually think rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut in chicken enchilada recipes, but for this chili enchiladas recipe, I recommend making your own shredded chicken because it gets infused with sweet and tangy pineapple juice. That being said, you can still use rotisserie chicken if your short on time -or patience 😉 Where do I find Asian Sweet Chili Sauce? You can find Asian Sweet Chili Sauce in the Asian section of your grocery store. It is sweet and spicy made with red chilies, onion, garlic, sugar and fish sauce and is about to become your new favorite ingredient! Can I make chili enchiladas ahead of time? Absolutely! You can completely assemble the enchiladas, cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to eat, bake straight from the refrigerator for an additional 10 minutes or until heated through.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CHILI ENCHILADAS?

These Chili Enchiladas are the main attraction and so flavorful, we love to serve them just with plain rice and a big green salad. You can also serve them with fresh fruit like pineapple or my Pina Colada Fruit Salad or Perfect Fruit Salad.

CAN I FREEZE CHILI ENCHILADAS?

These Chili Enchiladas freeze great for meal planning made easy! To freeze, assemble enchiladas but do not add the cheese on top – for best results, you will want to add the cheese just when you’re ready to bake. Wrap the pan tightly in plastic wrap then cover with foil and freeze for up to three months. To thaw, place the enchiladas in the refrigerator for about 24 hours, then add cheese and bake at 350 for approximately 40 minutest.

OTHER CHICKEN ENCHILADA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE:

Beef Barbacoa Enchiladas Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas Salsa Verde Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas Jalapeno Chicken Enchiladas Chipotle Mango Black Bean Chicken Enchiladas Breakfast Ham and Cheese Enchiladas