Chicken Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sauce

Chicken enchilada with pumpkin sauce

John and I have become huge fans of Mexican cooking since moving out to California 15 years ago.  The Bay area has so many amazing and authentic restaurants to choose from that we rarely cook Mexican at home.  Now that I am blogging about food, I realize that I need to get out of my comfort zone and try some new dishes.  I recently asked a friend what type of dish she would like to see on my blog next, and she said anything Mexican.  So I listened to her request and perused through my stack of cookbooks for some Mexican inspiration.  I stumbled upon this pumpkin enchilada recipe in my Everyday Food cookbook, and since it was fall, I decided to try it.  I love anything with pumpkin and this sauce looked so savory and rich.  I have always had pretty good success with recipes from Every Day Food, so I knew it would turn out decent (fingers crossed).

This dish had since become one of our family’s favorite dinners.  Every time I make it, I get a thumbs up from the family.  The corn tortillas add so much flavor and texture to the dish.  It’s the perfect blend of spices and flavor.  We love serving these alongside a nice big salad, like my kid friendly caesar salad.

This is also another great make ahead meal.  This dish can be assembled up to 8 hours ahead of time; refrigerate, covered with tin foil or plastic wrap, until ready to bake (add a few minutes to the cooking time).  You can also make the sauce ahead of time and cover and refrigerate it. Cook and shred the chicken and add the scallions and salt to it and refrigerate and cover till you’re ready to assemble the enchiladas.  When its time to then make the enchiladas, all you have to do is warm up the tortillas and assemble the enchiladas.

Pan of chicken enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas with pumpkin sauce

Recipe from Everyday Food
makes 8 enchiladas

  • 2 decent sized chicken breasts, bone in, skin on or 1/2 of a rotisserie chicken
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 jalapeno chile, quartered, ribs and seeds removed
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 8 corn tortillas (6-inch)
  • 3 tablespoons grape seed oil – or another high smoke-point oil such as peanut or canola oil
  • 1 1/2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (6 ounces)

UPDATE:  I wanted to let you all know that I was at the grocery store today and noticed that the organic pumpkin (shown below ) now comes in BPA free cans!  Yippee!

Ingredients for chicken enchiladas with pumpkin sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a rimmed baking sheet.  Rub them with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Raw chicken breasts that are ready for baking on a pan.

Roast the breasts for 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  I always use my meat thermometer here and take the chicken out when it reaches an internal temperature of 165º.

Chicken on roasting pan

Want to know a super cool trick for shredding chicken? I learned this step from my good friend Carolyn.  While the chicken breasts are still pretty warm, (you really want them warm to hot for this next step to work) remove the skin from chicken and then using a knife, slice the chicken breast off of the bone.

Get out your kitchen aid mixer, throw the chicken breasts into the bowl and put your paddle attachment on.

Chicken in a mixer before mixing

Turn the mixer on to speed 4 and in approximately 20 seconds you will have shredded chicken. Super cool right? I didn’t believe it either till I saw it with my own eyes.  See, now you can believe it as well because there’s proof in the below photo.

Shredded chicken in a mixer with paddle

Note: The original recipe called for 1/2 of a rotisserie chicken so you can also use that if you wish.  We’re not fans of dark meat in this house, so I always just roast up some breasts when a recipes calls for shredded or cubed chicken.  I learned this trick from the Barefoot.

Note:  For time efficiency, the chicken can be roasted and shredded up ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until needed.

Once your chicken has been shredded, it’s time to start assembling the enchiladas. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees for the enchiladas.

As you know, I like to prep all my ingredients ahead of time, so lets get prepping!  Slice up your scallions, peel your garlic, chop up your jalapeño chile and grate your fresh cheddar cheese (you can just buy the cheese grated as well).

Chopped green onion

In a blender, add 2 1/2 cups water, the pumpkin puree, garlic, jalapeno, chili powder, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and puree until smooth (hold top firmly as blender will be quite full).

Pumpkin sauce in blender

Pour 1 cup of the sauce in the bottom of a rectangular baking dish.

Sauce in dish

In a medium bowl, combine the shredded chicken and scallions and season generously with salt and pepper.

Shredded chicken in bowl

Now its time to heat up your corn tortillas so they do not break apart while rolling them.  I learned this amazing trick from simply recipes and it works every time.

In a medium sized skillet at medium-high heat add 2-3 tablespoons of grape seed oil.

Add a tortilla to the pan.  Cook for 2-3 seconds, lift up the tortilla with a spatula, add another tortilla underneath.

Tortilla in skillet

Cook for 2-3 seconds, lift again, both tortillas, and add another tortilla underneath.

Repeat the process with all the tortillas, adding a little more oil if needed. This way you can brown and soften the tortillas without using a lot of fat. You do this process to develop the flavor of the tortillas. As the tortillas brown a little, remove from the pan one by one to rest on a paper towel, which absorbs any excess fat.

Tortillas in skillet

Lay the tortillas on work surface; mound chicken mixture on half of each tortilla, dividing evenly.  Its best to put the chicken to one side of your tortilla and roll it up from there.

Roll it up as you would a sleeping bag.

Shredded chicken on tortilla

Roll up each tortilla into a tight log; place seam side down over the sauce in the baking dish.

Pour the remaining sauce on top.

I didn’t use all of my sauce here as I thought there was too much.

I poured what I thought was enough sauce and then threw away the rest, so just use your judgement here.

Preparing chicken enchiladas in dish

Finish by topping the enchiladas with the sharp cheddar cheese.

Chicken enchiladas with cheddar cheese

Bake the enchiladas uncovered in a 425 degree oven until the cheese is golden and the sauce is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes.  Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Pan of chicken enchiladas

Chicken enchilada with pumpkin sauce

Top your enchilada with a dollop of sour cream and serve with a vegetable of choice or a nice green salad.  I must admit it wasn’t the prettiest dish I’ve ever made, but it sure got rave reviews on the taste, and we ate it happily two nights in a row.Kids and hubby also requested that I make it again, very soon.

Adios Amigos!

With love Jackie

Chicken Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sauce

Recipe by Jackie
0.0 from 0 votes

    Ingredients

    • 2 decent sized chicken breasts, bone in, skin on or ½ of a rotisserie chicken

    • extra virgin olive oil

    • salt and freshly ground black pepper

    • 2½ cups water

    • 6 scallions, thinly sliced

    • 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

    • 4 garlic cloves, peeled

    • 1 jalapeno chile, quartered, ribs and seeds removed

    • 1 teaspoon chili powder

    • 8 corn tortillas (6-inch)

    • 3 tablespoons grape seed oil - or another high smoke-point oil such as peanut or canola oil

    • 1½ cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (6 ounces)

    Directions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Rub them with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the breasts for 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. I always use my meat thermometer here and take the chicken out when it reaches an internal temperature of 165º.

    • Want to know a super cool trick for shredding chicken? While the chicken breasts are still pretty warm, (you really want them warm to hot for this next step to work) remove the skin from chicken and then using a knife, slice the chicken breast off of the bone.

    • Get out your kitchen aid mixer, throw the chicken breasts into the bowl and put your paddle attachment on.

    • Turn the mixer on to speed 4 and in approximately 20 seconds you will have shredded chicken.

    • Note: The original recipe called for ½ of a rotisserie chicken so you can also use that if you wish. We're not fans of dark meat in this house, so I always just roast up some breasts when a recipes calls for shredded or cubed chicken. I learned this trick from the Barefoot.

    • Note: For time efficiency, the chicken can be roasted and shredded up ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until needed.

    • Once your chicken has been shredded, it's time to start assembling the enchiladas. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees for the enchiladas.

    • As you know, I like to prep all my ingredients ahead of time, so lets get prepping! Slice up your scallions, peel your garlic, chop up your jalapeño chile and grate your fresh cheddar cheese (you can just buy the cheese grated as well).

    • In a blender, add 2½ cups water, the pumpkin puree, garlic, jalapeno, chili powder, 2 teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and puree until smooth (hold top firmly as blender will be quite full).

    • Pour 1 cup of the sauce in the bottom of a rectangular baking dish.

    • In a medium bowl, combine the shredded chicken and scallions and season generously with salt and pepper.

    • Now its time to heat up your corn tortillas so they do not break apart while rolling them.

    • In a medium sized skillet at medium-high heat add 2-3 tablespoons of grape seed oil.

    • Add a tortilla to the pan. Cook for 2-3 seconds, lift up the tortilla with a spatula, add another tortilla underneath. Cook for 2-3 seconds, lift again, both tortillas, and add another tortilla underneath.

    • Repeat the process with all the tortillas, adding a little more oil if needed. This way you can brown and soften the tortillas without using a lot of fat. You do this process to develop the flavor of the tortillas. As the tortillas brown a little, remove from the pan one by one to rest on a paper towel, which absorbs any excess fat.

    • Lay the tortillas on work surface; mound chicken mixture on half of each tortilla, dividing evenly. Its best to put the chicken to one side of your tortilla and roll it up from there.

    • Roll it up as you would a sleeping bag. Roll up each tortilla into a tight log; place seam side down over the sauce in the baking dish.

    • Pour the remaining sauce on top.

    • I didn't use all of my sauce here as I thought there was too much.I poured what I thought was enough sauce and then threw away the rest, so just use your judgement here.

    • Finish by topping the enchiladas with the sharp cheddar cheese.

    • Bake the enchiladas uncovered in a 425 degree oven until the cheese is golden and the sauce is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

    • Top your enchilada with a dollop of sour cream and serve with a vegetable of choice or a nice green salad.

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      7 thoughts on “Chicken Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sauce”

      1. Hi Wendy! Your family likes Mexican so I am sure they will like this. Don’t tell the kids it’s made with the pumpkin puree as that might throw them off. Eli and Zoe loved this and I was surprised as I was not sure how they were going to feel about pumpkin.

      2. Just came across your blog from foodgawker. I love pumpkin sauce enchiladas. I’ll have to try this one out sometime. That is one of the prettiest casserole dishes I’ve ever seen! So large and modern — love it.

      3. Hi, love your blog. Love how you love your family!

        I too had extra pumpkin sauce, and chicken. (I also just baked some cauliflower. )
        I combined all the extras,with the cauliflower,and made a soup just for me!
        So great and no waste;)

        1. Hi Mary! Thanks for your sweet comment. I’m so happy to hear that you love the blog 🙂 Wow, your soup concoction sounds super yummy and I love that you made use of what you had leftover in the fridge. Don’t you love it when you create something amazing from leftovers? I always feel great when we clean out the fridge and there is no waste. Leftovers rock! xoxo, Jackie

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