Dinner doesn’t get any easier than this Chicken Enchilada Skillet. It’s creamy and cheesy, with all the bold flavor of classic enchiladas but without the heavy carbs. It’s an ideal low carb high protein recipe when you’re craving Mexican flavors. And it’s a guaranteed hit with the whole family!
Hey party people, it’s time for a little fiesta! This fun and easy meal is one of our favorites out of my popular cookbook, Easy Keto Dinners. While the kids enjoy theirs with some rice, I serve mine over Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice for even more great flavor.
Enchiladas are a well loved Mexican dish but those carb-filled tortillas don’t do us any favors. It also takes a lot more work to put together, rolling and filling the tortillas, topping them with sauce and cheese, and then baking. But this one-pan meal simplifies the process considerably!
I recently decided to re-visit this popular recipe and lighten it up a bit. I reduced the fat and increased the protein, but kept all the flavor. Now it’s better than ever. And make sure you check out my recipe for Chicken Enchilada Soup too!
Why we love this recipe
These keto chicken enchiladas bring my whole family to the table without complaint. And I always end up wishing I’d made more!
- Easy meal: This really is one of the easiest keto dinner recipes you will ever make. It takes only a handful of ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes!
- One pan recipe: You’ve got to love a meal that dirties only one pan. Less clean-up always makes me happy.
- Flavor: It really has all the bold Mexican flavor of chicken enchiladas.
- Great leftovers: I absolutely adore having the leftovers for lunch the next day. It heats up really nicely.
- Nutritional profile: This meal is packed with protein and has less than 4g of carbs per serving.
Reader’s Thoughts
“This recipe has been in my regular rotation for years. It’s delicious and easy. My husband calls it crack chicken and once requested it as his birthday meal.” — Pan
Ingredients you need
- Cooked chicken: You can use all chicken breast or a mix of light and dark meat. Cut the meat into cubes or shred it all together.
- Chicken broth: This creates a wonderful sauce for the skillet.
- Tomato paste: A little tomato paste adds flavor and color.
- Sour cream: This adds creaminess and body to your enchilada sauce.
- Cheese: Use shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese, which is a combination of Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack and cheddar.
- Seasonings: Chili powder, garlic powder, ground cumin and cayenne. These seasonings are the heart of the dish. You can make it as mild or as spicy as you like by controlling the chili powder and the cayenne.
Step by Step Directions
- Simmer the broth: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
- Make the sauce: Whisk in the tomato paste, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and cayenne until smooth.
- Stir in the sour cream: Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the sour cream until well combined.
- Add the cooked chicken: Stir in the chicken and toss to coat. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top and cover the skillet until melted, about 4 minutes.
- Add toppings: Serve with chopped tomatoes, salsa, guacamole, chopped avocado, jalapeños, or cilantro.
Tips for Success
Using pre-cooked chicken makes it extra easy. Rotisserie chicken is perfect for these keto chicken enchiladas. If you happen to have some leftover grilled chicken, that works too.
If you don’t have any cooked chicken, you can cook it quickly and easily by simmering it in 1 cup of broth for about 15 minutes. Then remove from the pan and shred. Remove about half of the cooking broth as well, and leave the other half for making the sauce.
You can adjust the heat to your liking. Add more chili powder and cayenne if you prefer it spicier. A little bit of chipotle powder is delicious as well.
Top with any of your favorite enchilada toppings: salsa, guacamole, chopped avocado, jalapeños, cilantro. So many delicious ways to serve it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional enchiladas are not appropriate for the keto diet. And many of the “low carb” tortillas have too many carbs for people on a keto diet, as well as quite a few questionable ingredients. This Chicken Enchilada Skillet, however, has no tortillas and doesn’t contain other high carb ingredients like rice or beans. It’s a fabulous way to enjoy enchiladas on a low carb diet.
This recipe for Keto Chicken Enchiladas has 3.4g of carbs and 0.7g of fiber. If you calculate net carbs, then this recipe has only 2.7 grams.
Store any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
More Mexican Inspired Keto Recipes
Chicken Enchilada Skillet Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (118.29 ml) chicken broth
- 2 tbsp (32.46 g) tomato paste
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 3/4 cup (172.5 g) sour cream
- 1 1/2 lb (680.39 g) cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
- 1 cups (113 g) shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese, (about 6 ounces)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, bring the broth to a simmer.
- Whisk in the tomato paste, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and cayenne until smooth.
- Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the sour cream until well combined.
- Stir in the chicken and toss to coat. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top and cover the skillet until melted, about 4 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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Loved by all — keto-loving and carb-lovers alike. Great flavor!
So glad to hear it!
Carolyn this turned out to be amazing!! I fed my grown boys and they loved it as well!! Thank you for all your great recipes and ideas!
Glad to hear it!
Hi Carolyn……..made this last night and it is a keeper for sure. After plating I added a handful of shredded Iceberg lettuce and some tomatoes and green onions. Also I added some Cilantro to the chicken in the skillet because we LOVE Cilantro in this house. Also, love your Native Northwest Tattoo………we are from Seattle and collect Native American art. Keep the recipes coming and your daughter looks like a Vogue model!
Thanks, Kurt. I love cilantro as well. And Haida formline art is truly some of the most stunning in the world, in my opinion.
Delicious way to use up leftover turkey or chicken. Served it over Trader Joe’s cauliflower rice. Will definitely make again.
My fiance surprised me with dinner last night and it was amazing! The chicken was so gosh darn juicy and the sauce was deeeeelish as all your recipes are! 10/10 Definitely making again
Glad you both liked it!
This looks delicious! Again an amazing recipe I’ll be trying soon
I didn’t get a link to the video. Can you email it to me please?
BJ
The video isn’t a link. It’s embedded right here on the page.
Enchiladas are a favorite around here. Glad to find a keto version the whole family can enjoy.
LOVE the flavors in these chicken enchiladas. Thanks for a delicious healthy recipe!
I love how simple this recipe is to make! It turned out great!
I love a good skillet meal recipe. I am looking forward to trying it.
Love all the flavors in this dish! I will definitely be adding this to my dinner line up for the week; looks amazing!
We are making this on Monday!
Definitely going in the “make this” column. Your daughter is precious.Thanks for another awesome recipe.
This one is going in “the rotation.”
Carolyn, thanks for the perfect recipe for left-over Costco rotisserie chicken , so happy to have that !
Your daughter is precious and so beautiful ! Enjoy your time together , time flies !.