Green Chile Chicken Tortilla Casserole

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Prepare this dish the night ahead of time so all you have to do is pop it in the oven for an easy and delicious dinner.

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Prep Time:
45 mins
Additional Time:
9 hrs 10 mins
Total Time:
9 hrs 55 mins
Servings:
9
Yield:
9 servings

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • 1 pound tomatillos, outer husks removed, rinsed

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

  • ½ cup onion, chopped

  • 1 fresh poblano chile pepper, seeded and chopped (see Tip)

  • ¼ cup snipped fresh cilantro

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 12 (6 inch) corn tortillas, halved

  • 3 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast meat

  • 1 ¾ cups shredded reduced-fat Mexican-style four cheese blend (7 ounces)

  • 1 (16 ounce) jar salsa (see Tip)

  • 1 Chopped tomato, chopped onion, sliced fresh jalapeño chile peppers, sliced green onion, and/or snipped fresh cilantro (see Tip)

Directions

  1. Preheat broiler. Lightly coat a 2-quart square baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil. Place tomatillos in the baking pan. Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until softened and charred, turning occasionally. Set aside to cool slightly.

  2. In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and poblano chile pepper; cook and stir for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender and onion starts to brown.

  3. In a blender or food processor combine tomatillos, onion mixture, cilantro, sugar, cumin and salt. Cover and blend or process until smooth, stopping and scraping down sides as necessary.

  4. Spread 3/4 cup of the tomatillo mixture in the prepared baking dish. Arrange six of the tortilla halves over the tomatillo mixture, overlapping slightly. Top with 1 cup of the chicken, 1/2 cup of the cheese, and half of the salsa, spreading evenly. Add six more tortilla halves and top with 1 cup chicken, 1/2 cup cheese, and half of the remaining tomatillo mixture, spreading evenly. Add six more tortilla halves, the remaining 1 cup chicken, and the remaining tomatillo mixture. Top with the remaining six tortilla halves and the remaining salsa, spreading to cover completely.

  5. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and chill for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours. Cover and chill the remaining 3/4 cup cheese until needed.

  6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove plastic wrap. Cover dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil then sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Bake about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with chopped tomato, chopped onion, sliced jalapeno, sliced green onions, and/or snipped fresh cilantro.

Tips

Tips: Because chile peppers contain volatile oils that can burn your skin and eyes, avoid direct contact with them as much as possible. When working with chile peppers, wear plastic or rubber gloves. If your bare hands do touch the peppers, wash your hands and nails well with soap and warm water.

Salsas vary greatly in sodium content. Read nutrition labels and choose the salsa with the lowest amount of sodium.

Originally appeared: Diabetic Living Magazine

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

224 Calories
8g Fat
16g Carbs
22g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 9
Serving Size 1 serving
Calories 224
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 22g 44%
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Vitamin A 564IU 11%
Vitamin C 46mg 51%
Folate 12mcg 3%
Sodium 538mg 23%
Calcium 284mg 22%
Iron 1mg 8%
Magnesium 35mg 8%
Potassium 323mg 7%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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