After-Practice Recipe

Post-Practice Chicken Enchilada Skillet

Shredded chicken, tortilla strips, and enchilada sauce melt into one cheesy skillet, all the comfort of enchiladas with none of the rolling.

IngredientsTimingStoragetortillas
Comic-book style illustration of hungry kids coming home from practice to a fast hot dinner for Post-Practice Chicken Enchilada Skillet.

One-pan dinner

Enchiladas in a skillet, because nobody is hand-rolling tortillas at eight at night.

You want enchiladas but not the assembly line of filling and rolling after a long practice.

Everything simmers together in one pan, the cheese melts under a lid, and a dollop of sour cream makes it feel like you fussed.

Ingredients

post-practice chicken enchilada skillet starts with the groceries below, plus a realistic 12 minutes to finish (plus earlier prep) window.

  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 2 cups red enchilada sauce
  • 8 corn tortillas, cut in strips
  • 1.5 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

How to Make It

Get post-practice chicken enchilada skillet hot, sorted, and ready before the kitchen fills with shoes and bags.

  • Add the enchilada sauce, chicken, and black beans to a skillet over medium.
  • Stir in the tortilla strips and simmer 5 minutes until they soften and the sauce is hot.
  • Sprinkle the cheese over the top, cover, and cook 3 minutes until it melts.
  • Take it off the heat and dollop with sour cream and cilantro.

Do the Slow Part Early

Shred the chicken before practice so the skillet comes together in one pan.

  • Cook and shred the chicken in the morning, or use a rotisserie bird
  • Cut the tortillas into strips ahead
  • Open and drain the beans early

Store and Reheat

It reheats like a casserole; cover it so the tortillas stay soft, not rubbery.

  • Microwave 2 to 3 minutes, covered, stirring once
  • Or reheat in a covered skillet over low with a splash of sauce
  • Keeps 3 days in the fridge
  • Serve with: Mexican rice, sliced avocado, lime wedges

Make It Fit Tonight

Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land

Use green sauce

Swap in salsa verde for a brighter, tangier version.

Make it beefy

Browned ground beef stands in for the chicken.

Add a crunch

Top with crushed tortilla chips just before serving.

Turn up the heat

Stir in diced green chiles or a pinch of cayenne.

Pack tomorrow's lunch

It reheats well in a thermos for a warm midday meal.

Plan The Next Step

Plan a week of easy wins

Use the planner to slot quick skillet dinners like this into the nights you have no patience left.

Plan a week of easy wins