Easy Keto Enchiladas (Chicken)

Our easy keto enchiladas with chicken and red sauce are cheesy, saucy, and so delicious - all while staying low carb and family-friendly. We make this recipe on repeat and think you will too!

⭐️ You'll Love This Keto Enchilada Recipe!

✔️ Classic enchilada flavors, keto and low carb approved using Carb Balance low carb tortillas
✔️ Ready in under 30 minutes - which makes this a fabulous weeknight dinner
✔️ You can make an extra batch to meal prep and freeze
✔️ Flexible filling - use chicken, beef, or turkey. We show you multiple ways to cook the chicken whether you're using shredded, cubed, or rotisserie chicken.

If you're missing your favorite Mexican inspired dishes after switching to a high protein low carb or keto eating, have no fear because our low carb chicken enchiladas with red sauce taste like the real deal.

When my husband first lost 40 pounds on a keto diet, these enchiladas were a constant favorite - they're cheesy, filling, and taste like comfort food. We never felt deprived or felt like we were eating "diet food!"

Many of our readers have raved about this enchiladas recipe!

Craving more low carb Mexican inspired dinners? You'll want to add our low carb chicken enchilada casserole, green chili chicken casserole with cottage cheese, and our low carb crockpot taco soup to your menu rotation.

Ingredient Notes

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make keto enchiladas. the full ingredients list is in the recipe card.

• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes work well, and is how we wrote our original recipe in 2018. For a shortcut, you can also use pre-cooked shredded chicken or use rotisserie chicken - just note that store-bought rotisserie chicken may be saltier.
• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the onions and chicken; you can use any high heat oil. This won't be necessary if you boiled the chicken breasts.
• Yellow Onion: Adds a savory base to the filling - dice small so it cooks quickly. Red onions, white, sweet, or even low carb green onions can be used.
• Green Chiles: Canned mild or spicy green chilies add a little kick and authentic flavor
• Spices: A simple combo of cumin and chili powder seasons the chicken.
• Enchilada Sauce: Red enchilada sauce is classic for this recipe but feel free to swap in green sauce for a fun twist. Look for a no-sugar brand like Rosarita.
• Low Carb Tortillas: Mission Carb Balance tortillas keep this dish keto-friendly and low in carbs. Warm briefly before filling so they roll without tearing.
• Colby Jack Cheese: Shred from a block for the best melting and to avoid extra carbs from anti-caking starches in pre-shredded cheese. You can also lighten the cheese or use a sprinkle of Mexican Cotija cheese.
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray: A quick spritz keeps the enchiladas from sticking to the baking dish.
• Optional Toppings: Garnish with fresh cilantro, sour cream, sliced avocado, salsa, black olives, or chopped chives - all tasty, low carb additions.

Recipe variations

• Use green enchilada sauce instead of red sauce
• Use ground chicken, ground beef, or ground turkey for simplicity
• Add in low carb veggies like cauliflower rice, diced zucchini, sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, or add jalapenos for heat.
• Use a gluten-free tortilla like almond flour tortillas, egg tortillas, or cabbage leaves.
• Make your chicken enchiladas creamy by mixing in softened cream cheese.

How to Make Low Carb Enchiladas

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9x13" pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil in the pan. Cook the onions for 3-4 minutes until the onion starts to soften.

Step 2. Add the chicken, cumin, and chili powder and cook until the pieces are white on the outside.  The chicken won't be cooked all the way through at this point, but will finish cooking in the oven. Stir in the drained green chilis.

Feel free to substitute roasted chicken or another type of shredded chicken you might have on hand. We like to roast or boil chicken every week for meal prep. It's a game changer for assembling quick meals!

Step 3. Add the red sauce. Add a large spoonful of enchilada sauce to each tortilla and spread the sauce on one side of the tortilla.

Step 4. Add chicken down the center of the tortilla, which will be about ½ cup of chicken. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top.

Step 5. Roll the tortillas up and place them in the baking dish either seam side up or seam side down.

Step 6. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the top of the keto chicken enchiladas. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese.

Step 7. Bake and serve. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350F until cooked through and the cheese is melted.

Garnish with cilantro if desired, and serve with sour cream, avocado, salsa, or chives on the side. Makes 8 servings. Enjoy!

Helpful tips

• We don't recommend using pre-shredded cheese since it uses potato starch as a binder, which adds carbs to the dish and it doesn't melt as well.
• Add some spice by cooking 1 jalapeno with the vegetable mix, or swap the green chilis for canned jalapenos
• Serve the keto enchiladas with cauliflower rice, riced broccoli, or a simple green salad.

How to Store & Reheat

• Store: Cover leftovers and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: You can assemble and freeze before baking - wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. We love to meal prep and make a second pan for later! Enchiladas make a great freezer meal. Just bake them from frozen.
• Reheat: Bake directly from frozen at 350°F for about 40 minutes, or until heated through. They'll take long if you're cooking the the enchiladas from frozen.

What Are the Best Low Carb Tortillas?

Choosing the right tortillas makes a big difference when keeping enchiladas low carb and keto-friendly. Here are a few top options to try:

• Mission Carb Balance Tortillas: One of the most popular store-bought choices and our personal go-to. They're soft, roll easily, and have about 4-6 net carbs per tortilla, depending on size.
• Almond Flour Tortillas like Siete brand: A great option if you prefer a "cleaner" ingredient list. They're naturally low in carbs and grain-free.
• Egg White Wraps: Brands like Egglife make wraps that are very low in carbs and work well if you want to cut carbs even further.
• Other Store-Bought Low Carb Tortillas: Many grocery stores carry alternative brands made with coconut flour or other low carb flours. La Tortilla Factory, La Banderita Carb Counter, Ole Xtreme Wellness, Mr. Tortilla, and Hero Tortillas are popular choices.

Common Questions

Are chicken enchiladas keto?

Traditional chicken enchiladas made with flour or corn tortillas are not keto-friendly because they're higher in carbs. This version uses low carb tortillas and a sugar-free sauce, keeping each large enchilada at about 8 net carbs per serving, which fits most keto diets.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes. These keto chicken enchiladas are perfect for meal prep. Assemble them in the baking dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze them unbaked for up to three months.

Are Mission Carb Balance tortillas keto friendly?

Mission Carb Balance tortillas are low in net carbs (about 4-6 net carbs per tortilla) and are popular with many keto and low carb eaters. Strict keto followers may prefer homemade tortillas due to added fiber and ingredients, but they are a convenient low carb option.

What is a good substitute for tortillas in enchiladas?

If you want a tortilla-free option, try rolling your enchilada filling in thin zucchini slices, lightly steamed cabbage leaves, or homemade almond flour tortillas. Some also wrap the filling in cooked deli chicken slices for a no-carb alternative.

More Low Carb Mexican Recipes

• crustless taco pie,
• keto taco salad
• chicken fajita bake
• Baked salsa chicken
• Instant pot taco chicken

Recipe