Chicken Enchilada Puffs {VIDEO}
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Turn chicken enchiladas into finger food! CHICKEN ENCHILADA PUFFS are delicious and come together in a snap for a busy weeknight meal. Croissants stuffed full of cheesy chicken enchilada filling, what’s not to love?! Watch the video to see how easy these are to make!
If you like easy dinner recipes as much as we do, be sure to check out our Blackened Salmon Filets, Cheesy Ravioli Bake With Chicken, and Homemade Pizza Rolls.
Table of Contents
Chicken Enchilada Puffs For The Win!
You may have noticed, we love cooking food that is easy to make and doesn’t require hours over a hot stove. Take it one step better, and you can’t beat food you can eat with your fingers.
This recipe takes something as good as chicken enchiladas and turns them into finger food! When you break into the middle of these Chicken Enchilada Puffs, you’ll find a piping hot, cheesy chicken mixture packed with flavor. Serve with a side salad, Mexican rice, or your favorite veggies.
Jumbo size crescent rolls make chicken enchilada puffs perfect for dinner. They also make great party appetizer by using the smaller size crescent rolls. – either way, you put them together just the same.
How To Make Chicken Enchilada Puffs
(full printable recipe at the end of this post)
The shortlist of easy-to-find ingredients and the use of refrigerated croissants and pre-cooked chicken make chicken enchilada puffs perfect for a busy weeknight meal. Your family is going to be begging you to make these again and again!
Before you get started, preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and spray with no-stick spray.
Now, grab a small microwave-safe bowl and add the cream cheese and shredded Mexican cheese. Place the bowl with cheese in the microwave and cook on high 30-40 seconds, to soften the cheese. Add seasoning mix, enchilada sauce, and chicken to cheese mixture and stir until combined.
Next comes the fun part! Unroll the crescent rolls on the prepared pan and scoop a heaping tablespoon of chicken mixture into the center of the two short ends of the crescent roll.
Then pull the outer corners of the crescent roll over the chicken mixture, and then pull the long end over, completely enclosing filling. Sprinkle tops of chicken enchilada puffs with additional shredded Mexican cheese.
You’re almost done! Bake the enchilada puffs for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Serve them warm with your favorite toppings like salsa, sour cream, or guacamole! Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and Enjoy!
Chicken Enchilada Puffs Tips
- I usually use pre-cooked grilled chicken that comes in the bags near the lunch meat, leftover chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken (I get mine already shredded at Costco).
- Be sure to use the jumbo crescent rolls if you are making these for dinner. You can use the smaller crescent rolls and make chicken enchilada puffs as an appetizer.
- Leave the crescent rolls in the refrigerator until you are ready to fill and roll them. If they are at room temp they tend to be sticky and hard to work with.
Variations For Enchilada Puffs
You can mix up your seasonings…….use enchilada sauce mix and red enchilada sauce, or taco mix and sauce. Or a combination ie: enchilada sauce mix and taco sauce.
What is the difference between enchilada sauce and taco sauce? According to FoodsGuy, the main difference between taco sauce and enchilada sauce is the ingredients used for each. Enchilada sauce depends on chili powder whereas taco sauce uses paprika. Enchilada sauce pulls heat from fresh or canned chilis while taco sauce uses cayenne pepper.
Buy it or make it! Use store-bought sauce or you can make your own red enchilada sauce!
Try adding other mix-ins: diced green chilies, diced tomatoes, corn, or beans to the enchilada puff filling.
Make Chicken Enchilada “Muffins”: Another way to serve these enchilada puffs is to use crescent roll dough (it still comes in the can sold by the biscuits, but it’s a sold sheet instead of triangles). Cute the sheet of crescent dough into 12 equal squares and lay them in a greased muffin tin. Then add the chicken enchilada filling, sprinkle a little more cheese on top and bake them. They will be “open-faced” and just as delicious!
Vegetarian Enchilada Puffs: Omit the chicken and add black beans and diced tomatoes. Be sure to drain both, so your filling isn’t too runny.
You may also enjoy Garlic Chicken Puffs – every time I’m asked to bring an appetizer I make them, and I’m always asked for the recipe!
Storing Leftover Enchilada Puffs
How To Store Leftover Chicken Enchilada Puffs: Place leftovers in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Reheat: The chicken puffs are best reheated in the oven at 350° F. Put the leftover puffs on a pan, cover with foil, and heat for about 10-5 minutes or until heated through. If you prefer, you can warm them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until warmed all the way through.
I do not recommend freezing these enchilada puffs.
Craving More Mexican-inspired Recipes?
Add these chicken enchilada puffs to your menu for Taco Tuesday or anytime you’re in the mood for Mexican-inspired food!
Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas – The sweet and tangy marinated chicken wrapped in tortillas with cheese and covered in a creamy sauce gets rave reviews every time! This dish is equally as delicious with pork and easy to make ahead of time or freeze for another day!
Slow Cooker Taco Soup – Turn a simple dinner into a feast by serving slow cooker taco soup. This family favorite recipe is a snap to prepare and completely irresistible.
Chicken Quesadillas with Fire Roasted Salsa – Baked or grilled, this is a quick meal the whole family will love. These cheesy chicken-filled tortillas are flavorful on the inside and crisp on the outside!
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Chicken Enchilada Puffs
Turn chicken enchiladas into finger food! These delicious savory Chicken Enchilada Puffs are the perfect easy meal!
Ingredients
Chicken Enchilada Puffs
- 1 package jumbo crescent rolls
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 3/4 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese (divided)
- 3/4 cup cooked chicken* (diced or shredded)
- 1/3 cup enchilada or taco sauce
- 2 teaspoons enchilada or taco seasoning mix
Optional Toppings
- your favorite salsa
- sour cream
- guacamole
- fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F and line cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper and spray with no-stick spray.
- Place cream cheese and 1/2 cup Mexican cheese in a small bowl and microwave for about 30-40 seconds, to soften.
- Add seasoning mix, sauce, and chicken to cheese mixture and stir until combined.
- Unroll crescent rolls on the prepared pan.
- Scoop 1 large heaping tablespoon of chicken mixture into the center of the two short ends of the crescent roll.
- Pull outer corners of the crescent roll over the chicken mixture, and then pull the long end over, completely enclosing filling.
- Sprinkle tops of puffs with additional shredded Mexican cheese.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Serve warm with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole! Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and Enjoy!
Notes
*I usually use pre-cooked grilled chicken that comes in the bags near the lunch meat, leftover chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken.
How To Store Leftover Chicken Enchilada Puffs: Place leftovers in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Reheat: The chicken puffs are best reheated in the oven at 350° F. Put the leftover puffs on a pan, cover with foil, and heat for about 10-5 minutes or until heated through. If you prefer, you can warm them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until warmed all the way through.
I do not recommend freezing these enchilada puffs.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 2 puffsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 318Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 594mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 16g
Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.
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These look delicious!!
Yum!
So easy and low cost! I’ll add this recipe to my “to-do” list. Thanks!
What a great make-ahead party recipe! …This may be on the Halloween menu. 🙂
Yummy!!
Cheryl, those are so pretty. Glad you are back!
These looks so easy and delicious, Cheryl! Great idea.
These sound really good, I love Enchiladas. It’s always good to see a variation on a recipe.
YUM!! I love quick and easy meals and this looks perfect.
Hi Cheryl! These puffs look AMAZING! I hope your trip to Paw’s Up was a blast!! Can’t wait to hear more about it 🙂
xxoo
Great dinner idea! We love enchiladas so I am sure we will love these too!
My family will love this one!
These are a quick and easy alternative to my usual chicken enchiladas.Great after a long day at work and not time or energy for fixing dinner. I also love mixing taco sauce in with my seasoning packet. It give’s it that extra punch of flavor.
What a quick and easy idea for entertaining, so elegant, yet no one would know how simple these really are to put together.
YUM, Yum, yum!!! Those look amazing. I share your same philosopy on finger foods! Another fave would be anything you can dip! lol. Thanks for sharing!
I love dinner wrapped up in a puff….looks so cute!
Looks very tasty!
What a tasty and beautiful recipe! These are going on the to-try list for next weekend.
These look so simple and tasty! Such adorable little chicken pockets – too cute.
Yum!!! I love enchiladas but enchiladas as party food… even better!
Love this idea! I’ll totally make them, mmm.
I need these in my life. Like now!
I really love this recipe…crescent rolls make everything better!
These look yummy and super easy! Need to try them!
I’ve got lots of leftover Thanksgiving turkey! Think I need to get some crescent rolls 🙂
What a way to make chicken… so appealing. New to your blog and I love your site. Following you through the rss.
Looks delicious! Must try! Thanks!
Yum! I can’t wait to try these!
Great idea! My family will go crazy for this!
My family loves finger food like nothing else and this fits perfectly into our palate. Great idea
You just made me SO hungry and it’s only 9 am. =) I bet these would freeze well. Thoughts?
oooh Aimee, I’ve never tried freezing, but I bet they would freeze great! I may try that next time I go out of town, I’ll make up a batch ahead of time for the family.
I’m trying these tonight! Thanks so much!
Oh these look great. Will be making these in the next few days.
These look so yummy! I’ll be featuring them this evening on my blog – and my link party is still open…you should link up now, or come visit again on Tuesdays!
Smiles,
Melanie
These look awesome. I pinned your post!
I made these tonight and they were delicious!!
I saw this recipe and couldn’t resist. Did exchange the chicken for hamburger and the filling tastes awesome. Just waiting now for the whole thing to come out of the oven. Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
They turned out great! Takes about 3/4 lb of hamburger as the substitute.
These are in the oven as I type 🙂 Thank You for sharing this. I sure am one for simple and easy meals
Although I did use the whole box of cream cheese and the whole packet of mix…My bad as I didn’t see the 2tsp 🙂 I have a habit of doing things like this….
I made this last night and it was a hit!
Update on the dinner…Everyone loved it! My kids even ate the left overs for a snack, now that’s a winner in my book! Thank You so much for sharing this 🙂 It’s so nice to get out the “same ole same meals”
Made these tonight – added some chopped cilantro & chopped onions to the chicken mixture. Extremely yummy and easy peasy!
Do you have this on Pinterest? If so, can you give me the link? I’d like to pin it, if your do. Or, from here, with your permission, of course. Please email me at gloria(dot)vincent(at)yahoo(dot)com to let me know?
ALSO: I’d also like to ask another question. Thank you!
Best,
Gloria
I made this dish this past Sunday after seeing it on food gawker. I have four kids – one of whom is very picky. They and hubby all loved it (and me). I garnished it with fresh avocado and also had refried beans and Mexican rice. It was yummy. I kind of fudged on the quantities in recipe, so I had filling left over. I made a layered chicken enchilada casserole type thing with the leftover filling (that was delish, too). I WILL make again. THANK YOU!
I made these tonight and usually my picky husband won’t eat anything new. But they smelled so good that he tried them and loved them. Thank you for a simple and basic recipe that I can do quickly after work, not break the pocket book, and both of us enjoy them!!!!
I made these tonight and they were YUMMY!!!! I added a sauce made of cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, and taco seasoning. Gooooodddd stufffff 🙂
I made these and they were amazing!! I will suggest them to my friends and family! They were a hit 🙂 Thanks!
I decided to try these for dinner tonight and they were fantastic. My family loves the flavor of a roaster chicken but we’re not big fans of dark meat. This was a great way to use it up without anyone even caring that it was dark meat. Most of them I stuck with the just chicken and cheese combo. But for my little batch I chopped up some tomato and green pepper from the garden and added it. Then for fun we dipped them in nacho cheese sauce. It was a huge hit!
I need the recipe for Garlic Chicken Puffs – My pin says no longer available. Thanks
? the recipe is right here in the post
I made these tonight and my kids loved them. I doubled the recipe because the can of crescent rolls had 8 in them, and I think that I would put a bit less taco sauce. I think that you could make the chicken mixture ahead of time and put them together after work for a quick dinner.Thanks for the good recipe!
Yummy… Looks and sounds fantastic! Need to try it soon!