I’ve been prepping freezer meals for Mike to eat when we’re apart. Whether it’s because he’s back in Appleton for work, or because I’m traveling for work, or both… I worry about him. He’s more than capable of cooking for himself (I think), but I’m happier knowing that he has a good meal waiting for him at home. I’ve made a ton of stuffed shells and baked fettuccine Alfredo for him so far. Basically, foods that I can’t eat because they’re loaded with cheese. I haven’t documented any of those meals because I haven’t had the opportunity to take photos of the finished product. I’ve now realized that that is a little silly. I’m spending hours making new meals that I’m not sharing.

Since I’m pretty sure that there can be no shortage of freezer meals in the world, here you go – my first contribution to the Freezer Meal World – chicken enchiladas.

Freezer-Friendly Chicken Enchiladas

1 teaspoon canola oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 jalapenos, seeded and minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup tomato sauce
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 cup water
salt and pepper
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs (I used both)
1 cup shredded montery jack cheese, divided
1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
10 10-inch flour tortillas
olive oil spray

1. Heat oil in large pan over medium heat. Add in onion, jalapenos, and garlic and cook, stirring often, until onions have softened, about 5 – 8 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cumin and sugar and cook, stirring frequently, for about 30 seconds. Add in tomato sauce, tomatoes, and water and stir to combine. Bring sauce to a simmer. Lower heat, and let sauce cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
2. Place chicken into the sauce and cover the pan. Reduce heat to low and cook for about 15 minutes, or until chicken is completely cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate to let cool slightly.
3. Meanwhile, strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer. Press down on the tomatoes and onions to push out as much liquid as possible. Place the tomatoes and onions into a large bowl and set aside. Set sauce aside.
4. Shred chicken and add into bowl with tomatoes and onions. Stir in 1/4 cup of reserved sauce, 1/2 cup of montery jack, 1/2 cup of cheddar, and the cilantro.
5. Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon ~1/3 of the filling into the middle of each tortilla. Roll up tightly and place, seam-side down, into the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining filling and tortillas. Lightly spray the tops of the tortillas with olive oil. Place the enchiladas into the oven, uncovered, for 7 minutes to slightly brown the tortillas.
6. Remove the enchiladas from the oven and pour the remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
7. To cook right away: Preheat oven to 375°F. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 5 more minutes to brown the cheese. Remove from oven, and let cool slightly before serving.
8. To freeze: Cover the baking dish with a lid and freeze until ready to eat. When ready to eat, take the dish out of the freezer. Preheat oven to 375°F. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until heated through. Remove foil and bake for 10 more minutes or until cheese is lightly browned. Remove from oven, and let cool slightly before serving.

 

recipe slightly adapted from Annie’s Eats