Say hello to my new favorite friend, this cauliflower chicken cheesy goodness you see above!
He’s been to dinner on more than four occasions in the past few weeks, and has not even close to worn out his welcome.
He totally fits the bill on ‘comfort food’, but is hiding a healthy secret: cauliflower!
Have you seen Mann’s Riced Cauliflower in your grocery store? These little cauliflower chunks are insanely versatile: use them as a rice substitute, add them to your stir fries, healthy breakfast sandwiches, make cauliflower pizza crust or bread sticks…you name it.
Not only are they incredibly useful, but they cut down on food waste. Everyone wants the tops of the cauliflower, but how often do you consider the stems? I love this way to repurpose ‘unwanted’ food.
To showcase how versatile this cauliflower rice is, I decided to use them in a chicken enchilada casserole, in place of rice.
This chicken enchilada casserole couldn’t be any easier to prepare. You simply combine steamed cauliflower rice (just pop the whole bag in the microwave for 2 minutes!), with corn, chicken, enchilada sauce and some cheese.
Cover the bottom of a square pan with tortillas, then top with the filling. Add more tortillas, then some cheese, and bake away for 30 minutes.
Can we be honest here? I always shy away from casseroles because they look like so much work. This casserole has shattered those illusions.
Total number of ingredients in this casserole? Six. Total prep time? 10 minutes. Seriously easy.
Now would you guess this is healthy? I don’t think so 😉
It can be our little secret.
You know what else can be our little secret? How easy it is to make…I made you a video to prove it!
Thank you to Mann’s for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Sweet Peas & Saffron.
You may also like this Mexican Spaghetti Squash Casserole!
Cauliflower Rice Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 oz package of Mann's Riced Cauliflower (340 g)
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 2 cans enchilada sauce 20 oz, roughly 2.5 cups
- 2 cups cooked rotisserie chicken chopped
- Four 6 inch flour tortillas cut in half
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese or Monterey jack, shredded
Garnishes
- avocado
- fresh tomatoes
- cilantro
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Microwave the riced cauliflower (in the sealed package) for 2 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before opening the bag and adding to a large bowl.
- Stir in the corn, enchilada sauce, chicken, and ½ cup cheese (optional).
- In the bottom of a 9x9 inch baking dish, place four of the tortillas, flat side to the outside of the container.
- Top with the filling.
- Add two more tortillas on top, then sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Serve with avocado, tomatoes and greek yogurt (or sour cream)
Notes
BC – Nestor’s, Save On Foods, Sobey’s, Safeway
Alberta – Save On Foods, Sobey’s and Safeway
Quebec – Metro, IGA, Sobey’s
April
Can you use this recipe as a crockpot. It is just to hot to turn on the oven?
Denise
Hi April! I don’t think this recipe will work in the crockpot unfortunately. If you are looking for crockpot recipes, I have a ton here: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/category/slow-cooker
Taylor
I could eat this dish multiple times in a week. It is SO beyond easy, full of flavor, filling and absolutely heathy. I am trying to drop pounds right now. This meal tasted like a cheat, but it really wasn’t. I made two smaller dishes instead of using a large dish. In one, I used gluten free corn tortillas, and the other I used whole wheat low carb. I did add some green chilles for a little kick. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Denise
Hi Taylor! So happy to hear this! THanks so much for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
Rachel Taylor
That was unkind and way harsh. No need to be rude – she’s trying to help people make healthy alternatives. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Especially publicly. Denise: keep up the good work! And thank you for trying to help others eat healthier.
Linda
I made this and my husband and I loved it.. For low carb, it was amazing
Denise
Hi Linda! I’m so happy you and your husband enjoyed it! Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to leave a review.
Denise
I made this last night and it was delicious! I added a small can of chopped green chiles and I used an extra small can of enchilada sauce because we are big sauce fans in our family! I also used corn tortillas instead of flour because that’s what enchiladas are made with. It was simple and tasty! And I love how easily it came together. We’re having the leftovers tonight because it made more than a 9×9 pan. That was just a bonus!
Denise
So happy you enjoyed! I’m surprised it was more than a 9×9 inch pan, were you using a shallow pan? Anyway, thanks for leaving your review 🙂
Kathy
I made this tonight for my family
Was amazing
I did my own cauliflower rice in the food processor. After cooking it for 2 mins i squeezed out the cauli moisture.
Cooked chicken breasts and cut them up .
Tasted awesome and will def be making this again.
Denise
So happy you enjoyed! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Kathy 🙂
christina
this recipe was great! i used frozen cauliflower rice from trader joe’s. also added black beans (drained) and green chilies. so yum!
Denise
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it, Christina! Thanks for reporting back 🙂
Courtney
How do the tortillas come out? I’m wanting to use this for meal prep and I’m worried they may just get soggy.
Denise
Hi Courtney! This casserole keeps for 2-3 days in the fridge. The tortillas will get a little bit soggy but it didn’t bother us.
Nike
Hi,
I need help finding the Cauliflower cauliettes! I live in Georgia(USA) hopefully you can help me.
Denise
Here’s a list of stores that carry Mann’s products, however if you can’t find the cauliettes, I have had some readers use regular cauliflower rice with success. You can even make your own with a food processor!
Laura
Anyone know how long this lasts in the fridge? I can’t see anything that would go bad quickly but I cooked it so would prefer not to freeze
Denise
Hi Laura, it should be good for up to 4 days!
Amber
Loved this!
Denise
I’m so glad! Thanks for reporting back, Amber 🙂
Jenn
Made this yesterday using cauliflower rice. It turned out great and was delicious! I was afraid the cauliflower would be too soft since it was riced but the texture was great. Plenty of bite left in it.
Denise
Thanks so much for reporting back, Jenn! I’m glad you enjoyed it 😀
Kristen
I got a food processor for Christmas and practiced using it today with cauliflower! I was looking for things to make with it and came upon your recipe. Would this recipe work with cauliflower rice instead of small chunks?
Denise
I hope you LOVE your food processor, Kristen! I think it should work the same with smaller chunks, but I can’t say 100% for sure as I haven’t tested.
Melissa
Where can you buy the cauliflower cauliettes?
Denise
Hi Melissa, so sorry for the delay in getting back to you!
Here in Canada, you can find them:
Ontario – Sobey’s, IGA, Metro, Longo’s
BC – Nestor’s, Save On Foods, Sobey’s, Safeway
Alberta – Save On Foods, Sobey’s and Safeway
Quebec – Metro, IGA, Sobey’s
Where abouts are you? I can find out where in the US they are carried as well 🙂
Kate
Hi!
Looks yummy! Can you tell me what temperature to bake this at? Thanks!
Denise
Gosh how could I miss that important direction? It’s at 350…ammending the recipe. Thanks so much Kate!
Barbara
Can you freeze this and bake later? Or could you bake it and then freeze it?
Also you can get cauliflower crumbles at Target, just not the Mann’s brand
Denise
Hi Barbara! I haven’t actually frozen this recipe, but I think it would work. I’d freeze it unbaked, then bake up as written in the recipe. You can use any brand of cauliflower rice for this recipe, just make sure you cook it first. Let me know how you like it!
Cathy
I haven’t watched the video but I’m looking tosee how many servings and the points per serving. I’m pretty new to this so hope I’m not reapeating someone
Denise
Hi Cathy, I did a quick check on Spark Recipes for calories and it was 183 calories/serving (if you do 9 servings for one pan). That excludes any garnishes. I don’t know how to calculate points or anything so I’m sorry I don’t have any information about that.
Izzy @ She Likes Food
-4 still sounds pretty darn cold to me! I lived in Montana for a few years and it got that cold and I’m not sure I miss it very much! This looks like the perfect dish to warm you up though! I love that you used the cauiflower rice in here, such a great way to add more veggies!
Denise
I was kinnnnd of hoping we’d be moving somewhere warmer this year but looks like we’re here a bit longer. Thanks Izzy 🙂
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven
Oh maaaaaan, this is totally my kind of comfort food, Denise! I’ve never heard of that cauliflower product before but WHOA, my mind is blown! This casserole is definitely going on my future dinner menu!
Denise
Thanks so much, Sarah! The cauliettes are so great for sneaking in extra veggies in here and there. Hope you like it if you try it 🙂
Denise
Hi Lindsay! I’m in Calgary, although Mann’s sent me the Cauliettes. They should be available in Sobey’s, Safeway (I’d check the larger centers), Save On Foods and Calgary CoOP/Federated CoOp. They are SO versatile! I hope you like them Lindsay 🙂
Marcie
I hate wasting those stems too — this is a great way to use them! These cauliettes make life so much easier and I love all this cheesy goodness! Great idea!
Denise
Thanks Marcie!
Mardy
This looks fantastic! I am going to make this tonight. What brand of enchilada sauce do you recommend?
Denise
Hi Mardy, thank you so much! I used Casa Fiesta Mild Enchilada Sauce…you could go for the hot stuff and spice it up! I hope you like it 🙂
Mardy
Wow, for a healthy spin on a sinful dish-this takes the show! I wasn’t able to find that brand so used Frontera (Rick Bayless) enchilada sauce instead and subbed in corn tortillas for the flour but the rest was as written. It shall be a regular in this household, for sure! Thank you!
Denise
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it, Mardy 🙂 Thanks so much for reporting back.
helen @ Scrummy Lane
Hi Denise. Love this, and appreciated the little video showing me exactly how, too (helps to see how the tortillas are placed!).
What an ingenius idea to make something of the bits of cauliflower we usually throw away!
Denise
Hi Helen! Yeah it’s definitely easier to show than try to write it out 🙂 Thanks so much!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I thought it was cold in Chicago (high of 19 today) but you’ve got me beat! Although I think on Thursday it’s going to be 4 degrees, too cold, so that means I’m craving ALL of the comfort food and lots of hot beverages. I’ve never tried cauliflower rice before, but it’s on my list to do so. This casserole looks fantastic! I love the zesty flavors and my husband would, too!
Denise
Oooh 4 ‘your degrees’ is pretty darn cold, LOL! I’m always trying to do the math with F and C degrees and just get confused. I hope you stay warm!
Pam
I just discovered your blog and am loving it!! Just wondering…any chance you have nutritional info for your dishes?
I think this recipe will be gracing our table this week! 🙂
Denise
Thanks so much, Pam! I don’t have nutritional information for my all of my recipes at this time, I plan on looking into this in 2017. I’d love to work with a nutritionist to provide the most accurate information, since I’m not an expert in this myself. I just plugged it into Spark Recipes and got 183 calories per serving, this does not include garnishes and is for a smaller portion. I usually use My Fitness Pal and trust their data more, but they seem to be down right now.
Annie
My mouth is watering! This sounds and looks so delicious!
Denise
Thanks so much Annie!
Stacy
can I use frozen cauliflower because they do not sell that in grocery stores that I knows of
Denise
Hi Stacy, I haven’t tested with frozen cauliflower and can’t say for sure without further testing. However if you blend up some fresh cauliflower in a food processor into small chunks, then cook it in a pan for a few minutes, it should work!
sage davis
Where did you get your cauliflower from, denise?
Denise
Hi Sage! I was sent mine, but the Cauliettes can be found in Canada at:
Ontario – Sobey’s, IGA, Metro, Longo’s
BC – Nestor’s, Save On Foods, Sobey’s, Safeway
Alberta – Save On Foods, Sobey’s and Safeway
Quebec – Metro, IGA, Sobey’s
If you are in the US, I can find out which stores carry them and report back! Let me know 🙂