The Chicken Enchilada Stack.

Spring break is always so busy with kids. Never get a minute to breathe or think. I love it. I love staying busy. But, I love healthy, easy meals even more. And, the healthier, the easier, the better; especially during spring break. When I go grocery shopping for a meal, I purchase double so I can ensure to have enough to make another night if needed. This one it was needed. More wanted than needed to be honest.

I love enchiladas. I love making enchiladas. And my family loves my enchiladas. However, I've never thought of an enchilada stack. Until I strolled across this website while searching for some slow cooker meals. Turns out, I can't cook very well on the stove...I'm best with a slow cooker. :) This meal is so filling, so delicious and so healthy, it's hard to pass up. The most time consuming part? Cutting the vegetables up. Which, you could purchase them pre-cut to save time. But I've got plenty of hands two hours before dinner time during spring break. :)

Approximate prep time: 1-2 hours (depends on your chicken and vegetables)
Cook time: 2 hours
Total time: 3-4 hours
Serves 8

Sorry, no picture for this one either...It gets eaten too fast to take one. :(

INGREDIENTS:
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion (red or white. I use both, my family loves onions.)
1/2 cup chopped seeded poblano chile (Leave the seeds in if you love spicy.)
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup green bell pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons chile powder
1 (10 ounce) Diced tomatoes with peppers
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce with basil, garlic, and oregano (I used Hunt's spaghetti sauce, the garlic and herb flavor)
Cooking spray
Slow cooker bag (If you don't have one, don't panic...it's not NEEDED. Just helpful. I don't use them.)
2 cups Chicken Breast (I buy mine raw, cut it, season it, and saute it myself, you can purchase the rotisserie chicken breast to save time. I also wind up with more than 2 cups of chicken from just one breast.)
1 Lemon or lime (Either is fine, and is only needed if cooking your own chicken)
1 cup frozen baby white and yellow corn (I use half a cup of each)
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
5-6 (8 inch) flour tortillas
2-3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

PREPARATION:
1. Chop all vegetables and have in a bowl ready to go. Keep 1 clove of minced garlic to the side.
2. Cut up chicken into small pieces, place in bowl, and squeeze lemon or lime juice on top and mix.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pour 1 teaspoon oil into pan, let heat up. Place the 1 clove of minced garlic into the pan and allow to brown just slightly. Cook chicken pieces. Set to the side. They will not be needed until ready to layer.
4. Heat another large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pour 1 teaspoon oil into pan, let heat up. Pour vegetables into skillet and saute until tender; stirring frequently.
5. Stir chili powder, tomatoes and tomato sauce into vegetables. Allow to simmer for about 2 minutes.
6. Place half of tomato mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid to allow steam to escape. and place a clean towel over opening to avoid any splatters. Blend until almost smooth. Pour into large bowl, repeat with remaining tomato mixture.
7. Coat slow cooker with cooking spray; or place your slow cooker bag in slow cooker.
8. Place 3 tablespoons of tomato mixture in bottom of slow cooker.
9. Combine the remaining tomato mixture with chicken, corn and beans.
10. Place one tortilla on tomato sauce in slow cooker; pour about 1 cup of chicken mixture over tortilla; sprinkle cheese on top. Top with another tortilla. Repeat the procedure until out of mixture. End with cheese on top, not a tortilla.
11. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours, or until cheese melts, and edges are lightly browned. (My edges never browned, and it was still delicious. So don't worry if your edges don't brown. If the cheese is completely melted, it's probably done. I let mine cook on LOW for 2 1/2 hours, although, it would be done at 2 hours.)
12. Cut like a pizza.
13. ENJOY! :)

I know it may look like a lot of steps, but I broke the steps down a lot. :) It is very simple to do if all of your vegetables and chicken is ready to go. :) I really don't suggest trying to do both chicken and vegetables at one time...I couldn't do it. The chicken required too much attention.

You could add or take away any of the vegetables. This is my version of the recipe. If you click on the word website above the ingredients, it will take you to the original recipe where I got the idea from. :)

I hope you have scrumptious night! :)