Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas

The history of enchiladas is a long and complicated one. The dish is thought to have originated in Mexico, but there is no one straightforward origin story.

The dish gained popularity in the 19th century when it was introduced to the US by Mexican immigrants. It quickly became a favorite among Americans and has remained one of the most popular Mexican dishes to this day.

Why I Love This Recipe

Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas are the perfect comfort food. They’re easy to make and you can enjoy them any time of day!

Ready in under 30 minutes
Easy to make
Fills the house with a delicious aroma

If you love air fryer Mexican food recipes, you may also enjoy these Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos.

Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas on a plate garnished with sour cream, jalapenos, green onions, and cilantro, next to a fork with shredded cheese, jalapenos and an air fryer in the background

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make these easy enchiladas. All of these ingredients are easy to find in your local grocery store; or you may already have most of these ingredients on hand in your pantry, which can save you a trip to the store.

butter
all-purpose flour
chicken broth
sour cream
garlic powder
onion powder
green chiles, canned
Monterey jack cheese, shredded
yellow corn tortillas

Substitutions

Tortillas: You can use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas if you prefer them.

Chicken Stock: Can be used in place of chicken broth if you want to add more flavor.

Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You only need a few kitchen tools to help you make this easy recipe. Gather these ingredients and get ready to enjoy this tasty meal with your family.

saucepan
measuring cup
whisk
baking pan – it needs to fit in your air fryer. Cake pans can work depending on the size of your air fryer.

How to Make Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas

Making these cheese enchiladas is easy! Just follow the instructions below and you will have a tasty meal that your entire family will enjoy in no time at all.

Step 1: Melt the butter and make a roux

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt your butter. When the butter starts to boil and foam, whisk in flour and cook for 3 minutes or until golden brown.

Step 2: Slowly add the broth and bring to a boil

Add the broth and bring to a boil stirring frequently.

broth in a saucepan next to sour cream and chilies in cups

Step 3: Whisk in the sour cream and add the chilies and spices

Once boiling, add the sour cream and whisk until melted. Allow the cream sauce to thicken. Add the chilies and spices.

Step 4: Allow the sour cream mixture to cool

Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 5: Heat the tortillas

Microwave the tortillas to soften them.

Step 6: Coat the bottom of the pan with the homemade enchilada sauce

In a pan that fits your air fryer basket, pour sauce to coat the bottom.

Step 7: Roll the tortillas with cheese in the middle

Roll your tortillas with a pinch of shredded cheese. Place in pan. Coat the top of the tortillas with more of the green enchilada sauce and top with cheese.

Rolled tortillas with cheese and green enchilada sauce in Air Fryer.

Step 8: Air fry the enchiladas

Cook at 350 for 6 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden brown.

Step 9: Garnish and serve

Garnish with sour cream, green onions, and cilantro.

closeup of a fork on Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas on a plate garnished with sour cream, green onions, and cilantro.

Variations / Options / Add-Ins

Do you want to personalize these enchiladas? Here are some ideas:

Protein: If you want to add a little bit of protein to this dish, you could always add some cooked shredded chicken to the enchiladas before rolling them up. Rotisserie chicken is great for this.

Vegetarian: For a vegetarian option, you could substitute chicken broth for vegetable broth.

Heat: If you want a little bit more of a kick, you could always add some diced jalapeños or other hot peppers to the enchiladas.

Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas on a plate garnished with sour cream, green onions, and cilantro, with shredded cheese, peppers and tortillas in the background.

Tips

Here are some tips to make sure that these air fryer enchiladas turn out perfectly for you.

Do not overfill the tortillas or they will be difficult to roll.
If you want a crispy top, cook the enchiladas for a few minutes longer.
Make sure that the sauce is completely cooled before adding it to the tortillas or they will fall apart.
Want to add some veggies? Try adding in some sauteed onions, mushrooms, or bell peppers.
For a little bit of a crunch, you could always add in some chopped-up bacon.
Make sure that the cheese is completely melted before serving.
Instead of sour cream, you can use red enchilada sauce if you prefer it.
If you are doubling this recipe you will need to cook these enchiladas in batches.
Top with Mexican cheese, guacamole, salsa, diced tomatoes, or sour cream.
I like to serve these with Mexican rice, refried beans, black beans or chips, and salsa.
Instead of Monterey jack cheese, you can use cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese blend.

FAQs

Do you have questions about this air fryer enchilada recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.

How to store

You can store these enchiladas in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

How to reheat

To reheat, cook at 350 degrees in the air fryer for 4 – 6 minutes or until heated.

Can I freeze these?

Yes, you can freeze these for up to 2 months.

Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas on a plate garnished with sour cream, green onions, and cilantro.

More Air Fryer Recipes

If you like air fryer recipes, give these recipes a try:

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Air Fryer Cheese Enchiladas