Skinny Creamy Chicken Red Enchiladas (Macro Friendly)
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas (Macro-Friendly + Made With Red Sauce)
Now that I live on the East Coast, I miss Mexican food every day…but it’s not always the most macro friendly!
If you’re trying to eat healthier but still want dinners your family will actually be excited about, these macro-friendly creamy chicken enchiladas are one of my favorite meals to make.
They’re creamy, comforting, and taste like the kind of enchiladas you’d order at a restaurant. But with a few simple swaps, they come in around 365 calories per serving with over 40g of protein.
This version uses red enchilada sauce, which gives the dish a slightly richer, smokier flavor than green sauce. It’s honestly just as good and usually what I already have in my pantry.
Even better, these reheat really well, which means leftovers make an easy high-protein lunch the next day.
Why These Enchiladas Are Macro-Friendly
Traditional enchiladas can get heavy pretty quickly. Between sour cream, lots of cheese, and regular tortillas, the calories add up fast.
This recipe keeps the creamy texture but lightens things up with a few simple swaps:
Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
Light cream cheese for creaminess with less fat
Reduced-fat cheese on top
Hero tortillas for a lower-carb, higher-fiber option
The result is a dinner that feels indulgent but actually fits into a fat-loss plan.
Skinny Creamy Chicken Red Enchiladas
Servings: 4 (2 enchiladas each)
Note: Sometimes I make 4 big enchiladas with more filling each instead of 8 smaller ones.
Approximate macros per serving
365 calories
43g protein
29g carbs
8g fat
Ingredients
Chicken Filling
16 oz cooked shredded chicken breast (I use Rotisserie Chicken)
½ cup fat-free Greek yogurt
⅓ cup light cream cheese
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons salsa verde
Tortillas
8 Hero tortillas (or another low-carb tortilla) NOTE: Hero Tortillas are worth the hype. I make half the recipe with Hero Tortillas for myself and the other half with regular tortillas for the family.
Red Enchilada Sauce
1 cup red enchilada sauce
½ cup fat-free Greek yogurt
½ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon chili powder
squeeze of lime (optional)
Topping
¾ cup reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
chopped cilantro (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Make the filling
In a bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, Greek yogurt, light cream cheese, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and salsa until creamy and well combined.
3. Warm the tortillas
Warm the tortillas for about 10–15 seconds in the microwave so they roll easily without cracking.
4. Fill and roll
Divide the chicken mixture evenly between the tortillas and roll them up. Place them seam-side down in a lightly greased baking dish.
5. Make the sauce
Whisk together the red enchilada sauce, Greek yogurt, cumin, chili powder, and lime juice.
6. Assemble
Pour the sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top.
7. Bake
Bake for 15–18 minutes, until the enchiladas are hot and bubbly.
Optional: Make Bigger Enchiladas With More Filling
If you prefer more filling and less tortilla, you can make 4 large enchiladas instead of 8 smaller ones.
Just use:
the same amount of filling
4 tortillas instead of 8
This slightly lowers the carbs and increases the protein ratio while still keeping the dish super satisfying.
Easy Ways to Make Them Even Leaner
If you want to reduce the calories slightly, you can:
Use ½ cup cheese instead of ¾ cup
Mix ½ cup chopped zucchini or cauliflower rice into the filling
Once the enchiladas bake, you honestly won’t notice the vegetables.
What I Serve With These
Since these enchiladas already have plenty of protein, I usually keep the sides simple:
shredded lettuce with salsa
Pico de Gallo
roasted zucchini
cilantro lime rice
Black Beans
It’s one of those meals where everyone eats it and no one complains… which is always the goal.
This recipe was originally inspired by a version from Lillie Eats & Tells, but I adapted it to work with ingredients I had on hand and to better fit my macros. If you haven’t checked out Lillie Eats & Tells…do it. She’s my idol and all of her meals are delish.
