How To Reheat Enchiladas

Enchiladas are an extremely popular Mexican food and for good reason - they’re saucy, cheesy, and usually stuffed with a rich meaty filling!

If you’ve got leftovers from making an enchilada casserole, it’s best that you get clued up on how to properly store and reheat these scrumptious enchiladas so that the second serving is just as good as the first!

Don’t worry - I’ve got you covered with various reheating methods and helpful tips on how to enjoy hot and crispy leftover enchiladas! Let’s get started!

Jump to:

• Different Methods To Reheat Enchiladas
• Reheating Enchiladas In The Oven
• Reheating Enchiladas In The Microwave
• Reheating Enchiladas In The Skillet Method
• Reheating Enchiladas In The Air Fryer
• How To Store Enchiladas
• How To Freeze Enchiladas
• How Do You Prevent Reheated Enchiladas From Becoming Soggy?
• FAQ
• Easy Enchilada recipes

Different Methods To Reheat Enchiladas

There are 4 different ways that you can reheat enchiladas with some of the methods having preferable results to the others.

For purposes of outlining these 4 reheating methods, let’s assume that the enchiladas are either at room temperature or have been refrigerated. 

Reheating enchiladas from frozen is discussed in more detail in the post.

Reheating Enchiladas In The Oven

Reheating enchiladas in the oven is great when you have large portions that need to be heated up. 

Here are the steps to reheating enchiladas in the oven:

• Preheat the oven to 350 °F. 
• Add the enchiladas to an oven-safe container or preheated baking dish if possible (don't use a cold casserole dish), if desired, add some extra cheese and sauce on top of the enchiladas before covering the dish with aluminum foil.
• Heat/bake enchiladas for 20 - 25 minutes.
• Optional: Microwave the enchiladas for 1 minute before heating in the oven to reduce the oven time by 5-10 minutes. It also ensures that the enchiladas are properly heated in the center. 

I found reheating enchiladas in the oven a good method overall.

It’s especially convenient for reheating larger portions although oven heating does tend to dry out the meat filling somewhat and while the enchiladas are exactly soggy, they don’t have a crisp bite to their exterior as you’d get from reheating in a skillet. 

Reheating Enchiladas In The Microwave

Reheating enchiladas in the microwave is perhaps my least favorite method. While it may be super quick and convenient, you will definitely get the worst results. 

Nevertheless, here’s how to reheat enchiladas in the microwave:

• Place the enchiladas in a microwave-safe plate and an important tip here is to poke small holes into them to allow for steam to escape so that the enchiladas don’t explode.
• Cover the microwave dish and heat it on high for 2 minutes.
• Check for doneness. If the enchiladas need additional heating time, repeat the process for 30-second intervals. 

While reheating in the microwave is convenient, it has the tendency of making any cheese rubbery in texture and the enchilada somewhat soggy.

I only recommend this reheating method if you have no other option available. 

Reheating Enchiladas In The Skillet Method

Reheating enchiladas in a skillet is by far my preferred method. You’ll achieve an evenly heated enchilada filling without it drying out and regain that crispy tortilla bottom!

Here are the steps to reheat enchiladas in a skillet:

• Add a small amount of oil to the skillet and allow it to heat up on medium-high heat.
• Add the enchiladas in a single layer to the skillet for about 2-4 minutes which should be sufficient time to crisp the bottom of the tortillas.
• Add a few drops of water around the enchiladas and cover the skillet with a lid so that they steam for 2 minutes. 
• Remove from heat and serve with a dollop of sour cream and fresh cilantro. 

When reheating your enchiladas in the skillet, make sure that they are spaced out and not overcrowded. You must also resist any urge to slip the enchiladas as the cheese on top will stick to the skillet.

The steaming takes care of evenly heating the enchiladas throughout.

In my opinion, this is the best way to reheat enchiladas without losing their texture and flavor.

Reheating Enchiladas In The Air Fryer

Reheating enchiladas in an air fryer will yield a similar result to the oven method except that the air fryer tends to dry out the meat filling a bit. A major positive about using the air fryer is how quickly it reheats and cooks food.

Here are the steps to reheat enchiladas in the air fryer:

• Preheat the air fryer to 350F. 
• Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper if your enchiladas are particularly saucy.
• Heat the enchiladas for 3-4 minutes and serve. 

Never overcrowd the air fryer basket - you need ample air circulation to reheat evenly and get some crispy texture back.

While air frying to reheat enchiladas is very quick, you do have to make sure that the enchiladas are properly heated in the center and I tend to find that you can notice you are eating reheated food, similar to the oven method. 

How To Store Enchiladas

Allow your cooked enchiladas to fully cool before storing them in an airtight container that’s lined with parchment paper or a paper towel. They will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Don’t allow the enchiladas to sit at room temperature for longer than a couple of hours due to the risk of bacteria growth. 

How To Freeze Enchiladas

Once the enchiladas have cooled at room temperature, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight storage container or in a Zip-lock bag for up to 3 months. 

Thaw your frozen enchiladas overnight in the refrigerator before proceeding to reheat using one of the methods outlined above.

Although I don't recommend reheating enchiladas from a frozen state I recognize that this is a popular option for those who want a solution for a quick make-ahead dinner.

One more important thing is to note that gluten-free tortillas may fall apart easier after reheating than for example whole wheat tortillas. Make enchiladas fresh on the day whenever possible.

How Do You Prevent Reheated Enchiladas From Becoming Soggy?

While you may never achieve the exact same crispy texture from freshly cooked enchiladas when reheating leftovers, there still are ways to reduce sogginess or prevent the enchiladas from becoming soggy.

• When first storing leftover enchiladas, always line the airtight container with parchment paper or a paper towel. This will help to absorb excess moisture so that you don't end up with soggy enchiladas after reheating them.
• When reheating in the oven, always preheat a baking tray without the enchiladas. Don’t just reheat enchiladas in a stored baking tray. 
• For single-serving portions, always opt for reheating in the skillet. 
• If you’ve opted to reheat in the microwave, poking holes in the enchiladas or cutting them into smaller pieces allows the steam to escape to reduce the level of sogginess. 

FAQ

Easy Enchilada recipes

I love homemade enchiladas and if cooked properly they taste even better the next day! I highly recommend these popular Mexican favorites below.

Lime Cilantro Rice - a delicious Mexican rice recipe to serve with any of your favorite Mexican dish.

Chicken Enchiladas With White Sauce - chicken and cheese enchiladas with creamy green enchilada sauce is one of the classics that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Vegetarian Enchiladas - a great alternative for vegetarian ground beef enchiladas.

Thank you for reading,

Love,

Julia