Turkey Enchiladas

A healthier version of a classic Mexican dish, these turkey enchiladas are cheesy and spicy, with a homemade sauce.

As much as I love living in a small, rural area, sometimes I wish we had more restaurant options, specifically ethnic food. When I visit my sister in Harrisburg, we usually go to a Vietnamese restaurant a few blocks away and it is AMAZING. I could honestly eat it every single day.

While we don’t have a ton of restaurant options, we do have good Chinese (a few, actually) and Mexican. I’ve shared some recipes of variations of my favorite Chinese food (Shrimp Fried Quinoa, Chicken Stir Fry, and Teriyaki Shrimp and Broccoli), as well as some Mexican (One Skillet Chicken Fajitas and One Skillet Mexican Rice).

Today’s recipe is another option for when you want the flavors of Mexican food but would prefer to stay home and have something a little healthier. I keep saying “Mexican” food, but I actually think this is incorrect–this is more Tex Mex food. I want to be respectful of different cultures, so I looked more into the whole Mexican vs. Tex Mex controversy and it turns out Tex Mex food usually includes a few ingredients found in the United States that are rarely used anywhere South of the Rio Grande. These ingredients include beef, yellow cheese (like cheddar), wheat flour, black beans, canned vegetables (especially tomatoes), and cumin. (This article is good at explaining it).

So yeah, this isn’t authentic Mexican food, but it’s pretty dang delicious anyways.

I should also point out that this recipe isn’t super healthy—which you probably could have guessed. But, although it’s made up of tortillas and cheese, it’s definitely a much healthier version than most enchiladas recipes. It calls for whole wheat or whole grain tortillas, turkey, mozzarella cheese, and a homemade enchilada sauce. Most store-bought sauces have added sugar, oils, and stuff like that, so I try to stay away from it. Plus, making your own is SO easy.

So, this doesn’t have a ton to do with enchiladas, but I have a little rant about healthy eating… I am constantly learning during this healthy living journey. I created this blog so I could share healthier recipes and tips that have worked well for me with others, but I’m no where close to perfect and I still struggle just like everyone else.

At the beginning, I was counting calories and working out like crazy (and would feel guilty when I didn’t), which wasn’t healthy at all. Then, more recently, I was allll about the Whole 30 program. It helped me figure out what foods make me feel bad, but when I was done with that I ended up eating horribly again and feeling like crap. Currently, I’m at a point where I’m trying to listen to my body and eat what I want and when I’m hungry, which is definitely easier said than done.

I continue to have days when I binge and end up eating a whole bag of Cadbury chocolate eggs, or when I spend waaay too much energy worrying about what to eat, when I should just eat what feels right. I’m working hard at getting to a point where I have a good relationship with food. I know I need to fuel my body so I feel energized and healthy, but I also don’t want to focus so much on what I eat that my mental health and happiness get pushed to the side.

I recently listed to this podcast episode by The Healthy Maven and it really got me thinking about this whole topic. I’m amazed at the amount of people who have unhealthy relationships with food and, even though I’m still trying to figure out things for myself, I really want to help others get to the point where they don’t have to “diet” or focus on the food they eat, rather eat what their bodies need and learn to enjoy life—which means eating the cake or pizza when they want to.

Okay, end rant. I’ll be writing a post more on this topic later, for sure. I have so much to say about it, especially because I’m trying to figure things out for myself, too. One way I do try to incorporate healthiness into my own life, though, without missing out on foods I enjoy, is to make healthier substitutions like in this chicken enchiladas recipe!

We’re all different, so if you’re at the point where you need to be more strict with what you eat, I totally get that. If you’re looking for a healthier way to enjoy delicious, flavorful Mexican (or Tex Mex) food, though, this recipe is a must try!

From The Small Town Foodie at https://www.thesmalltownfoodie.com/turkey-enchiladas/

https://www.thesmalltownfoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TurkeyEnchiladas4small.png

Prep: 15m

Cook: 25m

Yield: Serves 4 people

Total: 0h 40m

A healthier version of a classic Mexican dish, these turkey enchiladas are cheesy and spicy, with a homemade sauce.

You'll Need...

For the sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon hot sauce*
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Remaining ingredients:
8-10 100% whole wheat or whole grain tortillas
2-3 cups cooked turkey, shredded**
2 cups shredded mozzarella***
Avocado, Greek yogurt, & cilantro

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Make your sauce by first adding olive oil to a small saucepan on medium heat.
Once oil is hot, add garlic and brown for 2-3 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients to the pan (tomato sauce, hot sauce, chicken broth, and spices) and stir well.
Bring the sauce to a light boil, then let simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add about half of the sauce to the shredded turkey and mix well, coating all the turkey in the sauce.
Add about 1/4 cup of sauce-covered turkey to one tortilla, fold the sides in and roll into an enchilada, then place in a large rectangular baking dish.
Repeat this process for each tortilla.
Once finished, pour remaining sauce on top of all enchiladas in the baking dish.
Add to oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven, add cheese on top, and bake for another 2-3 minutes until cheese has melted.
Top with Greek yogurt, avocado, and cilantro, or any toppings of choice.

Additional Notes

*The hot sauces adds just a bit of spiciness. If you like really spicy food, I suggest adding extra hot sauce and/or hot pepper flakes.
**I like the flavor of turkey in the enchiladas, but you can substitute chicken or any meat of your choice.
***Same with the cheese--I like the taste and texture of mozzarella, but you could always substitute a different cheese!

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