How To Reheat Enchiladas So They Aren’t Soggy

Here’s how to reheat enchiladas so they’re not soggy! We’re sharing 5 different methods, plus easy recipe ideas!

Looking for the best way to reheat your leftover enchiladas?

We’re sharing 5 easy methods to warm up your store-bought or homemade enchiladas without creating a soggy mess!

Keep scrolling for the best enchilada storage tips, reheating methods, and delicious recipes!

Table Of Contents

Enchiladas 101
How to Store Leftover Enchiladas
How to Reheat Enchiladas
Similar Dishes to Try
More Like This

Enchiladas 101

Pan of chicken enchiladas with white sauce with spatula in empty space and plate of enchiladas nearby.

If you’re not familiar with enchiladas, they’re a popular Mexican food and an easy meal for families! They’ve been enjoyed in America since the early 20th century.

You can make them in several different ways. But, they generally consist of rolled flour or corn tortillas with a cheese or meat filling and sauce.

Here are some popular versions:

Chicken enchiladas
Shredded beef enchiladas
Cheese enchiladas
Ground beef enchiladas
Seafood enchiladas
Pork enchiladas

You can top enchiladas with ingredients like sour cream, cilantro, and Pico de Gallo. And they’re often served with a side of rice and refried beans.

You can also turn these ingredients into an enchilada casserole with everything combined in a casserole baking dish.

How to Store Leftover Enchiladas

Close up of enchiladas with white sauce with rice and refried beans.

It’s important to properly store your leftover enchiladas to avoid bacteria growth and premature spoilage.

First, make sure your leftovers don’t sit at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. This is an important tip to prevent harmful bacteria from spreading through your delicious dish.

The danger zone for cooked foods is between 40°F and 140°F degrees. So, you’ll need to get your enchiladas into a cold refrigerator or freezer as soon as you can.

You can wrap your enchiladas tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

But for best results, store them in an airtight container. This will ensure the enchiladas don’t dry out or take on smells and odors from other foods in the refrigerator.

You can also freeze leftover enchiladas!

Use a freezer bag with as much air removed as possible. And if you can, separate your enchiladas into individual servings.

This will make it easier to reheat just the amount you need.

A frozen enchilada lasts for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Enchiladas

Enchiladas topped with red sauce and cheese in a casserole baking dish.

No one likes soggy enchiladas! So here are some different ways to reheat them so they’re perfectly crispy!

Conventional Oven

A regular oven is the best method for reheating large amounts of leftovers.

This method allows the enchiladas to evenly reheat. The oven method also helps the enchiladas retain their texture.

Here are the simple steps to reheat enchiladas in the oven:

Make sure you’re using an oven-safe baking dish. (Also avoid using a super cold casserole dish as the rapid change in temperature may cause it to break.)
Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil so the tortillas don’t dry out.
Use a low heat of 350 °F.
Bake for 20-25 minutes as oven temperatures vary.

Toaster Oven

The toaster oven is another great way to reheat enchiladas. This method produces similar results to a conventional oven and is great for smaller batches.

Here are the steps:

Set the temperature to 300 °F.
Line the baking rack with aluminum foil, and place the enchiladas on the rack.
Bake for 5-7 minutes.

Stovetop

You can also reheat your enchiladas on the stovetop. It’s a much more hands-on method. But, it doesn’t take too much time.

Here’s what to do:

In a skillet or frying pan, heat a small amount of oil on medium-high heat.
Once heated, place up to 4 enchiladas in your skillet (depending on the size). Make sure to leave space between the enchiladas so they cook evenly.
Cook the enchiladas for 2-4 minutes to crisp up the bottoms.
Then add a small amount of water to the skillet and cover. Let the enchiladas steam for about 2 minutes so they heat through.

Air Fryer

The air fryer is a great method for a quick reheat because the results are crispy and perfectly warmed through.

Here’s how to reheat enchiladas in the air fryer:

Preheat the air fryer to 350° F and line the basket with parchment paper.
Once preheated, place your enchiladas in the air fryer. Be sure not to overcrowd them.
Cook for 3-4 minutes.

Microwave

As a last result, you can reheat enchiladas in the microwave. It’s an easy way to heat leftovers quickly, but it doesn’t produce the best result.

You may end up with soggy tortillas and the cheese may turn greasy and rubbery. But, they’ll still taste pretty good if you don’t mind the texture changes.

Here’s what to do:

Be sure to remove any tin foil and place the enchiladas on a microwave-safe plate.
Cover the enchiladas with a paper towel or splatter guard.
Poke holes in the enchiladas so they don’t burst open.
Cook for about 2 minutes or until the enchiladas are heated through.

Similar Dishes to Try

Now that we’ve covered the best ways to reheat leftover enchiladas, here are some other delicious Mexican and Tex-Mex recipes to try!

Creamy Avocado Picante Chicken

Picante chicken with avocado over rice next to cut avocado on cutting board.

This simple recipe features juicy diced chicken breasts, creamy Picante sauce, and creamy sliced avocados, all served over hot rice. It’s an easy dinner idea that comes together in no time!

Shredded Chicken Cafe Rio Salad

Cafe Rio salad dressing on chicken salad.

This copycat Cafe Rio recipe is so good you’ll definitely add it to your regular dinner rotation. It makes a lot so it’s great for serving company.

You’ll love the zesty shredded chicken, cilantro lime rice, and fresh toppings like Pico de Gallo and cilantro.

The Easiest Creamy Taco Soup

Bowl of creamy taco soup with spoon and cilantro, avocado, and lime garnish.

This creamy taco soup is great for a rainy day. And you’ll only need a handful of ingredients like ground beef, black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes.

It’s a family favorite you’ll reach for again and again!