This gluten-free, dairy-free Chicken Enchilada Casserole has a lot of layers of ingredients and flavor. This is a tortilla-less enchilada casserole/bake using zucchini for the layers, but you can easily put in tortillas for the layers if you like. It’s a bit of a “kitchen sink” recipe, so you can mix n’ match some of the ingredients to customize to your tastes. This is a perfect dinner to satisfy everyone, allergy-free or not!

Ingredient Tips:

This is a tortilla-less enchilada casserole/bake, but you can easily put in tortillas for the layers if you like. For the zucchini layers: try to get equally sized zucchinis for this so that you can make the layers about the same thickness without waste. You are essentially creating your tortillas/lasagna-like noodles with your zucchini slices. Make sure the enchilada sauce is next to the zucchini layer to help it cook down together.

If you are gluten-free, but not dairy-free you can use regular cheese and cream cheese. Miyokos, Parmela’s and Kite Hill make incredible dairy-free cheeses if you want to keep it dairy-free in this dish. Kite Hill’s cream cheese in particular is fantastic flavor.

I chose red enchilada sauce for my chicken enchilada casserole but if you love green sauce, go for it! I say to amp up the spices or change things up a bit to your liking in most of my recipes.

Bonus: No Waste Rotisserie Chicken

I grabbed an organic pre-cooked, hot n’ ready rotisserie chicken at the grocery store for this recipe to make prep way faster. You can use your own cooked, lightly seasoned chicken as well. Hot tip for not wasting those leftover bones: add the bones into an instant pot or large stockpot with 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and enough filtered water to generously cover all the bones. This could be about 10-12 cups of water and put in your instant pot or simmer in a large stockpot, lightly covered. Simmer for several hours until the liquid is almost reduced by half. Now you have your own homemade high-quality bone broth!

My favorite products for this recipe:

  • Parmela Creamery Sharp Cheddar Style Nut Cheese: This dairy-free cheddar cheese substitute is shredded for easy topping and even melts like real cheese. Instead of being soy-based like so many others, it’s cultured from cashew milk. You can’t order this product online, but you can find it in many stores around the country like Publix, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Wegmans and more. Check out all their incredible products on their website: https://www.parmelacreamery.com/products
  • Kite Hill Cream Cheese Alternative Spread: it’s velvety smooth, with a rich, subtly tangy and sweet flavor. It’s almond based, and I usually keep some on hand in the fridge. It comes in lots of flavors, which go great on my Grain-Free Everything Bagel Recipe!  You can find it at Target, Sprouts, Whole Foods and more. Here’s the store locator on their website: https://www.kite-hill.com/where-to-buy/

Rate this recipe and let me know what you put into your Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Chicken Enchilada Casserole!

Recipe and how-to YouTube video from my channel below.

Gluten-Free, Dairy Free Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Made with zucchini in place of tortillas, dairy-free cheese, and easy to grab ingredients like rotisserie chicken. Delicious meal-in-one recipe you can easy double. Keto-friendly, Vegan if omitting chicken.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Keto, Mexican
Keyword: baked, casserole, chicken, dairy free cheese, easy, family meal, grain-free, healthy, kid friendly, lean, meal prep, one pan, veggie, zucchini

Equipment

  • 8"x 8" glass baking dish

Ingredients

Seasoned Cream Cheese Layer

  • 8 oz dairy-free cream cheese
  • ¼ tsp. oregano
  • ¼ tsp cumin, or more to taste
  • ¼ tsp. granulated garlic/garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. chili powder or chipotle seasoning powder, optional
  • ½ lime, juiced

Main Layering Ingredients

  • Seasoned cream cheese mixture
  • 3 large zucchini, sliced lengthwise, about ¼ inch thick
  • 1 whole cooked rotisserie chicken, meat pulled off & shredded
  • 15 oz can/jar red enchilada sauce
  • Corn, fresh or thawed from frozen
  • Chopped onion
  • 1 package grated dairy-free cheddar cheese, like Parmela’s nut cheese

Optional Layers

  • Slices of jarred roasted sweet piquillo peppers, optional
  • 1-2 tbsp. pepitas, pumpkin seeds for sprinkling, optional
  • ½ cup refried beans

Method

  • Spray your glass dish with cooking oil like avocado, coconut or olive oil. Preheat oven to 375F
  • Put your cream cheese into a mixing bowl. Add in dried spices and lime juice to cream cheese and mix well with a spoon. Add more spices to taste.
  • Pour a layer of enchilada sauce into your baking dish, enough so it covers the bottom and you can’t see through it. Layer your first round of zucchini (about 3-4 slices in an 8”x8” pan) into the sauce, filling in as much of the dish space as you can. It’s okay to have gaps. Lightly sprinkle salt over the zucchini to season.
  • Layer the chicken over the zucchini, then layer a couple tablespoons each of corn and chopped onion. Sprinkle a layer of cheese.
  • Pour another layer of enchilada sauce, then layer your next round of zucchini slices. Spread all of your cream cheese in a thick layer.
  • Now to add some of the optional layers, which can also be interspersed with the previous layer of corn/onion: Layer the pieces of roasted piquillo peppers all across the cream cheese, if using. Sprinkle a light layer of pepitas, if using. Layer beans, if using.
  • Sprinkle your final layer of chicken, onion and corn. Add more cheese and enchilada sauce, then your last round of zucchini slices. Sprinkle a generous last layer of cheese.
  • Press down lightly, the layers may be slightly above the top of the pan. Bake casserole in oven for 60-75 minutes. Top layer of cheese should be melted and lightly browned.

Video

Best Dairy-Free/Vegan Butter Taste Test

I did a best of dairy-free/vegan butter taste test and ranked them so you don’t have to! That’s right, I straight up ate vegan butter, plain. I tried four popular brands of dairy-free/vegan butter on their own to see which one tasted and felt the most like real butter.

Holiday Spiced Sweet Potato Muffins – Gluten-Free/ Dairy-Free

Don’t have pumpkin but wanting that fall/holiday feel? Sweet potatoes to the rescue! Holiday Spiced Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Sweet Potato Muffins, to be exact. These delicious, moist, healthy muffins are made with coconut milk so there’s no dairy, tons of healthy fat, and no oil needed in this recipe!

Beet & Blueberry Smoothie – Dairy-Free

If you’re looking for a delicious, nutritious smoothie that can brighten up your day, Dairy-Free Beet & Blueberry Smoothie is for you. Roasted beets, wild blueberries, coconut yogurt and nut milk are the simple base for this magenta nutrition-packed beverage. This is sure to wake up your senses and be great for breakfast for the whole family, especially kids! Super simple to make by dumping all the ingredients in your blender and it’s ready to go.

Roasted Beet Hummus

Roasted Beet Hummus, it’s what’s for snack today! Don’t know what to do with those beets you see on the grocery store shelf or in your produce delivery box? This beet hummus is an easy way to incorporate beets into a food you and your family may already love AND it’s a gorgeous colorful result. A gluten-free, dairy-free side done in minutes in a food processor or blender.

Easy Beet Salad

Gluten-free, dairy-free easy beet salad is a guide to tossing up your own delicious salad with oil, vinegar, and herbs in minutes with prepared roasted beets. Great for a vibrant, healthy lunch or side.

Garbanzo Bean Salad

Garbanzo Bean Salad is canned garbanzo beans/chickpeas plus easy on-hand ingredients made into a delicious chicken-salad or tuna-salad style lunch or dinner. Budget-friendly, fast, plant-based, pantry meal to make when you’re low on fresh ingredients. Gluten-free and dairy-free.

Watermelon Strawberry Cooler Recipe

Watermelon Strawberry Cooler is a deliciously simple blended drink made in minutes with fresh fruit, with or without alcohol. Fun for kids and adults- easy to make for a party! Low sugar if made with Swoon Simple Syrup. Pairs well with tequila, vodka or gin. Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Gluten-Free, Dairy-free Chicken Enchilada Casserole has a lot of layers of ingredients and flavor. This is a tortilla-less enchilada casserole/bake using zucchini for the layers, but you can easily put in tortillas for the layers if you like. It’s a bit of a “kitchen sink” recipe, so you can mix n’ match some of the ingredients to customize to your tastes. This is a perfect dinner to satisfy everyone, allergy-free or not!

Healthy Turkey Rice Burgers

Healthy Turkey Rice Burgers are deliciously flavored with simple ingredients, packed with greens and goodness, perfect for the whole family. It’s a (healthy) happy meal packed into a burger. As usual on Jana Eats, this is gluten-free and dairy-free recipe, and super customizable.

Fresh Banana Mint Salad

This Cuban-inspired Fresh Banana Mint Salad is lightly sweet and whipped up in minutes. Refreshing and delicious as a dessert, snack or side anytime. Banana Mint Salad is a gluten-free, dairy-free balanced treat, great for the kids! It’s as easy as throwing these 6 simple, tasty ingredients into a bowl and you’re set.