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SEAFOOD ENCHILADAS (Chi Chi’s Copycat Recipe)


Description

Do you remember Chi Chi’s restaurant?  It was my favorite back in the day and their seafood enchiladas were at the top of my list.  Creamy, cheesy, with big chunks of seafood, I still find myself craving these enchiladas.  I think you will as well!  Luckily, you can make them easily at home.


Ingredients

Scale

For the shrimp:

  • 1520 large shrimp, peeled and deveined (to yield one cup of chopped, cooked shrimp)
  • 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • ½ fresh lemon

For the filling:

  • 6 tablespoons salted butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons lobster base (I used Better Than Bouillon brand)
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 6 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 2 (8-ounce) packages Imitation crab meat, flake style, chopped

For the enchiladas:

  • 10 (6-inch) flour tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • Paprika for garnish
  • Lime wedges for serving

Instructions

To cook the shrimp:

Fill a large saucepan about ¾ full of water.

Add the Old Bay Seasoning, squeeze the lemon, and add it to the pot.

Bring the pot to a full rolling boil over high heat.

Turn off the heat and add the shrimp.

Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and allow to sit for 4-5 minutes until the shrimp are opaque. 

Drain the shrimp in a colander and rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process.

When cool enough to handle, chop and set aside.

To make the sauce:

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.

Sprinkle in the flour and mix into the butter.  Cook for 5 minutes, whisking constantly.

Stir in the white pepper, salt, and lobster base.  Cook for another minute.

Whisk in the milk, sour cream, and cream cheese cubes until the cream cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth – about 5 minutes.

Pour in the wine and add the cheese.  

Cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened and the cheese is melted – about 2 minutes.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.

To prepare the filling, combine the chopped shrimp and imitation crab meat in a medium bowl.  Pour 1 ½ cups of the over the seafood and stir to combine.

To assemble the enchiladas:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.

Spoon a thin layer of the reserved sauce into the bottom of the pan.  Set aside.

Lay a tortilla on a flat surface and spoon 3 heaping tablespoons of the filling down the center of the tortilla.  Fold the tortilla and then roll it up.

Place the enchilada seam side down into the pan.  Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.

Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle with 1 cup of Monterey Jack cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden on top.

Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Serve hot with lime wedges.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish - Seafood
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Keywords: seafood enchiladas, seafood, dinner recipes, Chi Chi's restaurant, copycat recipes, shrimp, imitation crab meat, restaurant recipes