Chicken Enchilada Nutrition Information

The nutrition information for a serving of chicken enchiladas varies widely among frozen, refrigerated, restaurant and homemade versions. The cut of chicken, type of cheese and variety of tortilla as well as the amount and ingredients of the sauce affect the fat, cholesterol, sodium and nutrient makeup of the finished enchilada. To successfully include chicken enchiladas in a healthy, balanced diet, avoid oversized portions and purchase or prepare enchiladas that are low in fat and sodium.

According to the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension, a typical serving of one 283-gram homemade enchilada might contain 510 calories with as much as 220 calories -- around 43 percent of the enchilada's total caloric content -- supplied by fat. Prepared with full-fat cheese, dark chicken meat and topped with a green chili white sauce, each serving might contain 9 grams of saturated fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 44 grams of carbohydrates, 29 grams of protein and 890 milligrams of sodium. Reduce the calories and fat in homemade enchiladas by using reduced-fat cheese and poached chicken breast.

A restaurant-style grilled chicken enchilada served without rice or beans may contain more than 1,000 calories with 47 grams of fat, 20 grams of saturated fat and 55 grams of protein. Approximately 6 percent of the enchilada's 105 grams of carbohydrates might be supplied by dietary fiber. In addition, a typical restaurant chicken enchilada may contain 3,140 milligrams of sodium, far more than the 2,300 milligrams that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises as the limit for healthy adults. Some restaurants feature healthier chicken enchiladas that may have only 140 calories, 3 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat and 360 milligrams of sodium.

A 283-gram serving of commercially prepared frozen chicken enchiladas with white chicken meat and a corn tortilla topped with ancho chili sauce may contain 320 calories along with 12 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 17 grams of protein, 45 milligrams of cholesterol and more than 1,100 milligrams of sodium. If you choose to eat frozen entrees like chicken enchiladas, the Cleveland Clinic recommends looking for brands that feature no more than 600 milligrams of sodium per serving and limiting yourself to only one frozen entrée per day.

Some grocery stores and delis offer ready-made, refrigerated chicken enchiladas. While these may have fewer calories and less fat than a chicken enchilada from a restaurant -- a typical fresh chicken enchilada might contain 357 calories and 18 grams of fat -- they are usually high in sodium. A single serving could have nearly 1,400 milligrams of sodium. Each enchilada may also contain around 20 grams of protein, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 56 milligrams of cholesterol and 8 grams of saturated fat.