• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Happenings
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Decorated Cookies
    • Decorated Cakes
    • Cheesecake Recipes
    • Everyday Desserts
    • Homemade Candy
    • Everyday Meals
    • Readers’ Gallery
    • Hungry Happenings Blog Posts
  • HOW TO
    • Chocolate Making Tips
    • Chocolate Making Course (video lessons)
    • Make Modeling Chocolate
      • Modeling Chocolate Recipe and Tutorial
      • How to Color Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Store and Work with Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Fix Greasy Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Fix Dry Modeling Chocolate
      • Use Colored Candy Melts to Make Candy Clay
    • Candy Clay Creations
    • How To Color White Chocolate and Candy Melts and Paint Candy Molds
    • How to Use Food Coloring Markers
  • HOLIDAYS
    • ALL HOLIDAY RECIPES
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
      • Hungry Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • MORE HOLIDAYS
      • Mother's Day
      • Father's Day
      • April Fools
      • Chinese New Year
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Day of the Dead
      • Earth Day
      • Mardi Gras
  • PARTY FOOD
    • Super Bowl
    • Graduation
    • Birthday Party
    • March Madness
    • Summer Fun
    • Baby Shower
    • Wedding Shower
    • School/Teacher
    • Movie and T.V. Characters
    • Kid's Treats
    • Fun Party Recipes
  • MY COOKBOOKS
  • ABOUT
  • MY BLOGS
    • HowToMakeCerealTreats.com
    • HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    • HowToMakeEasyFudge.com
    • TheSugarAcademy.com
menu icon
go to homepage
  • recipes
  • chocolate
  • about
  • cookbooks
  • subscribe
  • major holiday recipes
  • other holiday recipes
  • party food
  • dessert recipes
  • homemade candy
  • chocolates
  • fudge
  • cheesecake recipes
  • decorated cakes
  • cookie recipes
  • popcorn
  • rice krispie treats
  • cute food for kids
  • everyday meals
  • recipe roundups
  • see all the recipes
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • recipes
    • chocolate
    • about
    • cookbooks
    • subscribe
    • major holiday recipes
    • other holiday recipes
    • party food
    • dessert recipes
    • homemade candy
    • chocolates
    • fudge
    • cheesecake recipes
    • decorated cakes
    • cookie recipes
    • popcorn
    • rice krispie treats
    • cute food for kids
    • everyday meals
    • recipe roundups
    • see all the recipes
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Halloween

    Enchilada Skulls - Festive Day of the Dead or Halloween Dinner

    Published: Aug 19, '17 · Modified: Oct 21, '20 · By: Beth · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Bake up homemade tortillas filled with chicken, cheese, and enchilada sauce in a 3D pan to create these creepy Enchilada Skulls. Your Halloween party guests or Day of the Dead dinner guests will be amazed.

    Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Skulls

    How cool are these Enchilada Skulls?

    They look so real. I can't wait to serve them this year at a Halloween dinner.

    I have a group of food bloggers who will be visiting me in October and I want to serve a super impressive meal that is fairly easy to prepare but has a definite WOW factor to it.

    I decided to revisit an idea I used a few years ago to make Stuffed Pizza Skulls. They were so popular and so easy to make but I decided to change them up a bit to go with my Day of the Dead themed dining room. Turning them into enchilada skulls worked perfectly.

    This Halloween serve a creepy dinner of Stuffed Pizza Skulls or Enchilada Skulls.

    The pizza skulls were made using store-bought pizza dough and were filled with pepperoni, sauce, and cheese. They were made in a Wilton Skull Pan which is sadly no longer available.

    Being I wanted to be able to share this fun holiday recipe idea with you I decided to purchase a new Nordic Ware skull pan. I love it. It creates amazingly realistic looking skulls.

    To make the enchilada skulls I knew I'd have to put in a tiny bit more effort because I don't have access to store-bought tortilla dough. It's been years since I made homemade tortillas and I wasn't even sure if the dough would work well in the pan. I was so excited that it did.

    In 2018 I used the same dough to create Burrito Skulls.

    Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Skulls - creepy Halloween dinner.

    Once baked the tortilla skulls looked like an aged skull. The off white color was perfect. They have a perfectly crispy texture. When you cut into the skull its cracks open and the red enchilada filling oozes out. It's so cool!

    I personally love chicken and cheese in my enchiladas so that's what I used, but you can stuff your enchilada skulls with your favorite fillings

    I used homemade enchilada sauce because I can control the spice. I have wimpy taste buds so I make my sauce really mild.

    Like things hot? Then throw in more spice. Want to keep if easy, use store-bought sauce.

    Day of the Dead Chicken Enchilada Skulls

    Here is a video tutorial of the process including how I made the homemade tortillas. The recipe is below.

    You can find the skull pan and other items used to make these enchilada skulls at Amazon.com (commission earned for sales).

    Enchilada Skulls Recipe

    5 from 1 vote
    Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Skulls
    Print
    Enchilada Skulls
    Prep Time
    30 mins
    Cook Time
    26 mins
    Total Time
    56 mins
     
    Crispy skull shaped homemade tortillas filled with chicken, cheese, and enchilada sauce.
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: enchilada, enchilada skulls
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 520 kcal
    Author: Beth Jackson Klosterboer
    Ingredients
    Tortillas:
    • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ cup lard or shortening
    • ¾ – 1 cup water
    Chicken & Cheese Enchilada Filling:
    • 1 ½ cup shredded chicken
    • 1 recipe enchilada sauce OR 1 ⅔ cups of your favorite sauce
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
    Egg wash:
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon water
    Instructions
    Tortillas:
    1. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl and blend with a fork or whisk.
    2. Add half of the lard and use a pastry cutter to cut the lard into the flour.
    3. Add the remaining lard and continue to cut it into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs.
    4. Slowly pour in the water stirring as you go until the dough comes together.
    5. Add at least ¾ of a cup of the water then only add any remaining water as needed.
    6. You want the dough to come together in a cohesive ball and not be sticky.
    7. Cover the dough and set aside for 10-20 minutes.
    Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Filling:
    1. Stir together the chicken, enchilada sauce and cheese.
    Assemble
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    2. Cut the dough into 6 equal portions.
    3. Dust your work surface with flour.
    4. Roll out a portion of dough thinning out the edges.
    5. Drape the dough over one skull in a 6 cavity non-stick pan allowing the dough to form the skull shape.
    6. Spoon in ⅙th of the chicken mixture.
    7. Whisk together the egg and water.
    8. Brush the top edge of the dough that hangs over the edge of the skull.
    9. Fold the dough over the chicken, cutting off any excess dough and pinching the seams together.
    10. Brush the top with egg wash.
    11. Repeat filling all 6 skull cavities in the pan.
    12. Bake for 24-26 minutes until the top crust starts to turn light golden brown.
    13. Remove and let cool in pan for 5 minutes.
    14. Place a cutting board over the skulls and carefully flip the pan and board upside down so the skulls gently fall out onto the cutting board.
    15. Serve and enjoy.
    5 from 1 vote
    Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Skulls
    Print
    Enchilada Sauce
    Prep Time
    10 mins
    Cook Time
    12 mins
    Total Time
    22 mins
     
    Rich tomato based enchilada sauce spiced with cumin, Corriander, and Chili Powder.
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: enchilada sauce
    Servings: 1 ⅔ cups
    Author: Beth Jackson Klosterboer
    Ingredients
    • 1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 large shallot finely chopped
    • 2 medium cloves garlic minced
    • 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder*
    • 1 ¼ teaspoons ground coriander
    • 1 ¼ teaspoons ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon table salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
    • 1 ½ cups tomato sauce
    • *for a spicier sauce add more chili powder
    Instructions
    1. Heat oil in a skillet set over medium high heat just until shimmering.
    2. Add shallot and stir occasionally until light golden brown.
    3. Stir together garlic, chili powder, coriander, cumin, salt, and sugar.
    4. Add to cooked shallots and stir constantly for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
    5. Pour in the tomato sauce.
    6. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for 8 minutes, stirring as needed.
    7. Remove from heat and use in your favorite enchilada recipe.

    Day of the Dead Recipes - Skull shaped food including Pizza Skulls and Sweet Sugar Skull Brownies.

    If you are hosting a Dia de Los Muertos party or want some skull-shaped food ideas for your Halloween party, be sure to check out all these fun Day of the Dead Recipes.

    Bake up homemade tortillas filled with chicken, cheese, and enchilada sauce in a 3D pan to create these creepy Enchilada Skulls. Your Halloween party guests or Day of the Dead dinner guests will be amazed. 

    Have fun making your Enchilada Skulls. If you take any pictures to share online be sure to mention Hungry Happenings, link back to this recipe post, and use the hashtag #hungryhappenings . If you'd like to be featured in my Readers' Gallery, send your picture to beth@hungryhappenings.com.

    Click on this link to find more of my great Halloween recipes!

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth
    Beth
    Hi, I'm Beth Jackson Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth
    Latest posts by Beth (see all)
    • Homemade Chocolate Easter Bunnies - April 3, 2023
    • Mini Basketball Cheeseburgers - February 15, 2023
    • Snowman Popcorn Bucket - December 24, 2022

    More Halloween Recipes and Fun Party Food - Over 100 Cute & Creepy Ideas

    • Halloween Cookies Hocus Pocus Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
      Hocus Pocus Cookies
    • Serve up some fun for lunch this Halloween by making some homemade crackers to go along with a bowl of hot Campbell's new Slow Kettle Soup.
      Homemade Halloween Crackers
    • Halloween appetizer - Jack Skellington Chicken Dip
      Halloween Appetizer - Jack Skellington Dip
    • Mini skull-shaped waffles made in a mini skull waffle maker
      Skull Waffles

    About Beth

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Please leave a comment. Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Stephanie

      November 04, 2020 at 10:46 am

      Love, love , love the idea!!!!

      Reply
      • Beth

        November 06, 2020 at 8:39 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
    2. Darcelle Jazaeri

      November 02, 2020 at 1:04 am

      Costco actually sold fresh organic tortilla dough. I used that and canned enchilada sauce which made this recipe much easier for me. It was a big hit at our Halloween dinner this year. My oldest son said it was the best enchilada he has ever had! Thanks for the recipe! PS I used the big skull pan from Nordicware; just doubled your recipe and it worked great!

      Reply
      • Beth

        November 02, 2020 at 8:46 am

        Hi Darcelle,

        I am so happy to hear this recipe worked out so well with store-bought fresh tortilla dough and enchilada sauce and that your son loved it so much. I am excited to hear that you baked your enchilada skull in the large pan and that it worked out so well. To help out other readers who might want to bake it in the large pan can you tell me how long it took to bake?

        Reply
    3. Stephen

      October 20, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      Hello Beth,
      I'm planning on making these this Halloween, and I have a question for you regarding amounts. Your enchilada sauce recipe makes 1 1/2 cups of sauce. You call for " 1 recipe enchilada sauce OR 1 2/3 cups of your favorite sauce", and I am wondering if there is a reason for the different amounts. I will most likely use canned or jarred enchilada sauce and I want to make this right.
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Beth

        October 21, 2020 at 8:05 am

        Hi Stephen,

        I'm happy you are planning to make these for Halloween this year. I'm glad you asked about the quantities. The recipe for the homemade sauce does actually make about 1 2/3 cups so I corrected that amount in the recipe. So go ahead and use 1 2/3 cup of jarred sauce. You can serve your enchiladas with more sauce too. Just warm it up before serving. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Em

      March 31, 2020 at 3:50 pm

      I don’t have a skull pan can I just put the tortilla out flat and then wrap it around filling out can I use another Silicon pan for a different shape or a brownie pan that is already divided into smallish rectangles.

      Reply
      • Beth

        March 31, 2020 at 7:28 pm

        Yes, you can use this recipe in any small baking pan or silicone mold. The indentations might not be as pronounced using a silicone mold but that will depend on how deep the indentations are in the mold. The brownie pan would work great. Have fun and enjoy!

        Reply
    5. SouthernSwill

      October 29, 2019 at 7:48 pm

      I made several batches. Loved both the burrito and enchilada skulls. I was wondering if you had any ideas what I can use to make the eyes black or brown.

      Reply
      • Beth

        October 29, 2019 at 9:16 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that you have enjoyed both the burrito skulls and enchilada skulls!!! You can use a black food coloring marker to make the eyes black or you can brush them with some melted butter and sprinkle on chili powder or any other spice to darken the eyes. Enjoy!

        Reply
    6. Dai

      October 25, 2019 at 10:10 pm

      Have wanted to try this since first seeing it but have a question. The Nordicware pan says one should grease the pan but I dont see this step here. Should we grease? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Beth

        October 25, 2019 at 10:57 pm

        I did not grease the pan and the skulls came out perfectly. I think there is enough fat in the dough that it won't stick to the non-stick surface in the pan. Have fun making your skulls!

        Reply
    7. Robin

      October 25, 2019 at 11:36 am

      Can you make corn masa tortillas instead of flour ones for this recipe? I bought the Nordicware pan already. The filling looks good and I will use. I make my enchilada sauce differently using dried whole chilies which are easily accessed here in NM.

      Reply
      • Beth

        October 25, 2019 at 12:17 pm

        Hi Robin,
        I have not tried using corn tortillas with this recipe. The corn tortillas that I have eaten have all been quite a bit drier and more brittle than flour tortillas so I'd worry the wouldn't hold up well in this recipe, but perhaps with a homemade corn tortilla, you can make them a bit thicker. I'd love to hear how it works if you give it a try. I'm sure they will taste amazing with your homemade enchilada sauce. Enjoy and have fun!

        Reply
        • ROBIN

          October 26, 2019 at 11:56 am

          With corn masa they may turn out more like skull shaped tamales! 😂 Not terrible but not the look I’m going for!

          Reply
          • Beth

            October 26, 2019 at 1:02 pm

            That is a good point. The corn tortilla will definitely have a different look than the flour tortilla. The taste would be good but I'm not sure I'd like the yellowish skull.

            Reply
    8. Fran

      September 20, 2019 at 4:18 pm

      Can these be frozen after or before they are baked?

      Reply
      • Beth

        September 20, 2019 at 10:53 pm

        Yes, you can freeze them once they are baked. If you tried to freeze them prior to baking you'd need to leave them in the pan in order for them to retain their skull shape. I would personally bake them, then remove them from the pan, then reheat them before serving. I have refrigerated them and reheated them at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. If you heat them from frozen it would probably take about 25 minutes to reheat them, maybe more.

        Reply
    9. Bea

      October 25, 2018 at 2:46 pm

      Can you make these and freeze them to bake later?

      Reply
      • Beth

        October 25, 2018 at 7:09 pm

        You would need to freeze them in the pan so when they are baked they will have the shape of the skull. I would personally bake them, then remove them from the pan, then reheat them before serving. I have refrigerated them and reheated them at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. If you heat them from frozen it would probably take about 25 minutes to reheat them.

        Reply
    10. Tina

      September 27, 2017 at 2:00 pm

      Sure wish this recipe could work with store bought flour tortillas What do u think ?

      Reply
      • Beth

        September 29, 2017 at 6:04 pm

        Sadly store bought tortillas won't sink down into the skull pan well enough to form the skull shape. You need fresh dough. You can use prepared pizza dough or crescent dough if you don't want to make your own dough.

        Reply
    11. The Partiologist

      August 24, 2017 at 10:16 am

      These are so creepy and cool at the same time, maybe I should have a party just to serve them!!

      Reply
      • Beth

        August 24, 2017 at 5:11 pm

        I definitely think you should have a Halloween party!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

    Read more about me →

    Popular

    • Mini cheesecakes served plain, topped with sauces, and decorated with edible flowers on a marble board
      Mini Cheesecakes
    • Cakesicles with red and green drizzle, rainbow sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle
      How to make Cakesicles (cake pop popsicles)
    • shamrock cracker crisps topped with chopped parsley set on a white plate on a St. Patrick's Day kitchen towel
      Shamrock Shaped Snack Crisps
    • Leprchaun hat cupcake cake decorated with green frosting stars, a black and gold hat band
      Leprechaun Hat Cupcake Cake
    • Fill Crescent Roll Carrots with your favorite egg salad or ham salad and serve for Easter brunch or lunch.
      Crescent Roll Carrots Filled with Egg or Ham Salad
    • Bunny Butt Cupcakes in Silicone Flower Pots
      Bunny Butt Cupcakes in Silicone Flower Pots
    • Chocolate peanut butter fudge buckeyes candy recipe image.
      Buckeyes Recipe - Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Candies
    • homemade candy bars including dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate cashew bars, white chocolate cookies and cream candy bars, and more
      The Best Step-by-Step Chocolate Bar Recipes

    Buy my cookbooks

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    use policies

    • privacy policy
    • photo-use policy
    • terms of service

    join us

    • Subscribe (newsletter)
    • our online courses

    contact

    • contact
    • about Beth
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hungry Happenings