Chicken Fajita Casserole

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This Chicken Fajita Casserole has all the elements of traditional fajitas - chicken breast, peppers, onions, and fajita seasoning - all cooked in a creamy, delicious casserole.

370 CAL 18g CARBS 12g FAT 43g PROTEIN
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This is no ordinary casserole dish! Chicken Fajita Casserole packs a ton of punch in flavor and nutritional value. Marinated lean chicken breast gets topped with caramelized veggies and gooey shredded cheese. It’s a hearty meal that your household will love!

This chicken casserole dish is foolproof. The marinade guarantees juicy and tender meat. It’s made up of cream cheese, salsa, and broth. The fajita seasoning adds nice depth and richness. The onions and peppers get perfectly caramelized. The shredded cheese melts beautifully and bubbles at the top.

It’s fabulous!

Not only is this dish delicious, but it requires just 15 minutes of prep time. Most of the work happens in the oven! It’s a great way to mix up fajita night. This casserole checks all the boxes for me. Healthy, comforting, quick, and easy. And it’s a crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients for chicken fajita casserole including chicken breast, salsa, peppers, onions, cheese, and cream cheese.

Key Ingredients

These are some of the key ingredients you will need to make this easy chicken casserole at home:

  • Chicken Breasts: I went with chicken breasts because they are a nice, lean protein. You’ll slice the chicken breast in cubes to speed up the cooking time.
  • Yellow Onion: Caramelized onions add so much depth to this dish. They’re key to fajitas!
  • Bell Peppers: Just like onions, bell peppers are critical for fajita night! I like to use both red and green for the color and distinct aromas. The red bell peppers add a bit of sweetness while the green peppers are more herbaceous.
  • Light Cream Cheese: It’s lower in fat and helps break down some of the muscles in the chicken breast to give you more juicy meat.
  • Salsa: Adding salsa to your chicken marinade gives it some nice tang and freshness!
  • Fajita Seasoning: It packs a ton of punch. Make your own by following this recipe.
  • Chicken Broth: The broth adds a lot of umami while also ensuring your chicken breast is succulent and tender.
  • Shredded Mexican Cheese Mix: You want all the grated cheese to melt beautifully for a nice gooey texture.

Note: For a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this dish, scroll to the bottom!

What To Serve With Chicken Fajita Casserole

For a low carb meal, serve this casserole dish alongside some cauliflower rice. I have a great cilantro lime cauliflower rice you have to try. For a heartier meal, serve with some white rice or warmed tortillas.

Some other incredible side dishes you can serve with this dish are:

Recipe Tips And Ideas

Follow these tips and you’re guaranteed to nail this casserole dish:

  • Cut your chicken breast into relatively evenly sized small cubes so they cook quickly and evenly.
  • When you sauté your onions and peppers, you want them to get soft and lightly caramelized. However, you do not want to take them all the way because they’ll finish caramelizing in the oven.
  • For a perfectly bubbly, golden-brown top, broil your casserole for a couple of minutes at the very end.
  • If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, turn them into a tasty chicken fajita bowl.

How to make chicken fajita casserole including step by step photos of chicken, sauce, vegetables, and final dish.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Fajita Casserole

You’ve got questions. I’ve got answers! Here are some of the most common questions I get on this recipe.

Can you bake raw chicken in casserole?

You absolutely can! This recipe does not involve browning the meat in advance. You simply place your marinated, cubed chicken breast right into the baking dish. Top with veggies and cheese. Bake and enjoy!

Can I use cooked chicken?

Yes! To save time, you can easily substitute shredded rotisserie chicken or chicken tinga. You’ll only need to bake the dish for 10 to 12 minutes to warm the chicken through and melt the cheese. Don’t forget to broil your casserole for a bubbly, golden-brown top.

How long does chicken fajita casserole keep in the fridge?

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container. It keeps for 3 days so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy your delicious creation.

What is the best way to reheat chicken fajita casserole?

Cooked chicken always seems to taste so much better when it’s reheated in the oven. Scoop your desired serving into a baking dish. Reheat at 350°F until fully warmed through, for about 10 to 15 minutes depending on your serving size.

Can I freeze chicken fajita casserole?

For the best results, it’s ideal to make this recipe fresh. That said, if you’re in a pinch and need to meal prep ahead of time, you can make some of the components individually and put it all together at a later date.

  1. Marinate the chicken.
  2. Sauté the onion-pepper mixture. Let it cool.
  3. Store both in separate airtight containers or plastic food bags. Freeze for up to a month for the best results.
  4. Thaw in the refrigerator for several hours.
  5. Assemble and top with shredded cheese.
  6. Bake.
  7. Serve and enjoy!

Chicken fajita bake with peppers, onions, chicken breast, and a creamy sauce in a casserole dish with a wooden spoon.

More Delicious Fajita Recipes You’ll Love

The Recipe
Chicken fajita casserole baked in a dish with peppers, onions, chicken breast, and melted cheese.

Chicken Fajita Casserole

370 CAL 18g CARBS 12g FAT 43g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 25 Min
TOTAL TIME: 30 Min
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1.33 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped
  • 1 yellow onion, sliced
  • 1 red pepper, sliced
  • 1 green pepper, sliced
  • 1/2 lime, juice
  • 4 oz light cream cheese
  • 1 cup salsa (thick and chunky)
  • 2 tbsp fajita seasoning (or taco seasoning)
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
  • Cooking spray

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Instructions

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1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, salsa, broth and fajita seasoning until well combined. Add chicken and toss to coat.

Chicken breast tossed with cream cheese, salsa, and fajita seaosning.
2

In a medium skillet, heat the oil and add the onion and bell pepper strips. Saute over medium high heat until the vegetables are softened and lightly caramelized. Remove from heat, toss in the lime juice and set aside

Peppers and onions in a skillet.
3

Layer the chicken into a lightly sprayed baking dish. Then add the peppers and onions on top.

Baked chicken fajita casserole in a dish with a crispy topping.
4

Sprinkle the cheese on top. Place the dish uncovered in the oven to bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees F.

Chicken breast with peppers and onions on top in a baking dish.
5

For a crispy top, place the baking dish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes.Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro and serve immediately with lime wedges.

Chicken fajita casserole with cheese sprinkled on top.

Equipment

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Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: about 1 cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 370
Calories from Fat 104
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12g
17%
Saturated Fat 6g
29%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 107mg
35%
Sodium 1246mg
54%
Total Carbohydrate 18g
6%
Dietary Fiber 3g
12%
Sugars 8g
Protein 43g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

Notes

For a quicker version of this recipe, substitute shredded rotisserie chicken for the cubed chicken breast. Cut the cook time to about 10-12 minutes to warm the chicken through and melt the cheese.
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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
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5 Comments
On Chicken Fajita Casserole
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Jean
January 30, 2023 - 09:02
Add a Rating:
5
Tastes great and so simple to make. Chicken comes out tender even if I use skinless, boneless chicken thighs which I cube and veggies become nicely caramelized. I use the cooked casserole to create a bowl, adding cooked brown rice and other cooked veggies.
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Jeanne
October 19, 2022 - 18:51
How do you prevent this from turning out really watery?
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November 14, 2022 - 12:47
I haven't had trouble with mine turning out watery, but I could see this happening with larger chicken breasts with a high water content. Look for smaller chicken breasts that have no added water and haven't been plumped. Organic and air-chilled chicken usually doesn't have added water.
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Doreen E Mcgaff
March 16, 2021 - 15:20
Do you add the cooked vegetables to the chicken mixture and bake or serve them on the side?
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March 18, 2021 - 16:55
Cooked vegetables get added on top of the chicken and baked with the casserole. You could serve them on the side as well if you prefer.
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