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This savory, cheesy Chicken Fajitas Casserole is a staple chicken dinner recipe in our house. It’s such an easy way to make deconstructed chicken fajitas!
For those who love easy Tex-Mex inspired recipes, click over and grab my chicken fajita pasta recipe for a delicious twist on the classic! Also, don’t miss out on my enchilada casserole, packed with layers of seasoned meat, cheese, and enchilada sauce.
I can’t wait for you to taste the rich flavors of our chicken fajitas casserole, brimming with crisp peppers, gooey cheese, and a blend of homemade seasonings. Perfect for those seeking to add some zest to their chicken meals, this recipe transforms ordinary baked chicken breasts into a mouthwatering fajita extravaganza with just a few fresh ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Fajitas Casserole
- Convenient: The recipe offers an easy and quick way to enjoy the flavors of chicken fajitas without the traditional method of cooking and assembling fajitas.
- Flavorful Twist on a Classic: This fajita casserole transforms the classic chicken fajita flavors into a baked, cheesy dish.
- Fresh and Wholesome Ingredients: The use of fresh peppers and homemade seasonings ensures a flavorful and wholesome meal, making it a nutritious yet delicious option for those seeking to enhance their chicken dinners with fresh produce and flavors.
Recipe Ingredients
The following simple ingredients create a delicious chicken fajita bake. If you are looking forward to a hearty, cheesy dish, start heading to the grocery store!
- Baked Chicken Breasts: I recommend making my juicy oven baked chicken breasts for the best baked chicken! Or, you can always just use that rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store.
- Olive Oil: For sautéing the vegetables. Canola oil or vegetable oil can also be used.
- Red & Green Bell Peppers: Sliced into thin strips, they add fresh flavor and color. Any color bell pepper will work.
- Yellow Onion: White onion is a good substitute.
- Cream Cheese: Provides a creamy texture and rich taste.
- Cheddar Cheese: I love using white and yellow cheddar for this recipe, but you can definitely opt for your favorite shredded cheese.
- Fajita Seasoning Mix: You can’t go wrong with my 5-minute homemade fajita seasoning.
- Fresh Cilantro: Parsley works too! Use your favorite garnish.
How to Make Chicken Fajitas Casserole
This easy-to-make dish combines tender chicken, crunchy vegetables, and creamy cheese for a delightful, baked meal. Follow these simple steps to prepare tonight’s dinner!
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350˚F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Shred Chicken: Shred the baked chicken breasts and then transfer to a large mixing bowl; set aside.
- Heat Oil: Heat olive oil in a skillet set over medium-high heat.
- Cook Peppers & Onions: Add peppers and onions to the hot oil; sprinkle with salt and until softened. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Make Seasoning: In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, half of shredded cheese, fajitas seasoning mix, salt, and pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Add to Chicken: Add cream cheese mixture to the chicken and peppers; mix until everything is well combined.
- Assemble: Transfer the chicken mixture to the baking dish and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly, and cheese is melted.
- Garnish & Serve: Remove the chicken fajita casserole from the oven, garnish it with chopped cilantro or parsley, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Make a homemade seasoning: I highly recommend making an easy fajita seasoning consisting of chili powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, paprika, dried Mexican oregano, salt, and pepper. It only adds a couple of minutes to this fajitas casserole, but the flavor is well worth it.
- Shred the chicken to your liking: If you want a chunkier chicken casserole, you can cut the chicken breasts into cubes rather than shredding them. It’s completely up to you and your preferences.
- Use a different protein: You can easily make these chicken fajitas into a meat-lovers dish! Try adding sliced sausage, ham, baked bacon, or any other meats you love.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe is so versatile, and these lemon butter green beans or these slow-cooked green beans and tomatoes are great with it. Another classic combination for chicken fajitas is rice. I often pair this recipe with my Instant Pot Mexican rice or this creamy garlic butter parmesan rice. You could also make these fajitas into tacos, burritos, and quesadillas! Don’t forget my tres leches cake for the perfect finish.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- You can easily store your leftovers in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for 1 to 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
- Reheat individual servings in the microwave to your preferred temperature.
Mexican Inspired Chicken Recipes
Easy Casserole Recipes
Chicken Fajitas Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts,, shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small green bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 1 small red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, cut up into pieces for easier mixing
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- 1½ tablespoons fajita seasoning mix
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Shred the baked chicken breasts and then transfer to a large mixing bowl; set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet set over medium-high heat. Add strips of peppers and onions to the hot oil; sprinkle with salt and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until softened. Stir frequently.
- Remove from heat and add to the chicken. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine cream cheese, HALF of shredded cheese, fajitas seasoning mix, salt, and pepper; mix until thoroughly combined.
- Add cream cheese mixture to the chicken and peppers; mix until everything is well combined.
- Transfer chicken mixture to previously prepared baking dish and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly, and cheese is melted. Remove from oven and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I loved how easy this was to make! Thank you for getting us out of our chicken dinner routine rut. We’ll definitely be making this again.
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!! ๐
Sounds delicious but 604 calories for how much food? 1/2 cup? 1 cup? I am watching my weight and need to know for portion control.
I’m sorry, but I’m a little confused. In step 8, you say to “Add sour cream mixture to the chicken and peppers; mix until everything is well combined.” I’ve re-read the recipe three times now, and can’t see any other mention of “sour cream.” Am I just not seeing it, or do you mean the cream cheese mixture? I’m sorry if this is a dumb question, but I’m not good at cooking, so I need really clear instructions. Thank you for any help you can offer.
Hi!
You’re absolutely right; I meant to say “cream cheese mixture”. SO sorry about that!
Maybe you should fix that? It still says ‘sour cream’ in step 5 and I was confused enough to read the comments to see if this was addressed.
Yes it would have been helpful if it was fixed after the mistake was noticed. But I still enjoyed the end result.
Sometimes thinking outside the box can help you figure these small things out. No need to crucify her over a small error!
Could you please fix this mistake? I also had to go through the comments to see what you meant.
Tried this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! Easily, a new favorite casserole recipe!
That’s wonderful! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
I just found this and I am making it tonight. Question for you, what would you serve as a side with this or do you have to at all?
Hi!
I just serve this with a big green salad. My kids do reach for the flour tortillas, though. ๐
If you read through the post, I have listed a few side dish suggestions above;
Lemon Butter Green Beans, Green Beans and Tomatoes, Creamy Garlic Butter Parmesan Rice. These are all recipes that you can find on this website. Just hit the “search” icon at the top right of my site and look for the recipes.
My crew is going to flip for this casserole! I love that you added the creaminess of the cream cheese! Perfection.
Thank you so much, Dorothy! I hope you and your family enjoy it! ๐
This casserole was so easy and delicious! Everyone had seconds1
That’s great! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Sounds like an easy and super tasty dinner idea!
I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! ๐
I made this casserole tonight (04SEP2020). While the flavors are good, the casserole is very dry. Next time, I will try adding chicken broth (or chicken stock) to the dish (probably 1/4 cup).
I bet a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies would be ๐or salsa would solve that problem and taste great!!!
Yes, the tomatoes with jalepino hit the spot!!! Perfect! Think I will try some sour cream and pinto beans next time too!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
I actually made the fajita mix like it said to do on the back of the fajita mix. I was afraid it would be too dry otherwise.
I really enjoyed following the other links regarding the fajita mix and the chicken..however I really couldn’t bring myself to use so much cheese as it sounded like a heart attack waiting to happen haha so I used 100 grams of light philadelphia cheese and about the same of cheddar cheese along with a cup of chicken stock. So this was a healthier but still very tasty version.
Love this recipe! I used leftover rotisserie chicken. Delicious! I will definitely make this again!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Hello Would you recommend layering with soft shells? If so, corn or flour? Thanks in advance.
I just did this recipe tonight. I used one tortilla soft and layered with retried beans, salsa, and cream cheese. Then put another tortilla on top. Very tasty. But, I think it would also be good in a salad, with tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, sour cream and fry the tortillas in strips and put on the salad!!