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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 chicken mixture to previously prepared 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 from oven and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley.
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, 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
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.
Do you think this could be assembled and frozen for future use? Making meals for sick family but must be able to freeze anything I take
Hi!
Technically yes, you can freeze just about any casserole, however, cream cheese (and all creamy casseroles) are a bit tricky to freeze because the fats tend to separate. Because of that the texture and flavor suffer. I would suggest to freeze the other ingredients and add the cream cheese later, after the dish has thawed, and right before cooking.
My family loved this recipe. They were missing being able to eat it as a fajita so I gave them shells and chopped lettuce. Fantastic. Thank you.
I’m very glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thank you so much! ๐
FABULOUS Recipe!! So basic and easily followed! I served it with a side of egg noodles. My sons thoroughly enjoyed it and strongly suggested we KEEP THIS ONE!๐๐๐Thank You๐
That’s great to hear! I am very glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
I made this last night and it was delicious. My only complaint is that it was too salty. But that was my fault, I used store bought fajita seasoning. Next time Iโm going to make the one you listed. Thanks so much for the recipe.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Made this for dinner and OMG its so good. My boyfriend and my picky 4 year old loved it. Will definitely start making this over regular fajitas. Thank you for the recipe!!
That’s great to hear! I am very glad everyone enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Very good but it WAS pretty salty. Will be making it again! Thank you
My fiancรฉ is an extremely picky eater and Iโve been trying to expand his taste buds. Heโs never had a fajita before and was hesitant to try it. While it was cooking, he kept saying how delicious it smelled (I licked the bowl clean after throwing the dish in the oven). He ended up loving it so much he had a huge second helping. This is a definite winner recipe to be made many more times. It was so flavorful and made enough for the two of us to have leftovers the next day. I canโt wait to continue trying different sides with this making it in the future. Also after reading the other reviews, I canโt comment on if it was too salty by following the recipe. I have to watch my salt intake since Iโm 7 months pregnant so I only used a dash of salt when baking the chicken and a dash in the pepper/onion mix and it was perfect!
I am very glad you and your fiance enjoyed this dish! Thank you for chiming in! ๐
Made this tonight and it was wonderful! I was a little skeptical because I didnโt think 8 oz of cream cheese sounded like enough. I added a small amount of chicken broth from cooking the chicken (maybe 1/4 cup), and probably used more peppers and chicken than the recipe called for. I will definitely make this again!
That’s great! I’m very happy you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
My husband wanted the leftovers for dinner tonight! Itโs a miracle there was any left ๐ฎ
That’s great to hear! ๐ I’m very happy you and your family enjoyed it! Thank you for chiming in! ๐
I made this last night and while it is delicious, to me there was too much cream cheese. Next time Iโm going to try to come up with some combination of at least 1/2 as much cream cheese, mixed with something like plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. Do you have any suggestions?
Hello,
Can this recipe be made the day before?