Easy Chicken Fajita Casserole Recipe
Casseroles have a way of making you feel like you are receiving a warm hug and this Chicken Fajita Casserole is no exception. Made with all of the flavors you know and absolutely love, this casserole is even more special with a few extra fun ingredients.
Table of Contents
This chicken fajita casserole recipe has become a favorite in our house for so many reasons. First of all, I love it because the recipe is so easy! It’s made with nothing but simple ingredients that are easy to find, too.
Also, this is a super hearty meal. You can dress it up with sides {like Fiesta Wedge Salad or Corn & Avocado Salsa} if you want, but it’s packed with protein and veggies all on its own, so it makes a perfect all-in-one easy dinner for busy weeknights.
The chicken fajita casserole is the perfect twist on traditional fajitas, and it is even better the next day, which means no one will turn their nose up at eating it for lunch or dinner for a second night in a row.
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What goes into this Recipe
- Cooked Chicken: This is a great place to use leftover chicken or even rotisserie chicken. You can also poach boneless skinless chicken breasts and shred it up for this easy meal.
- Olive Oil: Used to cook down the onion and peppers for an authentic flavor.
- Red Bell Pepper: Red bell peppers are added for not only the beautiful color but also the mild pepper taste.
- Green Bell Pepper: A traditional ingredient that is cut into strips.
- Yellow Onion: I prefer a sweet onion but any kind of onion you have on hand or prefer will work wonderfully.
- Fajita Seasoning: A packet of fajita seasoning is the perfect amount of spice and makes the dish super easy because you don’t have to measure out chili powder, garlic powder, and all the other spices.
- Cream Cheese: Added to give the dish a creamy texture.
- Shredded Cheese: A decadent fajita isn’t complete without shredded cheese, so pick your favorite. My family loves cheddar cheese, but Monterey jack, Colby jack, pepper jack, or a Mexican blend would all be great for a nice melted cheese.
- Cooked Rice: This is an optional ingredient. If you want to make the casserole a complete meal then add it, but if you want it to be a little lighter it can be left out. Try brown rice to make this an extra healthy chicken fajita casserole.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations/Substitutions
- Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken. Chicken thighs tend to have a bit more flavor and stay moist longer.
- Add sliced mushrooms to the vegetable mixture for a nice added taste and texture.
- Use shredded pepper jack cheese for a great spicy flavor.
- Spice the fajita chicken casserole up by adding a can of diced green chiles to the mixture before baking.
- Use cooked pasta instead of rice, or use cauliflower rice for a keto chicken fajita casserole.
- Add black beans for even more protein.
How to make Easy Fajita Casserole with Chicken
- Add the sliced onion to a large skillet with olive oil over medium high heat. Cook for a minute or two or until the onions are translucent.
- Add the sliced red and green peppers to the onions and continue to cook over medium high heat for a few minutes or until slightly softened.
- In a small bowl combine the softened cream cheese and fajita seasoning until they are combined. Add it, along with the shredded {or sliced} chicken and stir until combined.
- Then add the cooked rice and half of the shredded cheese and stir until everything is evenly distributed.
- Pour the mixture into a prepared 9×13 casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven covered in foil for 20 minutes. Remove and serve with a dollop of sour cream, fresh cilantro, or whatever your favorite toppings are!
Expert Tips
- Don’t use uncooked chicken. The casserole doesn’t get baked for long, so it is important that everything is baked well before adding it to the casserole. Also, this recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken. Just like this Chicken and Biscuits recipe.
- Add more meat if you prefer. If you want the casserole to be more meat forward, then by all means…add more.
- Cut the meat into larger pieces for a chunkier recipe. I like to shred the chicken into small pieces but you can leave it in larger pieces for a heartier texture.
- Don’t skip cooking the peppers and onions in a skillet. This helps to give the casserole a good authentic flavor.
Storage and Freezing
Store: The best way to store Chicken Fajitas Casserole is in the refrigerator. Just be sure that it is covered well or in an airtight container. It will keep nicely in there for up to 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze this Fajita Casserole recipe for up to 3 months. It will need to be well covered to get the best results. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Recipe FAQ’s
They are much the same but also different. The truth is that they are not different enough to be worried about not substituting one for the other.
You could definitely use taco seasoning if that is all you have on hand but I would add some additional cumin and a bit of lime juice to get the fajita flavor.
The first way that you can serve this Chicken Fajita Casserole is in a bowl with toppings. It truly is a meal in itself {especially with the addition of white rice}. Some sour cream, cilantro, salsa and avocado slices are all wonderful on top.
You can also serve this Fajita Casserole with corn tortillas or flour tortillas, just like you would traditional fajitas. Layout your favorite toppings and let everyone build their fajitas to their liking.
There are a couple of ways to reheat Chicken Fajita Casserole. First of all, if you are only needing to reheat a serving {or two}, I would reheat it in the microwave. Cover it with a damp paper towel {this will keep the casserole moist} and heat for a minute. If that isn’t enough time, add 25 second increments until warm enough for your liking.
If you need to reheat the entire casserole, pour a couple of tablespoons of chicken stock into the bottom of the dish {this will help keep the casserole from drying out}. Cover with foil and put in a 350 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes or until heated through.
Need dessert to go with this Casserole? Try these Mexican inspired recipes…
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Easy Chicken Fajita Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small red bell pepper {thinly sliced}
- 1 small green bell pepper {thinly sliced}
- 1 small yellow onion {thinly sliced}
- 8 ounces cream cheese {softened}
- 1.12 ounces fajita seasoning {1 packet}
- 1 pound cooked chicken {cut into strips or shredded}
- 8.5 ounces cooked rice {about 1 cup}
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- ¼ cup cilantro {chopped}
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, add olive oil. Add the sliced onions and cook for a minute or two or until translucent. Then add both the red and green bell peppers and continue to cook for a few minutes or until slightly softened.
- Add the shredded {or sliced} cooked chicken to the vegetables and stir to combine. In a small bowl combine the softened cream cheese and fajita seasoning. Add the mixture to the pan with the chicken and vegetables and stir until it is evenly distributed.
- Then add the cooked rice and half of the shredded cheese to the pan and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into your prepared 9×13 baking dish, top with remaining cheese and bake for 20 minutes uncovered.
- Remove from the oven and serve with tortillas, cilantro, salsa, lime wedges and avocado slices {if desired}.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken. Chicken thighs tend to have a bit more flavor and stay moist longer.
- Add sliced mushrooms to the vegetable mixture for a nice added taste and texture.
- Use shredded pepper jack cheese for a great spicy flavor.
- Spice the fajita chicken casserole up by adding a can of diced green chiles to the mixture before baking.
- Use cooked pasta instead of rice, or use cauliflower rice for a keto chicken fajita casserole.
- Add black beans for even more protein.
We made this tonight! It was so easy and DELICIOUS! Thank you for the recipe!
You are so welcome. I am so glad that you guys enjoyed it. 🙂
I loved this recipe so much . It’s really awesome
I am so glad. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Looking forward to enjoying this.
I am so glad! 🙂