Description
This Cheesy Chicken Fajita Casserole is a flavorful and easy one-dish meal combining tender chicken breasts, vibrant bell peppers, onions, and melted cheese, all seasoned with flavorful fajita spices. Perfect for weeknight dinners, it offers a comforting, cheesy twist on classic fajitas, baked to perfection for a dip-in-and-serve style dish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Spices
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons fajita seasoning
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Vegetables
- 2 medium bell peppers, sliced into strips
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
Cheese and Garnish
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
- Fresh chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C), ensuring it’s ready to bake the casserole.
- Season Chicken: In a baking dish, season the chicken breasts evenly with fajita seasoning and drizzle with vegetable oil. Use your hands to ensure the spices adhere well to the chicken.
- Add Vegetables: Arrange the sliced bell peppers and onion slices over the seasoned chicken in the dish. Sprinkle a little extra fajita seasoning on top for added flavor.
- Top with Cheese: Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese over the chicken and vegetables, covering the entire dish for a cheesy topping.
- Bake: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is cooked through.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro if desired, and serve hot straight from the oven.
Notes
- To verify the chicken is cooked, insert a meat thermometer into the center; it should read 165°F (74°C).
- You can substitute different melting cheeses based on preference, such as mozzarella or pepper jack.
- For a calorie-reduced version, omit the cheese, top with Parmesan and panko breadcrumbs, spray with oil, and bake.
- For quicker cooking, cube chicken into smaller pieces and reduce baking time to about 20 minutes.
- Serve with rice, pasta, or cauliflower rice for a complete meal.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or microwave for convenience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 388 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 483 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 50 g
- Cholesterol: 153 mg
