Cheesy Chicken Fajita Casserole (Printable)
Comforting Tex-Mex bake with juicy chicken, peppers, and melted cheese. Ready in under an hour.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meats
01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 large red bell pepper, sliced
03 - 1 large green bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 large yellow bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 large onion, sliced
→ Dairy
06 - 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
→ Pantry & Seasonings
09 - 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
10 - 1 tsp chili powder
11 - 1 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
14 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
15 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
17 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Garnish (optional)
18 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - Sliced green onions
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced bell peppers and onion. Sauté for 6–8 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized. Remove from heat.
03 - In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, sautéed peppers and onions, diced tomatoes with green chilies, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, softened cream cheese, and sour cream. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
04 - Transfer the chicken mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle shredded Mexican blend cheese uniformly over the top.
05 - Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until the casserole is hot and bubbly throughout and the cheese has turned golden brown.
06 - Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and sliced green onions, if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything you love about fajitas without the individual assembly work
- Rotisserie chicken makes it weeknight fast while homemade seasoning keeps it flavor packed
- The leftovers actually taste better the next day, if they last that long
02 -
- Drain the diced tomatoes thoroughly or your casserole will be too soupy
- Letting it rest for 5 minutes after baking makes serving much cleaner
- The cream cheese needs to be fully softened or you'll get lumps in your mixture
03 -
- Cutting your peppers and onions into similar sized strips ensures even cooking
- Room temperature cream cheese incorporates much more smoothly than cold