Cheesy Chicken Fajita Casserole (Printable)
A comforting Tex-Mex dish with tender chicken, bell peppers, and melted cheese baked to golden perfection.
# What You Need:
→ 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 vegetables are soft 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 - Spread the chicken and vegetable mixture evenly in the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle shredded Mexican blend cheese evenly over the top.
05 - Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the casserole is hot and bubbly throughout and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden.
06 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and sliced green onions if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything you love about fajitas without the hands-on assembly
- The cream cheese creates this incredible velvety texture that binds everything together
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day
02 -
- Drain those tomatoes really well or the casserole will be watery
- Let it rest 5 minutes before serving or it'll be too loose
03 -
- Cast iron skillets give the peppers the best flavor
- Fresh cilantro really makes the flavors pop