Chicken Fajita Casserole

If you equate Mexican food with comfort food, I have a feeling you’ll be making this chicken fajita casserole recipe on repeat. This is one of those easy chicken casserole recipes that is a perfect fit for your favorite store-bought rotisserie chicken. And because our fajita chicken casserole a one-dish recipe, that means fewer dishes to clean after a long day!

This recipe is a complete meal, loaded with chicken, rice, veggies and warming Mexican spices. It bakes with sour cream, a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles, and lots of shredded cheese to create a zesty, rich and creamy sauce. Serve chicken fajita casserole with your favorite Tex-Mex fixings, like guacamole, tortilla chips, salsa or chopped tomatoes.

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Ingredients for Chicken Fajita Casserole

• Bell peppers: This recipe is quite colorful, with green and red bell peppers, but you can also use yellow or orange peppers if you have them.
• Onion: Sliced onion is another traditional fajita veggie. Instead of using thin slices, we chop the onion to make it bite-sized and easier to distribute in the casserole. Either a white or yellow onion works here.
• Rice: This is a chicken fajita casserole with rice, so you’ll need uncooked instant rice for this recipe. To keep this recipe quick-cooking, we don’t recommend substituting other types of rice, like long-grain jasmine or basmati, since they require more liquid and cooking time.
• Diced tomatoes and green chiles: Grab a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles to add chunky tomatoes and a touch of heat to the casserole filling.
• Chicken broth: We’re using this flavorful broth for the liquid needed to cook the tender and fluffy rice. Using reduced-sodium broth gives you more control over the amount of salt in this recipe.
• Fajita seasoning: Store-bought fajita seasoning saves you from measuring multiple spices and herbs. You can substitute taco seasoning in a pinch—it usually contains the same spices as fajita seasoning, like chili powder and cumin, but in slightly different amounts. You’ll need 3 tablespoons of seasoning mix, roughly the amount in a 1-ounce seasoning packet.
• Cooked chicken: Juicy rotisserie chicken is one of our favorite shortcut ingredients when a recipe calls for cooked chicken. Pull the breast or thigh meat off the bone, and shred or cut it into bite-sized pieces before mixing it with all the other casserole ingredients. Leftover roast chicken or grilled chicken breasts would also work in this fajita chicken casserole.
• Sour cream: A cup of sour cream creates a creamy, saucy base and provides a nice flavor balance to the warmth of the green chiles and fajita seasoning.
• Shredded cheese: This fajita casserole with chicken is loaded with melty cheese! It gets mixed into the casserole and layered on top to create a bubbly, golden crust. The recipe calls for a Mexican blend cheese, but sharp cheddar would be perfect too.

Directions

Step 1: Saute the bell peppers and onion

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large oven-safe skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the bell peppers and onion, and cook until tender, four to five minutes.

Editor’s Tip: This stove-to-oven recipe requires oven-safe cookware, so opt for a cast-iron skillet or a deep enameled cast-iron pan.

Step 2: Add the rice and liquids

Stir in the rice, diced tomatoes, chicken broth and fajita seasoning. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cook on low heat until the rice is tender, five to seven minutes.

Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients and bake

Stir in the cubed chicken, sour cream and 1 cup shredded cheese. Cover the skillet and bake for 15 minutes. Then, uncover the skillet and sprinkle the top of the casserole with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.

Serve the chicken fajita casserole with guacamole and tortilla chips, if desired.

Editor’s Tip: If your skillet doesn’t come with a lid, cover the pan with a sheet pan or carefully wrap aluminum foil over the top.

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Chicken Fajita Casserole Variations

• Add a garnish: Finish the casserole with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro or green onions to add a pop of color and fresh flavor.
• Break out the beans: Add a can of drained black or pinto beans to the casserole mixture before baking.
• Change up the veggies: Bell peppers and onions are traditional ingredients in fajita recipes. You can substitute other veggies or add more to the mix, like sliced mushrooms, zucchini, carrots or cauliflower.
• Increase the heat: Make a spicy fajita chicken casserole by cooking diced jalapenos with bell peppers and onions, or add a pinch of red chili pepper flakes along with the fajita seasoning.
• Turn it into nachos: Serve scoops of fajita casserole with chicken on a pile of tortilla chips for an all-in-one meaty, cheesy nacho topping.

How to Store Chicken Fajita Casserole

If you have leftover chicken fajita casserole, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, heat individual portions in the microwave or cover the casserole with foil and bake in a 350° oven until warmed.

Can you make chicken fajita casserole ahead of time?

You can make this recipe a day or two in advance by preparing it right up to the baking step. Cook the vegetables and rice on the stovetop; combine them with the chicken, sour cream and cheese; and store the mixture covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake the casserole. To take the chill off, let it sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before baking.

Chicken Fajita Casserole Tips

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What is fajita seasoning?

Fajita seasoning is a blend of spices traditionally used in Mexican cooking. It includes cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and salt. You can make your fajita seasoning mix or find premade versions in the spice aisle of your grocery store.

Can I make this casserole with chicken breasts?

For this casserole, you can cook chicken instead of using leftovers or a rotisserie chicken. Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs are excellent choices, and there are many options for how to cook chicken. Bake, grill, or pop your chicken into a slow cooker or an electric pressure cooker until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°.

What can you serve with chicken fajita casserole?

Chicken fajita casserole is delicious served with tortilla chips for scooping or crumbling on top. A fresh salad, like this avocado corn salad or cowboy caviar, or a side of Instant Pot black beans keeps the Tex-Mex flavors going. Don’t forget to set out some fun toppings like guacamole and pico de gallo!