Chicken Fajita Casserole

4.7
(6)
5 Reviews

Cheesy, smoky, and so satisfying, this chicken fajita casserole is a wonderful weeknight dinner.

By
Marianne Williams
Marianne Williams
Marianne Williams
Marianne Williams is a recipe tester and developer who has been working in the Dotdash Meredith test kitchens since 2016. Her recipes are featured in Food & Wine, Southern Living, Real Simple, Rachael Ray, Health, Cooking Light, and in various other publications and digital platforms.
Southern Living's editorial guidelines
Updated on March 22, 2024
Recipe tested by
Southern Living Test Kitchen
Southern Living Test Kitchen
Recipe tested by Southern Living Test Kitchen

The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Chicken Fajita Casserole - Southern Living
Photo:

Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
Active Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
6

Spice up your next taco night with this chicken fajita casserole recipe. It's the ideal dinner for a busy weeknight.

This chicken fajita casserole recipe takes a little over an hour to make with just a bit of stovetop prep before spooning everything in the casserole dish and going right into the oven.

Serve this chicken fajita casserole however you like, but we prefer ours with a heaping dollop of sour cream, sliced avocado, and salsa on top for a delicious variety of flavors in each bite. Prepare this recipe for your next dinner party, and pair it with one of our favorite big-batch summer cocktails. We promise you've never had chicken fajitas like this.

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil

  • 2 large red bell peppers, seeded and sliced (4 cups)

  • 1 large poblano chile, seeded and sliced (1 1/2 cups)

  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (1 1/2 cups)

  • 1 (5-oz.) can diced green chiles, undrained

  • 1 (1-oz.) envelope fajita seasoning mix

  • 2 tsp. garlic powder

  • 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided

  • 2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts (12 oz.)

  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened and cut into pieces

  • 6 oz. extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups), divided

  • 6 oz. smoked Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups), divided

  • 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

  • Optional toppings: crumbled tortilla chips, sour cream, chopped avocado, salsa, lime wedges

Directions

  1. Prepare oven and baking dish:

    Preheat oven to 350°F with rack 6 to 8 inches from heat source. Coat a 7- x 11-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.

  2. Cook peppers and onion:

    Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add bell peppers, poblano, and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to char in spots, about 5 minutes. Add green chiles with juices, fajita seasoning, garlic, and ½ teaspoon of the salt; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in chicken. Set aside.

  3. Combine cheeses:

    Stir together cream cheese, 1 cup each of the white Cheddar and smoked Cheddar, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Add chicken mixture, and stir together until combined.

  4. Add casserole mixture to baking dish:

    Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish; sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 cup each white Cheddar and smoked Cheddar.

  5. Bake casserole:

    Bake in preheated oven until mixture is bubbling and cheese has completely melted, about 25 minutes. Increase oven temperature to broil; broil until cheese starts to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool about 10 minutes.

  6. Garnish and serve:

    Sprinkle evenly with cilantro. Serve immediately with desired toppings.

    Chicken Fajita Casserole - Southern Living

    Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

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