Fajita Chicken Bake is a family-friendly weeknight dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes and requires only one pan! Classic chicken fajita ingredients (such as bell peppers and green chiles) are baked in cheesy goodness with pepper-jack cheese. As an added bonus, this Mexican-style recipe is low-carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free.
One-Pan 30-Minute Dinner
This is a fantastic recipe to make when you're short on time and want something quick and delicious. Your family will love bold flavors and vibrant colors in this simple Mexican-style chicken dinner! It's super easy to make on a busy weeknight and will surely become a family favorite. It also looks fancy and colorful for when you're ready to entertain guests. What's the best way to serve it? You can make this easy and delicious cilantro-lime black-bean rice. Or, make a Mexican street corn pasta salad with bell peppers and black beans as a side.
Only 4 main ingredients (excluding spices and olive oil)
- To make fajita chicken bake I combined skinless boneless chicken breasts together with multi-colored bell peppers, canned green chiles, and pepper jack cheese in a cast iron pan.
- I baked the chicken, veggies, and cheese for about 20 minutes or so, and the dinner was ready!
- There are only 4 main ingredients (not including the spices and the olive oil), 30 minutes from start to finish, and only one pan to clean at the end!
- Serve it however you like. I served this fajita chicken bake as is. You can also add some carbs to it if you like. This includes corn tortillas, black beans, and rice. Add your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, shredded cheese, Cotija cheese, diced avocado, chopped green onions, salsa, or guacamole.
Fajita chicken bake vs classic chicken fajitas - what's the difference?
Traditionally, chicken fajitas require a really hot griddle or a flaming hot cast iron pan to get a nice sear and that nice smoky flavor. I prefer my food baked anyway, and this is the only difference. In my recipe, chicken fajita ingredients are baked in the oven. It's easy, less messy, quicker, and no smoke in the house! Perfect for busy family weeknights.
Why you'll love this recipe
- An unusual twist on classic fajitas. This easy meal turns regular chicken fajitas into something a bit different. Whole chicken breasts are baked together with bell peppers, green chile peppers, and pepper jack cheese to create a super flavorful chicken bake that tastes just like regular chicken fajitas.
- One-pan 30-minute recipe. It's an easy recipe that requires only one oven-safe skillet, such as a cast-iron skillet, and takes only 30 minutes. Because the chicken fajitas are baked vs seared on high flame, the house stays cleaner and doesn't get smoky.
- Juicy and flavorful chicken breasts. Say goodbye to boring, dried-out chicken. I generously coated skinless boneless chicken breasts with classic fajita seasonings (paprika, chili powder, and cumin), then smothered them with lots of cheese before baking everything in the oven.
Keto-friendly, low-carb, gluten-free dinner
You will be impressed with how much flavor is packed into this simple family-friendly weeknight dinner. It's a low-carb and keto-friendly meal that features protein (chicken), lots of veggies (bell peppers), and fat (pepper jack cheese).
The Ingredients
I love easy one-pan meals that feature basic ingredients. Chicken Fajita Bake is one of those recipes. There are only 4 main ingredients (excluding spices and olive oil). Here they are:
- Chicken breasts. I used 2 large skinless boneless chicken breasts. I sliced each one in half to create 4 smaller chicken breasts.
- Bell peppers. I used 3 small or medium size bell peppers of different colors (red, yellow, and green) to add vibrancy to the dish.
- Canned green chiles. I used the mild variety. If you like your food spicier, use medium or hot.
- Pepper jack cheese. I purchased a block of pepper jack cheese and shredded it myself.
Homemade fajita seasoning
I used basic spices, such as chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and pepper in this recipe. You can also add garlic powder and dried oregano.
How to make fajita chicken bake
Below are helpful step-by-step photos and instructions. For a more detailed recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below.
1) First, prepare the veggies and preheat the oven to 400 F. Thinly slice bell peppers. I used 3 medium size bell peppers or 3 different colors (red, yellow, and green).
2) Next, season the chicken with chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
3) Then, add the chicken into a large oven-safe cast-iron skillet. Rub olive oil over the top of the chicken. Layer thinly sliced bell peppers around the chicken.
4) Top the bell peppers portion of the skillet with the canned green chiles.
5) The next step is to top the bell peppers and portions of chicken with shredded pepper jack cheese.
6) Finally, bake in the preheated oven at 400 F for about 20 minutes or longer until the chicken is cooked through.
Variations
- Chicken. I used skinless boneless chicken breasts, you can also use skinless boneless chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins.
- Veggies. Add some variety to classic chicken fajitas by using other veggies, such as mushrooms, asparagus, or broccoli.
- Cheese. I used pepper jack cheese. You can also use Monterey jack cheese or white cheddar.
Toppings for baked fajita chicken
This recipe is a meal all on its own that doesn't need anything to be added. But, if you like, you can make it even better with your favorite toppings. Here are some ideas:
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- A dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Fresh lime slices
- Green onions or chives
- Crumbled Cotija cheese
- Salsa
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
How to serve it
- Serve it as is - a low-carb, keto-friendly, gluten-free dinner. This recipe is a complete meal in itself as it features lots of protein (chicken), veggies (bell peppers), and cheese (pepper jack).
- Turn this recipe into regular chicken fajitas. All you have to do is divide up the cooked chicken into warmed tortillas and serve them with toppings, such as sour cream, sliced avocado, cheese, pico de Gallo, salsa, or guacamole.
- Make a chicken fajita salad by tossing this baked chicken over some greens, such as lettuce, spinach, or arugula.
- Add rice and black beans as side dishes to soak up all the flavorful juices!
Other Mexican-style recipes
- Cheesy Fajita Chicken Bake in a Casserole Dish
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Black Bean Chicken Bake
- Mexican Chicken Pasta
Fajita Chicken Bake (30-Minute One-Pan Meal)
Ingredients
Chicken and spices
- 1.4 lb chicken breasts skinless boneless
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Veggies and Cheese
- 3 bell peppers medium, thinly sliced (different colors - red, green, yellow)
- 4 oz canned mild diced green chiles
- 4 oz pepper jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- I used 1.4 lb of skinless boneless chicken breasts which were 2 large chicken breasts. I sliced each in half to create 4 smaller chicken breasts.
- Season chicken with chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Add the chicken into a large oven-safe cast-iron skillet. Rub olive oil over the top of the chicken.
- Layer thinly sliced bell peppers around the chicken, overlapping a little over the chicken.
- Top the bell peppers portion of the skillet with the canned green chiles.
- Top the bell peppers with shredded pepper jack cheese.
- Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or longer until the chicken is cooked through.
- Note: I have helpful detailed step-by-step photos visually describing every step of this recipe - scroll up above this recipe card to see the photos.
Notes
- I used a mild variety of canned green chiles. Use hot variety to add more spice.
- Turn this recipe into regular chicken fajitas. All you have to do is divide up the cooked chicken into warmed tortillas and serve them with toppings, such as sour cream, sliced avocado, cheese, pico de Gallo, salsa, or guacamole.
- Make a chicken fajita salad by tossing this baked chicken over some greens, such as lettuce, spinach, or arugula.
- Add rice and black beans as side dishes to soak up all the flavorful juices!
- Add a side dish. Make this easy and delicious cilantro-lime black-bean rice to serve alongside this chicken bake! Or, make a Mexican street corn pasta salad with bell peppers and black beans as a side.
- Serve it as is - a low-carb, keto-friendly, gluten-free dinner. This recipe is a complete meal in itself as it features lots of protein (chicken), veggies (bell peppers), and cheese (pepper jack).
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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