Description
This Chicken Fajita Casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that combines tender chicken strips, sautéed bell peppers, and onions with a creamy blend of sour cream and cream cheese, topped with melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Perfect for a comforting Mexican-inspired main course that’s gluten-free and full of flavorful spices.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small red onion, sliced
Spices
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese and Cream Mix
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Garnish (Optional)
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook the chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add the chicken strips and cook until they are lightly browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté vegetables: In the same skillet, add the sliced red, green, and yellow bell peppers along with the sliced red onion. Cook for 4-5 minutes until softened.
- Add spices and chicken: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the vegetables. Sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper over the mixture, stirring well to coat everything evenly.
- Mix creamy base: In a large bowl, blend sour cream and softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Combine all ingredients: Stir the chicken and vegetable mixture into the creamy base, mixing everything together thoroughly.
- Transfer to baking dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread the combined mixture evenly inside.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from oven, garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges if desired for an extra burst of flavor.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to the casserole before baking.
- Mix in cooked rice to make the casserole more filling or serve it over rice as a hearty side.
- To increase heat, add chopped jalapeños or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the chicken and vegetable mixture.
