Chicken Fajita Casserole

This Chicken Fajita Casserole is perfect for a bustling weeknight family dinner or stealing the spotlight at your next potluck gathering! This dish is a true crowd-pleaser by combining the deliciousness of flavorful chicken fajitas with crispy tortilla chips to make a casserole with a delightful crunch that’s irresistible!

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Why I Love This Recipe

• Easy to Make: The best part about making a casserole is how easy they are to pull together. Just layer the ingredients and bake to perfection! Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Use a rotisserie chicken to make this recipe come together even quicker!
• Perfect for Potluck: Got a potluck on the calendar? Don’t stress—this Chicken Fajita Casserole recipe has your back! It’s hearty, flavorful, and guaranteed to disappear FAST! Plus, its unique twist on traditional fajitas is sure to earn you rave reviews from friends and family.
• Delicious: This baked chicken fajita casserole packs so much flavor into one baking dish. From the juicy chicken to the zesty salsa and gooey cheese, every bite of this casserole is unbelievably tasty.

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Chicken Fajita Casserole Ingredients

• Oil: Use your favorite cooking oil for this recipe such as olive, avocado, vegetable or canola. 
• Yellow onion: You can’t have fajitas without sauteed onion! 
• Bell peppers: I like to use a combination of red, yellow, orange or green bell peppers to add tons of color to this recipe.
• Tortilla chips: A key ingredient that sets this casserole apart, tortilla chips add a delightful crunch and texture
• Shredded cheddar cheese: I use cheddar cheese, but you can use your favorite blend of shredded cheeses. Monterrey Jack, a Mexican cheese blend or Colby Jack would be great options.
• Salsa verde or tomatillo salsa: This ingredient adds tons of flavor and some moisture to the casserole. Use your favorite store-bought brand or make it yourself with my Roasted Tomatillo Salsa recipe!
• Sour cream: Tangy and smooth, sour cream adds some moisture and helps balance out the flavors in the casserole. I haven’t tried it, but I’m sure you could substitute plain Greek yogurt if you wanted to!
• Cooked chicken: Shredded chicken! The star of the show. I always use a rotisserie chicken because it makes this dish even easier to whip up. But you can use any cut of chicken whether it’s thighs or chicken breasts.

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How Do You Make Easy Chicken Fajita Casserole

Now that you know what you need to make this recipe, let’s get into the step-by-step instructions so you can make this dish in no time!

 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.

• Go ahead and get your oven preheated before you start assembling this dish. This way once it’s ready to go you can pop it right in to start baking!

2. Saute Onions and Peppers:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onions and sliced bell peppers along with 1 teaspoon of salt and sauté for 5-6 minutes, or until the vegetables just begin to soften and are fragrant. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool while you continue to the next steps.

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3. Prepare Tortilla Chips

• Take 12 ounces (about 3/4) of the tortilla chips and break them into smaller pieces. We’ll use these in the casserole to add crunch and texture.

4. Combine Casserole Ingredients:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked onions and peppers, shredded chicken, salsa verde, sour cream, broken-up tortilla chips, and three-quarters of the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix everything together until well combined, ensuring that all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

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5. Assemble Casserole:

• Transfer the mixture to a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly to create a smooth surface. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent the casserole from drying out during baking.

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6. Bake

• Place the covered casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the ingredients to heat through. Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining tortilla chips and shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

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7. Serve

• Once the casserole is fully cooked and the cheese is golden and gooey, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with sliced avocado, if desired, and serve hot, straight from the baking dish.

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Recipe Tip: My biggest tip for cooking quickly and efficiently is having all your ingredients prepped and ready to go. Wash and chop your veggies, prep your other ingredients and you can even lay out your toppings. Once you have all of that, this recipe has very little hands-on time.

Storing Chicken Fajita Casserole Leftovers

Leftover Chicken Fajita Bake can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to enjoy again, reheat leftovers in the microwave or oven until heated through. Note: As the casserole sits, the chips will take on moisture and be less crispy. Feel free to add fresh chips when reheating. Or sometimes I will serve with tortilla chips on the side and eat the casserole like a dip! 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Freeze this Recipe?

• You can freeze this casserole, but I have a couple recommendations that you can take or leave! Keep in mind, the texture of the tortilla chips may become soggy when you  thaw and reheat the dish. Not the end of the world, but if I were going to freeze this dish, I would freeze the casserole mixture but omit the chips and cheese topping that is added after the initial bake. Then thaw, reheat in the oven and then add the chips and cheese topping fresh for the best results.

Can I Prep This Ahead of Time?

• Yeah this casserole can be made in advance to save on time. You can saute the veggies and prep the chicken and store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, simply combine all the ingredients according to the recipe instructions and pop it in the oven. This makes it perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep sessions. You could also make the casserole mixture without the chips and store in the refrigerator overnight as well.

Can I Halve This Recipe?

• Yes! If you’re cooking for a smaller group or simply want to make a smaller portion, you can easily halve all the ingredients accordingly and bake in an 8×8 inch baking dish. The cooking time won’t change drastically, but I would start at 20-25 minutes covered then check to see that it’s heated through before continuing to the next step.

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More Delicious Mexican Inspired Recipes

• Mexican Enchiladas
• Mexican Lasagna
• Mexican Pizza Pockets
• Slow Cooker Mexican Corn and Bean Soup
• Vegetarian Baked Taquitos

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This recipe for chicken fajita casserole is going to change your life! It’s so easy to make and everyone will love it. Serve it for a delicious family dinner or take it to your next get together and wow the crowd. As always, let me know if you have any questions in the comments below and tag me on social media if you make this recipe!