Name: Cheesy Chicken Fajita Bake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 cups warm water; ¼ cup (~75g) salt; 1.5 lbs thin boneless, skinless chicken breasts (~4 chicken breasts); 1 tbsp (15mL) avocado oil; 2 ¼ tsp chili powder; 1 ½ tsp paprika; 1 tsp cumin; ½ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp onion powder; ¼ tsp pepper; 1/16 tsp ground cayenne pepper; 5 oz cream cheese, softened to be easily spreadable; 150g mini sweet peppers, assorted colors, sliced thinly lengthwise; 1 cup (112g) shredded mozzarella cheese; Finely chopped green onions; Sour cream; Salsa

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This Low-Carb Cheesy Chicken Fajita Bake features oven-baked chicken breasts that are seasoned with a blend of aromatic spices topped with a layer of cream cheese, colorful mini sweet peppers, and golden brown shredded mozzarella cheese. This 30-minute low-carb chicken fajita dish will surely be a hit with your whole family!

overhead shot of garnished chicken bake casserole dish sitting diagonally atop marble countertop

If you’re in need of a quick, easy, and filling weeknight dinner, this keto-friendly low-carb cheesy fajita baked chicken with cream cheese is ideal!

It takes minimal time to prepare and less than 20 minutes to bake in the oven, and the end result is a delectable, filling chicken dish that everyone will enjoy.

There’s no need to dirty any extra pots or pans – just one baking dish is all you need. Serve with a simple side salad or some steamed broccoli for a complete meal.

Close up shot of a spatula with a generous portion of the cheesy chicken fajita bake. In the background, you can see the baking pan with the remaining cheesy chicken fajita bake that rests atop a marble countertop.

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Why you’ll love this cheesy fajita chicken bake

A cozy comfort meal with only 7.1 grams net carbs per serving
Family-friendly, everyone will love this chicken fajita bake
Ready in 30 minutes, perfect for a quick weeknight meal
Egg-free, nut-free, and keto-friendly
Easy to find ingredients

Equipment needed for this recipe

Large mixing bowl
Small mixing bowl
9×13-inch baking pan
Stirring spoon
Tongs
Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients for low-carb cheesy chicken fajita bake

overhead shot of labeled recipe ingredients

How to make this chicken fajita bake with cream cheese

Fill a large mixing bowl with warm water and salt to create brine. Using a spoon, stir to combine until most of salt is absorbed before adding chicken breasts to bowl. Set aside to brine while prepping other ingredients, about 10 minutes.

Overhead shot of a glass bowl with brine (made with water and salt) and chicken breasts atop a marble countertop.

Arrange oven rack on middle rack, preheat oven to 450 degrees, and coat 9×13-inch baking pan with nonsticking cooking spray.

Remove chicken breasts from brine, rinse with cold water, then pat dry with paper towels.

Overhead shot of chicken breasts on a paper towels atop a marble countertop.

In a small mixing bowl, mix all spices until well-combined.

Overhead shot of a small mixing bowl with spices combined by a whisk. The small bowl rests atop a marble countertop.

In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken breasts, avocado oil, and about 3/4 of spices, keeping some for seasoning the peppers.

Overhead shot a large glass bowl with chicken breasts, avocado oil and ¾ of the mixed spices. In the background, you can see a small bowl with the remaining spices. The bowls are sitting atop a marble countertop.

Using tongs, toss together until chicken is coated in spices.

Overhead shot of a glass bowl with chicken breasts which are well-coated with avocado oil and spices. The bowl rests atop a marble countertop.

Transfer chicken to prepared baking pan and spread cream cheese on top.

Overhead shot of a baking pan with chicken breasts topped generously with cream cheese. The baking pan rests atop a marble countertop.

Place peppers atop chicken.

Overhead shot of a baking pan with chicken breasts topped generously with cream cheese and thinly sliced sweet peppers. The baking pan rests atop a marble countertop.

Sprinkle remaining spices on top.

Overhead shot of a baking pan with chicken breasts topped generously with cream cheese and thinly sliced sweet peppers and sprinkled with the remaining spices. The baking pan rests atop a marble countertop.

Sprinkle shredded mozzarella atop peppers.

Overhead shot of a baking pan with chicken breasts topped generously with cream cheese, thinly sliced sweet peppers, spices and shredded mozzarella. The baking pan rests atop a marble countertop.

Transfer pan to oven to bake until chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, about 15-17 minutes.

Move oven rack to highest rack, turn on oven broiler, and broil until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to ensure it doesn’t burn.

Overhead shot of a baking pan with cheesy chicken fajita bake. The baking pan rests atop a marble countertop.

Remove pan from oven, top with optional garnishes, and serve.

Overhead shot of a baking pan with cheesy chicken fajita bake, garnished with sour cream, salsa and finely chopped green onions. The baking pan rests atop a marble countertop.

Net carbs per serving

Per serving, keto cheesy chicken fajita bake with cream cheese contains 7.1 grams of net carbs. The recipe, as written, yields 4 servings. Net carbs are calculated by taking total carbs, subtracting fiber, and subtracting sugar alcohols.

If you want to lessen the net carb content per serving, decrease the amount of mini sweet peppers that you include in the dish.

The full nutrition information for this recipe, including the calorie content, total carbs, protein, and fat per serving, can be found in the nutrition label located below the recipe instructions.

Ingredient substitutions

Chicken Breast: Chicken thighs can be substituted in place of the chicken breast.
Avocado Oil: You can substitute olive oil at a 1:1 ratio for avocado oil.
Cream Cheese: You can use vegan cream cheese or, if you consume nuts, almond milk cream cheese at a 1:1 ratio should work.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded white cheddar cheese would be your best option here.

Keep in mind any changes you make to this recipe will likely modify the overall nutrition info of the dish.

Keto cheesy chicken fajita bake with cream cheese FAQs

Can I substitute chicken thighs instead of the breast in this recipe?

Yes! Chicken thighs would be your best option in place of chicken breasts here.

Can I use taco seasoning instead of all the spices listed in the recipe?

Yes, note that some taco seasonings contain extra additives you may choose to stay away from (just be sure to check your labels).

I can also not say whether storebought taco seasoning will have a higher or lower salt content than what this recipe calls for, so keep that in mind if you do decide to sub.

At what temperature do I know that the chicken is done?

Cook all chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check the temperature with a meat thermometer.

What should I serve with this dish?

We typically have a side salad or some low-carb steamed vegetables (I like the microwaveable frozen vegetable bags that can be steamed in the microwave in ~5 minutes).

How do I store this low-carb chicken fajita bake in the refrigerator?

In an airtight container, you can store this baked cheesy fajita chicken in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

For best results when reheating, put the chicken bake back in the oven at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes. If you want to reheat just a single serving, you can pop it in the microwave for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on the wattage of your microwave.

Can I freeze cheesy keto fajita chicken?

Absolutely! Store the prepared and ungarnished dish in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Allow the dish to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the microwave or oven.