Cheesy Chicken Fajita Bake

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

5 from 2 votes

Cheesy Chicken Fajita Bake

This Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken with Cream Cheese features chicken breasts that are seasoned with a blend of spices and topped with cream cheese, mini sweet peppers, and shredded mozzarella cheese. It can be made in only 30 minutes and is a great choice for weeknight family dinners!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheesy chicken fajita bake, cheesy fajita baked chicken, chicken fajita bake with cream cheese

Servings: servings

Calories: 453kcal

Author: Sara Nelson

Ingredients

Chicken Brine (Start Brining Before Prepping Other Ingredients - See Instruction Step #1):

4 cups warm water
¼ cup salt
1 ½ pounds thin boneless skinless chicken breasts (~4 chicken breasts)

Fajitas:

1 Tablespoon avocado oil
2 ¼ teaspoons chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon pepper
1/16 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
5 ounces cream cheese softened to be easily spreadable
150 grams (6-10 peppers) mini sweet peppers assorted colors, sliced thinly lengthwise
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Optional Garnishes (Not Included In Nutrition Info):

Finely chopped green onions
Sour cream
Salsa

Instructions

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.
Arrange oven rack on middle rack, preheat oven to 450 degrees F, and coat 9x13-inch baking pan with nonsticking cooking spray.
Remove chicken breasts from brine, rinse with cold water, then pat dry with paper towels.
In a small mixing bowl, mix all spices until well-combined.
In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken breasts, avocado oil, and about ¾ of spices, keeping some for seasoning the peppers. Using tongs, toss together until chicken is coated in spices.
Transfer chicken to prepared baking pan and spread cream cheese on top. Place peppers atop chicken. Sprinkle remaining spices on top. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella atop peppers.
Transfer pan to oven to bake until chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, 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.
Remove pan from oven, top with optional garnishes, and serve.

Notes

Refrigerator Storage: 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.

Freezer Storage: 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.

Nutrition