Chicken Fajita Casserole is an EASY family friendly recipe of succulent chicken & cheesy sauce, PERFECT for meal prep and it's naturally keto and low carb approved.
Chicken Fajita Casserole
Sometimes you just crave creamy, comfort food dishes or have the desire to change up a classic dish. That is what we have done with this Chicken Fajita Casserole and it's become one of our top requested 30 minute dinners. Our fajita chicken casserole is a family friendly dish that is naturally keto and low carb, but feels like a guilty pleasure. Packed with all the traditional flavors of fajitas, you won't miss the tortillas. Top it with sour cream and even avocado for an extra punch!
Minimal Ingredients for this Chicken Casserole
- Fajita seasoning
- Monterey jack cheese
- shredded chicken
- onions & peppers
- and cream cheese is all you need to bring together this outstanding weeknight meal.
- Bonus, it only takes 30 minutes to do it. Using pre cooked shredded chicken, either leftover or rotisserie makes it easy.
Is this Chicken Fajita Casserole Keto Low Carb Friendly
Yes! This is a naturally ketogenic diet recipe that tastes great and is low carb. A keto recipe you will want to write down or print out for those times you crave Mexican dishes! And, bonus- like we keep saying... the family will eat this. How often do you have to cook two different meals because they won't eat your low carb version? Not with this!
Are there Tortillas in this Fajita Casserole?
No. For this chicken fajita casserole we skipped the tortillas. However, there are a ton of low carb tortillas out there in stores now that if you wish to use them for scooping the chicken fajita casserole into, go ahead! Because I prefer to keep my extra carb allowance for something sweet, I am ok with a tortilla free casserole.
Why Type Of Chicken Do You Use For This Fajita Recipe
Any chicken will work, even thighs. For this recipe I cooked chicken breast in the instant pot then shredded it. You can shortcut the fajita casserole with rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked diced from Perdue. Just make sure the chicken isn't seasoned or it will affect the flavor.
Instant Pot Tip for Chicken Breast
Here is a super helpful tip for those of you with an instant pot- When I need chicken shredded for a recipe I use chicken breast tenderloins right from frozen. Place in the instant pot with a little water and any seasonings you want, set to MANUAL for 12 minutes. Boom. Done. The chicken breast breaks up or shreds with little effort. It is also a great way to meal prep chicken for other casserole and recipes, especially if you are low carb.
What Type of Peppers Are Best to Use
I like to use green, red, orange, or yellow bell peppers. If you are looking for a fun presentation do a variety of colors, or just stick with the classic green bell pepper for your chicken fajita casserole. Green offers a more savory flavor while red, orange, and yellow are a bit sweeter in flavor.
Can I Swap Chicken With Steak
Sure. What I recommend though for steak is cooking it up in a skillet before baking. Sometimes leftover steak can change in flavor, so you will get a better dish if you cook the steak fresh. Just slice it thin and then cook until done and follow directions as directed in the recipe card. Doing this will take longer than the original 30 Minute time for the dinner, but that's ok!
More Amazing Mexican Recipes
- 20 Minute Mexican Stew | Another super fast but satisfying Mexican dinner that is calling your name. Loads of vegetables in a creamy and hearty broth.
- Taco FauxTato Salad | A twist to a classic potato salad with a taco spin. Great for making as a side dish or bringing as a potluck to your next cookout!
Making our keto approved chicken fajita casserole
More Amazing Casserole Recipes
Chicken Fajita Casserole
A super easy , hearty chicken casserole that is sure to please the entire family! Naturally keto chicken fajita casserole is loaded with all the flavors of traditional fajitas.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 2 bell peppers, seeded and sliced
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 packet Fajita seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 8 oz monterey jack cheese, shredded
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare a 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.- Heat a non stick skillet over medium high , drizzle with Olive oil.
- Add cooked chicken, peppers and onions. Saute on high heat to get a nice sear on the meat and veg (about 1-2 minutes) for added flavor! Remove from pan.
- Mix the cream cheese and seasoning packet into skillet until melted, add chicken and veg back to pan, mix well to coat evenly.
- Add to casserole dish, top with cheese.
- Bake 20 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
Notes
If you wish to skip the skillet step simply add the cooked chicken with the raw peppers and onions Mix the fajita packet into the softened cream cheese, drop dollops over the chicken and veg. Cover with foil and bake on 350 for 10 minutes.
Remove from oven, mix well, cream cheese will be melted enough to coat even and be creamy. Return to the oven , Uncovered and continue baking for 20 min or until cheese is bubbly.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: ⅛ of panAmount Per Serving: Calories: 209Total Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 6gNet Carbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2gProtein: 17g
Nutrition facts are auto- populated by the app for this recipe card, numbers may vary. For best results, input your exact brand ingredients into a recipe analyzer like Verywell or MyFitnessPal.
No. Traditionally there is no rice in a fajita. But, if you want it to be a bit heartier, add in some cooked rice or if you want to stick with low carb, use cauliflower rice. Stir in and bake as directed.
The best cut of steak to use would be flat or flank, sliced very thin against the grain OR saute shaved steak, break it up and mix in. If you can not find flank or flat iron steak, any cut will work as long as you slice it very thin.
Any traditional Mexican toppings can be used for your chicken fajita casserole like: sour cream, salsa and avocado, plus those are all keto friendly as well.
10 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cook time is all it takes. You have that incredible casserole ready to dish up to your family or guests in no time.
Store any leftover chicken casserole in the fridge for up to three days. Just reheat in the microwave or oven. Use your best judgment in terms of when the casserole needs to be tossed out.
Owner & Lead Recipe Developer for It's Simple! since 2015, where you will find our best Family Favorites & Keto Low Carb Dishes with Helpful Cooking Tips & Hints in each post. Many Thanks for Stopping By, Enjoy!
Can you freeze leftovers?
When do you add the Monterey Jack Cheese it’s not in the recipe.
This is soooo good! I made my own fajita seasoning from another pin and used Splenda for Baking (blend of erythritol and stevia) in place of the sugar in that recipe. I do recommend NOT skipping the skillet step in this recipe. The little crunchy edges really make this in my opinion!
How can this recipe be frozen then cooked later ?
How can the total carbs per serving be 0g, but the net carbs are 6g per serving? Is the zero supposed to be 10, maybe???
Hi Becky, what you're seeing a ZERO for is the Trans Fat. Unfortunately the recipe card app runs everything in a line without punctuation or breaks. Not my design, I wish I could fix it! So Trans Fat is 0, Total Carbs 6g, Net Carbs 4g, Fiber 2g. I hope that helps!
Can you use cooked rotisserie chicken in this dish?
Hi Jennifer
Yes! I actually recommend it to make it easier. Just cook long enough to only bring the flavors together.
When do you add the cream cheese?Emma
Hey Emma!
Sorry for that, the full recipe didn't save in the card. It has been updated. 🙂