Leftover Chicken Fajita Casserole
Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Allison Lancaster
Dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes with this easy recipe. Piles of cheese and chicken, with tasty vegetables, make this Leftover Chicken Fajita Casserole a must-have on your menu plan. The entire family will be raving about this delicious leftover rotisserie chicken recipe!
When you have a busy week, making easy meals is always a good thing. You want nutrition, flavor, and something that is quick to put together. Well, I have got just the recipe for you.
Table of Contents
This leftover chicken fajita casserole can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you are ready to bake. A delicious dinner for those Sunday meal prep days, you can either use precooked rotisserie chicken or cook the chicken as you are preparing it.
Leftover Chicken Fajita Casserole Ingredients & Substitutions:
Chicken Breasts: this is going to be the main protein source for this dish. Feel free to use leftover shredded chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken. Simply pull the chicken off of the rotisserie chicken and shred it to use with this recipe.
Avocado Oil: or a different oil with a high smoke point, like olive oil.
Bell Peppers: I prefer using a red bell pepper or green peppers. You can pick up a trio bell pepper pack at the store for the most colorful dish.
Onion: my favorite to use is a red onion because it adds the best flavor when it’s cooked. You can also use sweet or yellow onions if you have those on hand.
Cream Cheese: helps combine all of the ingredients together to create a delicious Mexican dish. I prefer using full-fat cream cheese for this recipe but you can use light cream cheese if you prefer.
Taco Seasoning: feel free to make your own taco seasoning, or you can just pick up a taco seasoning packet from the store. You can grab fajita seasoning mix if your store has it. I personally love Aldi’s low-sodium taco seasoning!
Monterey Jack Cheese: is my favorite to use, but you can always use a Mexican blend or cheddar cheese. I have substituted 2% Mexican shredded cheese and it works just as well in this recipe!
Equipment You Will Need to Make this Leftover Chicken Fajitas Casserole Recipe:
- Cutting Board: To chop your veggies. I love this cutting board as it’s easy to clean and store.
- Sharp Knife: A sharp knife is a must for this recipe since you’ll want to finely chop your veggies to ensure they mix well into the casserole filling.
How to Make Leftover Chicken Fajita Casserole:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil.
- Saute the onions and peppers until softened.
- To the same skillet, add the chicken (or other meat substitute), cream cheese, and taco seasoning.
- Stir over medium heat until thoroughly combined.
Serve
You can pair different side items like white or brown rice, flour tortillas, or corn tortillas. I have found that my whole family loves to put tortilla chips on the side, whether to use the chicken fajita bake as a dip or as a side item.
If you’re looking to make this a Keto and calorie-friendly healthy chicken fajita casserole, feel free to use cauliflower rice, avocado slices, or low-carb tortillas.
How to Store Leftover Chicken Fajita Casserole:
This is one of my favorite easy dinners for busy weeknights or to enjoy the next day. Make sure that your casserole has cooled down to room temperature.
Then, put it in an airtight container or you can also cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge.
Can I personalize this leftover chicken casserole recipe?
If you like your food a bit spicier, you can sub out the bell peppers for jalapeños.
Change out the chicken breasts for 4 cups of browned hamburger or turkey.
For a meatless meal, swap chicken for firm tofu chunks.
Try shredded cheddar for a different flavor as well.
Can I use a rotisserie chicken for this recipe?
Of course! If you don’t want to cook your own chicken breasts, or you don’t have any leftovers, feel free to use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Not only is this a great way to cut back on time, but you can use the rest of the rotisserie chicken to make recipes, like rotisserie chicken salad.
Can you make this leftover chicken fajita casserole in a crockpot?
Absolutely! You can simply follow the directions to get it prepped, then layer the ingredients in a greased crockpot liner. Bake on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Top with cheese, then continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes until the cheese is all melted.
Can this casserole be made ahead of time and frozen?
I have tried to freeze this ahead of time, and it turned out okay. However, the texture changed slightly, as the cream cheese didn’t freeze like the rest of the ingredients. It was still very good, and we enjoyed it.
Are you ready for a quick and easy dinner tonight? Let’s make this cheesy chicken fajita casserole!
Other easy weeknight dinner recipes you may like:
Easy Ravioli Casserole
BBQ Chicken Legs
Easy Venison Meatloaf
Leftover Chicken Fajita Casserole Recipe
Leftover Chicken Fajita Casserole
Dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes with this easy recipe. Piles of cheese and chicken, with tasty vegetables, make this Leftover Chicken Fajita Casserole a must-have on your menu plan. The entire family will be raving about this delicious leftover rotisserie chicken recipe!
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken breasts cooked, and shredded
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 3 medium bell peppers sliced thin, use colors of choice
- 1 small onion sliced
- 1 package cream cheese 8 ounces
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add oil and swirl to coat. Add onions and peppers to skillet, cooking over medium-high heat and stirring occasionally until softened.
- To the skillet, add shredded chicken, cream cheese, taco seasoning, and 1 cup cheese.
- Stir to combine. Transfer to a casserole dish.
- Top casserole with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 235Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 242mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 21g
