This Chicken Fajita Casserole is a cheesy, flavorful, oven-baked dinner loaded with tender chicken, peppers, onions, and Tex-Mex seasoning. An easy, family-friendly weeknight dish!

A casserole dish filled with a baked, cheesy Mexican rice Chicken Fajita Casserole garnished with herbs. Surrounding the dish are a colorful striped towel, a small bowl of sour cream, fresh cilantro, an onion, and stacked plates with forks.
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Why You’ll Love Chicken Fajita Casserole!

A woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a burgundy top, smiles at the camera in front of a textured, beige background.

Chicken Fajita Casserole has become one of my favorite busy weeknight family dinners because it delivers all the sizzling Tex-Mex flavor of classic chicken fajitas in a warm, cheesy, oven-baked dish.

It’s quick to throw together, comforting, and pairs with just about anything such as rice, tortillas, chips, or even a fresh salad. It’s the perfect blend of easy and delicious, and it never fails to disappear fast at dinnertime.

This Casserole Recipes is baked to perfection and loaded with gooey cheese and juicy chicken! If you love this recipe, make sure to also try Mexican Cornbread Casserole or Mexican Tator Tot Casserole.

For even more comfort food ideas, make sure to check out my fajita recipe or our Comfort Food Dinners on a Budget Series. Need more stress-free dinner ideas? You’ll find plenty inside our Quick and Easy Chicken Dinners Series.

Ingredients

Ingredients for recipe: fajita seasoning, onion, cream of chicken soup, red bell pepper, chicken, sour cream, green bell pepper, cheese, salsa, rice and chicken broth.
  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – Cut into small bite size pieces. You can also use chicken thighs
  • Vegetables – Dice green bell pepper, red bell pepper and yellow onion
  • Instant Rice  – Tender Rice will cook while the casserole bakes
  • Cream of Chicken Soup – Learn how to make Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
  • Salsa – You can use diced tomatoes or Rotel instead of the salsa if you prefer. 
  • Sour Cream – Added for a creamy texture
  • Chicken Broth  – If you are out, see Chicken broth substitutes
  • Fajita Seasoning – Use packet or make your own Homemade Fajita Seasoning Recipe
  • Colby Jack Cheese – We recommend using freshly shredded cheese
  • Chopped Cilantro – Optional for topping

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How to Make Chicken Fajita Casserole

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9X13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. 

A glass bowl filled with shredded chicken, salsa, sour cream, crushed crackers, and shredded cheese sits on a white marble surface—perfect for a Chicken Fajita Casserole. A wooden spoon rests in the bowl next to a colorful striped cloth.

Step 2 – In a large mixing bowl stir together chicken breasts, bell peppers, onions, instant rice, cream of chicken soup, salsa, sour cream, chicken broth and fajita seasoning until combined. Gently stir in half of the shredded cheese. 

A white casserole dish filled with a creamy Chicken Fajita Casserole, featuring mixed rice and vegetables, sits on a white marble surface next to a colorful striped cloth.

Step 3 – Spread the mixture into a 9X13 baking dish.

A rectangular baking dish of Chicken Fajita Casserole, covered with aluminum foil, sits on a white surface next to a colorful striped kitchen towel.

Step 4 – Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. 

A white baking dish filled with Chicken Fajita Casserole, topped with shredded cheese, sits on a white marble surface beside a colorful striped cloth.

Step 5 – Remove the pan from the oven, remove the foil and top with the remaining shredded cheese in an even layer. Cook for 3-5 more minutes until the cheese is melted. 

Step 6 – Remove from the oven, let rest for 5 minutes. Top with the chopped cilantro and then it’s ready to serve and enjoy!  

A casserole dish filled with baked cheesy Chicken Fajita Casserole, topped with melted cheese and chopped cilantro. Surrounding the dish are a bowl of sour cream, fresh cilantro, an onion, garlic, and a colorful napkin.
A serving of Chicken Fajita Casserole with red and green peppers, topped with a dollop of sour cream and a cilantro leaf, sits on a white plate with a fork beside it and a colorful napkin underneath.

Chicken Fajita Casserole

4.86 from 7 votes
Estimated Cost: $15.66, $2.61 per Serving
This Chicken Fajita Casserole is a cheesy, flavorful, oven-baked dinner loaded with tender chicken, peppers, onions, and Tex-Mex seasoning. An easy, family-friendly weeknight dish!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Let Rest: 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6
Cuisine Mexican
Course Main Course
Calories 618
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Ingredients

  • 2 pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (cut into small bite size pieces)
  • 1 Green Bell Pepper diced
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper diced
  • 1 Yellow Onion diced
  • 2 cups Instant Rice
  • 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup 10.5 ounces
  • 1 Cup Salsa
  • 1 Cup Sour Cream
  • ½ cup Chicken Broth
  • 1 packet Fajita Seasoning
  • 2 cups Colby Jack Cheese shredded
  • 2 Tablespoons Chopped Cilantro optional for topping

See how we calculate recipe costs.

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9X13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together the diced chicken breasts, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, onion, instant rice, cream of chicken soup, salsa, sour cream, chicken broth and fajita seasoning until everything is well combined.
  • Gently stir in half of the shredded Colby Jack cheese.
  • Spread the mixture into a 9X13 baking dish. Cover tightly with foil.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  • Remove the pan from the oven, carefully remove the foil, and sprinkle the remaining Colby Jack cheese over the top.
  • Cook for 3-5 more minutes until the cheese is melted.
  • Remove from the oven, let rest for 5 minutes.
  • Top with chopped cilantro (optional) before serving. Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

 
Recipe Tips
  • Cooking Vegetables – The peppers and onions are a little crunchy in this recipe and I love it that way but if you prefer softer veggies, sauté them for 3-5 minutes in oil before mixing them in with the other ingredients. 
  • Cooking Casserole – We cook the casserole covered with foil to prevent the top from burning.
  • Rotisserie Chicken – This is a great recipe to use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
Variations Ideas
  • Low Carb – You can substitute the regular white rice with cooked cauliflower rice or serve the casserole over the cauliflower rice.
  • Add Beans or Corn – This makes for a heartier casserole.
  • Extra Creamy – Add a block of softened cream cheese.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 618kcal, Carbohydrates 40g, Protein 48g, Fat 29g, Saturated Fat 15g, Polyunsaturated Fat 2g, Monounsaturated Fat 8g, Trans Fat 0.02g, Cholesterol 166mg, Sodium 1642mg, Potassium 915mg, Fiber 3g, Sugar 7g, Vitamin A 2273IU, Vitamin C 48mg, Calcium 382mg, Iron 4mg

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Serving Recommendations

This Chicken Fajita Casserole makes a complete meal. But we love to serve with a side salad, Best Mexican White Cheese Dip Recipe with tortilla chips, Crockpot Refried Beans, Slow Cooker Black Beans and Mexican Rice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Prepare Casserole Ahead of Time?

Yes! Assemble and refrigerate the casserole up to 24 hours before baking. Make sure to cover with aluminum foil while storing in the fridge.

How to Store Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat the leftovers in the oven or the microwave until heated through.

Can I Freeze Chicken Fajita Casserole?

Yes! You can freeze this casserole baked or unbaked in a disposable pan or freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge when ready to bake.

A serving of cheesy Chicken Fajita Casserole with vegetables on a white plate, topped with a dollop of sour cream and a cilantro leaf, next to a fork. In the background are a casserole dish and a bowl of sour cream.

More Easy Mexican Casserole Recipes

If you make this Chicken Fajita Casserole Recipe, please leave us a comment to let us know how it turned out! We love hearing from you!

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.

4.86 from 7 votes

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Comments

  1. Amy Czarnecki says:

    I hate instant rice. Can I use regular white or brown rice? Maybe cokk it alone 1st?

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      Amy – Yes, regular rice can be used instead but I would cook it before adding it to the casserole as it would have to bake a long time to get cooked all the way through. If you try it out, please come back and let me know what you think!

  2. Susan M says:

    5 stars
    Your recipes are fantastic!
    If I add the optional cans of pinto beans and/or corn, should I drain them or does the rice need the extra liquid?

    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      I would drain them both and rinse the beans.

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