Description
A flavorful and easy Cheesy Baked Fajita Chicken recipe featuring marinated chicken breasts baked over sautéed bell peppers and onions, topped with melted cheddar cheese and creamy sour cream. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner served with rice, tortillas, or a fresh salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts (About 1.5 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetables
- 1 piece red bell pepper (Sliced)
- 1 piece green bell pepper (Sliced)
- 1 piece yellow onion (Sliced)
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Optional fresh cilantro (For garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the chicken and vegetables.
- Make Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper thoroughly to form a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate Chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the marinade and coat evenly. Allow the chicken to marinate for about 10 minutes to absorb all the spices.
- Slice Vegetables: While chicken marinates, slice the red and green bell peppers and the yellow onion into thin strips for even cooking.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spread the sliced onions and bell peppers evenly across the base of a baking dish to create a flavorful bed for the chicken.
- Arrange Chicken: Place the marinated chicken breasts on top of the vegetable layer in the baking dish.
- Bake Chicken: Bake the chicken and vegetables in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to begin cooking the chicken through.
- Add Toppings: Remove the dish from the oven and evenly spread sour cream over the chicken breasts. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously on top.
- Finish Baking: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Rest and Garnish: Take the dish out of the oven and allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired for added freshness and color.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy baked fajita chicken hot alongside rice, warm tortillas, or a crisp side salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the marinade.
- Substitute cheddar cheese with Monterey Jack or mozzarella for a different flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Use fresh cilantro for garnish to enhance flavor and presentation.
- For a low-fat option, use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with vegetables and cheese (approx. 375g)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Cheesy Baked Fajita Chicken, baked chicken fajitas, chicken breast recipe, Mexican chicken, easy dinner, weeknight chicken, baked fajita chicken
