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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake

    Published: Jun 22, 2021 · Modified: Sep 29, 2022 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    fajita pasta bake pin image.

    Two of our favourite family meals combine in this easy, cheesy chicken fajita pasta bake! A delicious weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

    Tender strips of chicken are marinated in my special fajita seasoning, before being cooked with peppers, onions, and passata and mixed with cooked pasta.

    The dish is then topped with grated cheddar cheese and crushed tortilla chips for the ultimate melty cheese finish.

    Chicken fajita pasta bake with salad.

    This dish was a happy accident! I'd put some chicken in the fridge marinating in my special fajita spice mix all ready to make chicken fajitas when the kids got home from school. It turns out they were all craving pasta bake instead!

    Not wanting to waste the chicken, I came up with this cheesy chicken fajita pasta bake recipe, which turned out to be a real crowd pleaser and an accident I will be repeating often!

    👩‍🍳 Love pasta bakes? Try my cheesy chicken and broccoli pasta bake!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why should you try it?
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQs
    • 😋Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why should you try it?

    • Comforting and hearty pasta bake.
    • Combines 2 family favourite meals.
    • Easy to make.
    • Can be frozen.

    🥘 Ingredients

    Ingredients for chicken fajita pasta bake.
    • Chicken Breasts - boneless and skinless chicken breasts cut into long thin strips.
    • Fajita Spice Mix - my homemade fajita spice marinade combines salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin and cayenne. Alternatively use a ready-mixed blend from the supermarket.
    • Pasta - any short pasta will work. I used rigatoni.
    • Onion - 1 large white onion, or you could substitute for a red onion if you prefer.
    • Garlic - 2 cloves, peeled and chopped.
    • Peppers - red, orange or yellow peppers.
    • Passata - or use 1 tin of chopped tomatoes.
    • Sugar - balances the acidity of the tomato passata.
    • Cheese - extra mature cheddar or use a mixture of cheddar and mozzarella instead.
    • Tortilla Chips - crush a handful of plain salted tortilla chips for the crunchy topping.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Marinate the chicken strips in the fajita spice mix for at least 10 minutes (or preferably overnight for the best flavour).

    Two: Heat some oil in a frying pan and fry the onions, garlic, and peppers for 3-4 minutes until tender.

    Three: Add the fajita spiced chicken strips and fry until the chicken changes colour.

    Step by step photo instructions for making chicken fajita pasta bake.

    Four: Turn down the heat and add the passata and sugar and simmer for 5 minutes.

    Five: Cook the pasta according to instructions, drain and add to the chicken fajita mix.

    Six: Spoon the pasta into an oven proof dish and top with the grated cheese and crushed tortilla chips.

    Seven: Bake in a preheated oven for 12- 15 minutes until golden and bubbling.

    Step by step photo instructions for making fajita pasta bake part 2.

    💭 Top tips

    • Get ahead and marinate the chicken in the fajita spices the night before and leave it in the fridge until needed.
    • Use a store-bought fajita spice blend to save time.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the fajita pasta bake with sour cream, sliced avocado and a green salad. Roasted sweet potatoes are another tasty side that goes well with this dish.

    You might also like to try my easy leftover chicken tacos too!

    📖 Variations

    • Use beef or pork strips instead of chicken.
    • Make it vegetarian by replacing the chicken with extra peppers.
    • Like your food spicy? Add 1 chopped red chili at the same time as the onion and garlic.
    • Feeding a crowd? Double or triple the recipe!
    Chicken fajita pasta bake in a serving dish.

    🥡 Storage

    The fajita pasta bake can be made up to the point of baking and then stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Bake as directed in the recipe.

    Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the microwave until piping hot.

    The chicken fajita pasta bake can also be frozen for up to 3 months. I prefer to freeze it unbaked. Defrost in the fridge thoroughly before baking the dish in the oven.

    ❓ FAQs

    Is chicken fajita pasta bake healthy?

    This dish is relatively healthy, but by making some minor tweaks you could make it even healthier! Use wholemeal pasta instead of white pasta, reduce the amount of cheese in the topping to lower the fat, and up the number of veggies in the pasta bake itself.

    What is in fajita seasoning?

    Fajita seasonings vary by brand but my homemade fajita seasoning contains salt, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin and cayenne.

    😋Related recipes

    More delicious pasta recipes to try!

    • Creamy Paprika Chicken Pasta
    • Tuna Pasta Bake
    • Smoky Meatball Pasta Bake
    • Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake
    • Creamy Sausage Pasta
    • BBQ Chicken Pasta

    🍽️ More family-friendly recipes

    Dinner inspiration from the Effortless Foodie kitchen!

    • Easy Macaroni Cheese Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Pork Ragu Recipe
    • Easy Slow Cooker Red Lentil Dahl Recipe
    • Easy Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe (No Browning)

    Tried this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating in the comments!

    Recipe

    Chicken fajita pasta bake.
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    5 from 7 votes

    Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake

    Two of our favourite family meals combine in this easy, cheesy chicken fajita pasta bake! A delicious weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
    Course Main Course, Pasta
    Cuisine British, Fusion, Mexican
    Keyword chicken fajita pasta bake, fajita pasta bake
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 595kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Cheese Grater
    • Frying Pan
    • Oven Proof Baking Dish

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 2 Chicken Breasts cut into thin strips
    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 Onion peeled and sliced
    • 2 Garlic Cloves peeled and chopped
    • 2 Peppers cut into strips
    • 400 ml Passata
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • 200 g Pasta rigatoni or penne
    • 150 g Cheddar grated
    • 5 Tortilla Chips crushed

    Fajita Seasoning

    • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Oregano
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne

    Instructions

    • Marinate the chicken in the homemade fajita spice blend. I ltry and do this the night before but try for at least 10 minutes. If leaving overnight, place the chicken in the fridge in a sealed contianer.
    • Preheat the oven to 200°c (180 fan/ Gas 6/ 400F)
    • Cook the pasta according to instructions, drain and set aside.
    • Meanwhile heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onions, garlic and peppers for 3-4 minutes on a high heat.
    • Add the chicken strips and cook until the chicken changes colour.
    • Add the passata, sugar, salt and pepper and simmer for 10 minutes.
    • Mix the cooked pasta into the fajita sauce and then spoon into an oven-proof dish.
    • Sprinkle over the grated cheese and crushed tortilla chips and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes until golden and bubbling.

    Video

    Notes

    Top Tips:
    • Get ahead and marinate the chicken in the fajita spices the night before and leave in the fridge until needed.
    • Use a store-bought fajita spice blend to save time.
     
    Variations:
    • Use beef or pork strips instead of chicken.
    • Make it vegetarian by replacing the chicken with extra peppers.
    • Like your food spicy? Add 1 chopped red chili at the same time as the onion and garlic.
    • Feeding a crowd? Double or triple the recipe!
     
    Storage:
    Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the microwave. The pasta bake can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
     
    Nutrition: 
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    595
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    23
    g
    35
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    10
    g
    63
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    8
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    154
    mg
    51
    %
    Sodium
     
    722
    mg
    31
    %
    Potassium
     
    1213
    mg
    35
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    56
    g
    19
    %
    Fiber
     
    6
    g
    25
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    44
    g
    88
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1626
    IU
    33
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    62
    mg
    75
    %
    Calcium
     
    344
    mg
    34
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      June 22, 2021 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      What a delicious pasta dish! My family love pasta and they love chicken fajitas so this sounds like an amazing combination!

      Reply
    2. Jill

      June 22, 2021 at 4:09 pm

      5 stars
      Great dinner idea. Putting this on our menu for next week!

      Reply
    3. Gina

      June 22, 2021 at 5:31 pm

      5 stars
      We all loved this recipe, such a crowd-pleaser. Adding it to our go-to list!

      Reply
    4. Jenn

      June 22, 2021 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      I've never thought of combining the flavors of fajitas with pasta but this dish is pure genius! I'll have to make it again soon cause we ate it all up with no leftovers!

      Reply
    5. Andrea

      June 22, 2021 at 5:58 pm

      5 stars
      Love the mexican flavors in this fantastic pasta bake. My family will be asking for seconds on this.

      Reply
    6. Susan

      July 24, 2021 at 4:41 pm

      5 stars
      My husband said this recipe was "awesome ". High praise from him.

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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