Go Back
Easy One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta photo

One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta

A quick, one‑pot pasta that combines classic fajita flavors with a creamy, cheesy sauce for an easy weeknight dinner.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium chicken breasts cut into strips or bite-size chunks
  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fajita seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes with juices
  • 8 ounces dried pasta
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup cilantro minced
  • 1/2 cup Mexican blend cheese shredded

Equipment

  • 12-inch high-sided skillet or large sauté pan
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large 12-inch high-sided skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the chicken pieces, sliced yellow onion, and sliced red, yellow, and green bell peppers to the skillet.
  3. Sprinkle the fajita seasoning and kosher salt over the chicken and vegetables and stir to combine.
  4. Sauté until the peppers begin to soften and the chicken starts to brown, about 4–6 minutes; the chicken does not need to be fully cooked yet.
  5. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Pour in the chicken stock and the can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes with their juices and stir to combine.
  7. Add the dried pasta, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium to maintain a gentle simmer.
  8. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is fully cooked; if the liquid reduces too much before the pasta is done, add a little more chicken stock as needed.
  9. When the pasta is cooked and the sauce is creamy but thick, stir in the cream cheese and minced cilantro until combined.
  10. Sprinkle the shredded Mexican blend cheese over the top and allow the residual heat to melt it, or place the skillet under a broiler briefly if using an oven-safe dish to brown the cheese.

Notes

  • Use a high-sided skillet to prevent splatter while simmering the pasta.
  • If the sauce gets too thick, add additional chicken stock a little at a time.
  • Cut chicken into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.
  • Leftover fajita seasoning can be stored for another use.