One Dish Oven Baked Chicken Fajita Pasta

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If you love an easy weeknight dinner with bold flavors and minimal cleanup, this One Pan Oven Baked Chicken Fajita Pasta is about to become your new go-to. Tender chicken breast, colorful bell peppers, and onions bake right alongside pasta in a seasoned chicken broth, then get topped with melty cheese for the ultimate family-friendly dinner. (You had me at melty cheese)

Here’s the best part: Everything cooks together in one dish — even the pasta — so you get all that fajita flavor without standing over the stove. It’s hearty, cheesy, and perfect for busy nights!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s a true “dump and bake” recipe- dump it into your dish and wait for dinner to practically make itself!
• Uses dry pasta-no boiling required!
• Made in one pan
• Big fajita flavor with minimal ingredients
• Perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd

What You’ll Need

Find the full, printable recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post. Read on for more details and tips! On the recipe card below, click “print recipe” and from there you can print out the page or screenshot it to save to your phone’s photo album.

Pin this recipe to save to Pinterest so you can make it later! You can Pin It from the recipe card below. Just click the “Pin Recipe” button. If you’d like to follow me on Pinterest , my page is Steph Gigliotti.

• 9×13 Baking Dish– I love this deep dish casserole dish
• Dry pasta (short cut pasta like bowties, penne or rotini work best)
• Chicken breasts or thighs, diced into bite-sized pieces
• Chicken broth
• Fajita seasoning packets
• Bell peppers, sliced
• Onion, sliced
• Salsa or a can of Rotel
• Olive Oil
• Shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese
• Your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, avocado, etc.

How To Make It

Step 1: Preheat

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large 9×13 baking dish.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients

Add the following directly to the baking dish:

• Dry pasta
• Diced raw chicken
• Sliced bell pepper
• Sliced onion
• Fajita seasoning packets
• Olive oil
• Chicken broth
• Salsa or Rotel

Stir well so the seasoning is evenly distributed and the pasta is mostly submerged in liquid.

Step 3: Bake

Cover tightly with foil.

Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until:

• Pasta is tender
• Chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature

Remove from oven and stir. If needed, return to oven covered for 5–10 more minutes until the pasta and chicken are cooked through.

Step 4: Add Cheese

Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top.

Bake uncovered for 5–8 minutes, until melted and bubbly.
Broil 1–2 minutes if you want a lightly golden top.

Let sit for 5 minutes before serving to thicken slightly. Add your favorite toppings and dig in!

Did you enjoy this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @StephGigliotti on social media and #StephRealLife. I would absolutely love to see your finished dish! ⭐ Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section. 📌Save this recipe to make later and share with a friend!

Tips for Perfect Oven Baked Fajita Pasta

• Slice peppers and onions thin so they soften fully.
• Make sure the pasta is mostly covered in broth before baking.
• Cover tightly with foil — this traps steam and helps cook the pasta evenly.
• If your pasta absorbs too much liquid, add ¼ cup warm broth and stir before adding cheese.

Variations

• Creamy Version: Stir in ½ cup sour cream before adding cheese.
• Spicy Version: Add a pinch of cayenne or diced jalapeños.
• Top it: Top with avocado, shredded lettuce, or a drizzle of chipotle crema.

FAQ’s

Do I have to cook the pasta first?

No! The pasta cooks directly in the chicken broth while baking.

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes. Penne, rotini, ziti, or shells work best. Avoid very thin pasta like angel hair.

Can I make this ahead of time?

You can assemble it up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate, then bake as directed (you may need to add 5–10 extra minutes).

How do I store leftovers?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Can I freeze this?

Yes. Let it cool completely, then freeze in a sealed container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and reheat covered in the oven.

Can I make my own fajita seasoning?

Yes! Mix these ingredients to make the equivalent of 2 seasoning packets:

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ½–1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust for heat)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

More Weeknight Favorites

• Sheet Pan Pineapple Glazed Ham
• Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake
• Baked Cheeseburger Pasta
• Marry me Chicken Rice Casserole
• No Peek Italian Chicken Casserole
• Taco Skillet
• Weeknight Chicken and Biscuits

The Ultimate Easy Weeknight Dinner

The ultimate easy weeknight dinner! One pan chicken fajita pasta is made with 16 oz dry pasta, chicken breast, bell peppers, onion, fajita seasoning and melted cheese — all baked together in ONE pan. No pre-boiling required! Perfect for busy families, meal prep, and crowd-pleasing comfort food

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