Chicken Fajita Pasta is smothered in cheesy, creamy salsa infused sauce bursting with your favorite fajita spiced chicken, onions and peppers AND it all cooks in one pot!
Add this One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta to your EASY DINNER rotation because the pasta cooks right IN the sauce for simple prep, minimal cleanup, and extra flavor. Pull out a chair because this one pot dinner is about to become a regular at your kitchen table!
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Chicken Fajita Pasta Recipe Video
About Chicken Fajita Pasta
Cheesy pasta is my ultimate comfort food. But wait, Mexican is my ultimate comfort food. Let’s just mash them together and create THE ultimate comfort foods like Taco Pasta, Taco Spaghetti and now this Chicken Fajita Pasta! You will want to stuff your face with this chicken fajita pasta because its wonderfully creamy, SO flavorful!
I did a test run of this Chicken Fajita Pasta a couple Sundays ago when we invited a friend over for dinner whose wife was out of town. So there sat just three of us and one pot of pasta. We almost ate the entire pot to a chorus of “wow,” “this is amazing,” “this is seriously so good,” “I can’t wait to tell my wife about this,” “did I say how good this is?”
Thank goodness this One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta is lightened up.
What Ingredients do you need for Chicken Fajita Pasta?
This Chicken Fajita Pasta is extra crave-worthy because the pasta cooks right in the sauce consisting of milk, enchilada sauce and medium salsa, along with chicken, bell peppers, onions, garlic and seasonings.
How to Make Chicken Fajita Pasta
This Chicken Fajita Pasta comes together SUPER quickly. Prepping your chicken/veggies will take the longest, so if you prep those beforehand, then this dinner comes together in a flash.
- First, saute chicken and onions then add our bell peppers, garlic and homemade fajita seasonings.
- Next, stir in black beans, salsa, enchilada sauce, milk and pasta.
- Bring to a simmer until the pasta is al dente.
- Next, add cheese followed by sour cream.
- Garnish with fresh tomatoes, avocado, cilantro etc. and dig in to all that feisty fiesta deliciousness!
Tip and Tricks to Make Chicken Fajita Pasta
- Pasta: You can substitute the cellentani pasta for other medium pasta such as rigatoni.
- Chicken: Chicken is easier to thinly slice if partially frozen. It will thaw quickly once sliced.
- Bell peppers: You can use an color combo of peppers.
- Veggies: You can add other vegetables if you would like such as zucchini, corn, etc.
- Salsa: Use less salsa to make this extra kid friendly or if you are sensitive to heat. Add more to taste at the end of cooking if desired.
- Cheese: You can substitute the Mexican cheese blend with cheddar cheese or half cheddar and half Monterrey Jack.
- Garnishes. Just like fajitas are loaded with toppings, this Chicken Fajita Pasta is even better loaded with toppings! Top your Chicken Fajita Pasta with tomatoes, avocadoes, cilantro and sour cream.
Looking for More Fajita Recipes?
- Skillet Chicken Fajitas
- Grilled Steak Fajitas
- Salsa Verde Honey Lime Pork Fajitas
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
- One Pot Chicken Fajita and Rice Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
- Chipotle Honey Lime Chicken Fajita Chicken Bowls
- Sheet Pan Fajita Salmon with Cilantro Lime Butter
- Fajita Chicken Wraps with Creamy Avocado Dip
Want to try this One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta?
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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com
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Ingredients
- 4 cups cellentani pasta (may sub rigatoni or penne etc.)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breasts sliced thinly (1/4”) then cut into 2-3” pieces
- 3 bell peppers (any color combo) thinly sliced, cut in half
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced then cut in half
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tsp EACH chili powder, ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon EACH smoked paprika, dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 15 oz. can black beans rinsed and drained
- 1/4-1/2 cup medium salsa (I like Mateo's)
- 1 10 oz. can mild enchilada sauce
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup Mexican cheese blend or sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup sour cream (I use light)
Garnish
- Tomatoes
- avocado
- cilantro
- sour cream
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot. Add chicken and onions and sauté for 3 minutes.
- Add bell peppers, garlic, and all seasonings/spices. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
- Stir in black beans, salsa, enchilada sauce, milk and pasta. Bring pasta to a boil and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, just until pasta is al dente, being careful not to overcook.
- Turn off heat and stir in cheese until melted followed by sour cream. Taste and season with salt/pepper and hot sauce/salsa to taste.
- Garnish with fresh tomatoes, avocado, cilantro etc. if desired.
Video
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Pat Choy says
Can the sour cream be removed or subbed for something else?
Jen says
Hi Pat! It adds a nice silky creaminess but isn’t required. You could sub plain yogurt or cream cheese. Enjoy!
Amy says
I sub plain Greek yogurt in EVERYTHING! No one can tell.
Darice says
Hi Jen, thanks for the recipe.
I am lactose intolerant so I try to cut down on dairy whenever possible without affecting the overall goodness of a recipe.
Any guesses on how this recipe would be if I used chicken broth in place of the milk.
Of course, I would still use the cheese and take a dairy relief tablet just cuz a girl has got to have SOME cheesey goodness!
Jen says
Hi Darice, I think this recipe would still be fabulous if you used chicken broth instead :). I would start with less salt and add more to taste as chicken broth has more salt. It might be slightly less creamy but nothing too noticeable I imagine. I’m so glad you can still make this recipe work – yay for diary relief tablets!
Debb says
You could use unsweetened, plain almond milk (Kikkoman brand is the one I use).
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
My Hubby will love this pasta dish! Fajitas are his favorite! Also, I had no idea Nuts.com carries salsa! Off to check it out!
Jen says
Yes, your husband will devour this! Two of my brother-in-laws were over another time I made this and inhaled it 🙂 And you will love Nuts.com salsa – seriously the best!
Lindsay says
If I wanted to use a different more mild salsa, would I just start with 1/2 cup? I already have some on hand that my husband and I like a lot.
Jen says
Hi Lindsay, yes start with 1/2 cup 🙂 Enjoy!
Callen says
We had this last night and it was delicious! The only thing we will change the next time is to use two cans of black beans instead of only one. Thank you for the recipe!
Jen says
Hi Callen, I am so happy you tried it already and enjoyed it! Thank you so much!
Debbie says
Hi Jen, Received this recipe yesterday and made it today. My husbands comments were wow, so many flavors, delicious, wow again. Thank you so much for sharing, it was so delicious.
Jen says
You are so welcome Debbie! I’m thrilled it received rave reviews, thank you!
Gayle says
We LOVED this recipe! Will definitely make again and again!
Jen says
Awesome, thanks Gayle! I am thrilled this is a new fav!
Donna says
I have never heard of nuts.com salsa before. But I will use a brand we have here, I hope it doesn’t change the taste to much ! Thank you for sharing all of your recipes !!
Jen says
You’re so welcome Donna, I’m excited for you to try it!
Marci says
Hi Jen, the feisty salsa is no longer available
, would you have a suggested alternative since you are a rockstar with flavors?
Jen says
You’re so sweet Marci! I also love Mateo’s!
Marci says
Perfect, I have seen that brand at local stores, thank you Jen I appreciate your time and response.
Jen says
My pleasure Marci!
Mandyw says
This is one of my family’s absolute favorite dishes!!! Just wondering if you have an idea to convert it to a slow cooker recipe? I’m thinking you cook probably cook it on low and then add the noodles maybe close to when you want to eat?
Thank you for all your wonderful recipes! Many have become staple dinners in our house! ❤️
Jen says
I’m so glad it’s a favorite!! I haven’t tried it in a slow cooker, but you can experiment! This website might be helpful in converting the recipe https://myfoodbook.com.au/tips/converting-an-oven-or-stovetop-recipe-to-a-slow-cooker-recipe Let me know how it goes!