Chicken Fajita Skillet Quinoa Bake

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A very wise man (aka my best friend Matt) said that you cannot live your best life without guacamole. And I'm 100% on board with that. But also you really can't live your best life without salsa, cheese and fajitas so in honor of that.... let's make a Chicken Fajita Skillet Quinoa Bake! Chicken Fajita Skillet Quinoa Bake from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)

You guys know how much I love eating out of a bowl right? I mean I wrote an entire chapter on bowls in my cookbook for crying out loud! I have similar feelings about cooking everything in a big 'ol skillet and serving it straight outta the pan. It makes things easy and that's exactly what this Chicken Fajita Skillet Quinoa Bake is!

Chicken Fajita Skillet Quinoa Bake from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)


 

It's everything you love about fajitas, mixed with some quinoa (you could also use rice or pasta if that's more your jam, see cheesy chicken and rice casserole), doused with salsa, topped with plenty of cheese and then baked to perfection. It's PERFECT for any weeknight meal and it's incredible as leftovers! Top it with some guacamole and call it a day! If you're looking for something vegetarian, check out these quinoa stuffed peppers that are delicious!

Chicken Fajita Skillet Quinoa Bake

Author: Gaby Dalkin
5 from 21 votes
It’s everything you love about fajitas, mixed with some quinoa, doused with salsa, topped with plenty of cheese and then baked to perfection. It’s a great weeknight meal and incredible as leftovers!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Tex Mex
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

For the Fajita Mixture

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 poblano pepper medium dice
  • 1 red bell pepper medium dice
  • 1 yellow pepper medium dice
  • 1 red onion medium dice

For the rest of it...

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups shredded cheese divided
  • 1 ½ cups chipotle salsa
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • Finely chopped scallions as needed

Instructions
 

  • Slice the chicken breasts into cubes, about 1 inch. Combine the lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, cumin, chili powder and red pepper flakes in a bowl and whisk to combine. Add the chicken and marinate for 1 hour.
  • Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chicken mixture, marinade included, and sauté until fully cooked. Using a pair of tongs, remove the chicken from the skillet and add the vegetables. Sauté until tender and charred. Add the chicken back into the cast iron skillet and toss to combine. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cook the quinoa according to the package directions. Once cooked, remove from heat and transfer the cooked quinoa into a large bowl. Fold in the chicken fajita mixture, 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheese, and salsa. Season the entire mixture with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
  • Lightly spray a large skillet with non-stick spray, and transfer the mixture into the baking dish. Top with the remaining shredded cheese and bake for about 20 minutes until the top layer of cheese is bubbly and melted. Remove the baking dish from the oven and garnish with green onions and serve.

Notes

Not a fan of quinoa? Make rice instead!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 613kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 1428mg | Potassium: 1197mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2143IU | Vitamin C: 124mg | Calcium: 357mg | Iron: 4mg
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47 Comments

  1. This is delish. First time I made it I thought, oh boy this is a lot of chopping. So what I do now is roast the veg and prep the chicken in the marinade the day before. The day of, I cook the chicken, throw the veggies in and make the quinoa. Doesn’t seem quite as daunting for me when I break it up into 2 days. VERY VERY GOOD

  2. 5 stars
    This is a family favorite..I don’t always make it exactly the same, but it always turns out delicious!

    1. My daughter can’t do dairy; I’ve made it with vegan cheese or no cheese and it still turns out yummy!

  3. 5 stars
    This was fantastic. I'd forgotten to pick up chipotle salsa at the market so I substituted a salsa verde and loved it. Can't wait to make this again!

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