One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
35 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
484 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
Description
One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta features chicken cut into bite-sized pieces and cooked with a blend of fajita seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and optional cayenne pepper. Sliced onions, garlic, diced red chili, and bell peppers are sautéed with the chicken before adding tomato paste, canned chopped tomatoes, and chicken stock to form a simmering sauce. Penne pasta is added and cooked in this mixture until tender and most liquid is absorbed.
The combined cooking of pasta alongside the seasoned chicken and vegetables allows the flavors to fully develop in one pot, saving time and cleanup. This dish has a balance of spicy and savory notes from the seasoning and peppers, with soft pasta and tender chicken pieces.
To serve, stirring in sour cream off the heat adds creaminess, and cheddar cheese and chopped cilantro provide additional flavor and texture contrasts. The recipe can be easily modified by substituting different proteins like prawns or adjusting seasoning amounts according to preference.
Stirring occasionally during cooking prevents sticking and ensures even pasta cooking. Substituting fajita seasoning with a mix of smoked paprika, chili powder, and cumin offers alternative flavor profiles. Nutritional information varies depending on ingredient choices.
Ingredients
- cooking spray or olive oil, to fry, low calorie
- 450 g chicken breast or skinless chicken thighs, skinless, 1 pound
- 4 tsp fajita seasoning or Taco Seasoning
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 onion sliced
- 3 garlic minced, cloves
- 1 red chili finely diced, mild
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper sliced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 400 g chopped tomatoes canned chopped / crushed tomatoes) in their juice, tinned, 14 ounces
- 225 g penne pasta or similar pasta shapes, dried, 1/2 pound
- 620 ml chicken stock broth) using a stock cube or canned, 2 1/2 cups
- 3 tbsp sour cream optional
- 1 tbsp lime juice or to taste
- 3 tbsp cheddar cheese plus extra to serve, grated
- 2 tbsp cilantro chopped, fresh
- salt to taste, to season
- black pepper to taste, to season
Instructions
- Prep your chicken and vegetables – cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces so that it cooks quickly. Slice the onions and peppers.
- Mist a deep lidded pan (I use this Chef’s pan) or Dutch Oven with low calorie cooking spray or add a little olive oil.
- Heat the pan and add the chicken, salt and seasonings and quickly stir to combine.
- Throw in the sliced onions and minced garlic (or garlic paste from a tube if you're in a hurry) and cook, stirring for 5 minutes until the onions have slightly softened.
- Add the chopped chilli and sliced peppers and stir to combine.
- Stir in the tomato paste, chopped tomatoes and chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
- Add the pasta, stirring so that it is mostly submerged in the water and other ingredients.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until that pasta is cooked through and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- At this point you can stir in the sour cream if you prefer a creamier sauce. Do this off the heat so that it doesn’t split.
- A little bit of lime juice, to taste, adds a lovely contrast to the mildly spicy flavours.
- Add the grated cheese and stir so it melts into the sauce (can we say yum!). Stir in the chopped coriander (cilantro) and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve with a little extra cheese if you like.
Notes
- Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even pasta doneness.
- For a creamier sauce, fold in sour cream off the heat after pasta is cooked.
- Substitute fajita seasoning with 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and ½ teaspoon ground cumin if desired.
- Replace chicken with raw prawns by adding them about 4 minutes before the end of cooking.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 484 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 484kcal | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 65g | 22% |
| Protein | 38g | 76% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 81mg | 27% |
| Sodium | 1158mg | 48% |
| Potassium | 1290mg | 27% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 1686IU | 34% |
| Vitamin C | 147mg | 163% |
| Calcium | 155mg | 16% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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