Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers (Print Version)
Bell peppers filled with fajita-seasoned chicken, sautéed veggies, and melted cheese for a flavorful meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Protein & Dairy
01 - 2 large chicken breasts, about 12 oz, cut into thin strips
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)
→ Vegetables
03 - 4 large bell peppers, halved and seeded
04 - 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Seasonings
08 - 1½ tsp chili powder
09 - 1 tsp ground cumin
10 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
11 - ½ tsp dried oregano
12 - ½ tsp salt
13 - ¼ tsp black pepper
14 - 1 tbsp olive oil
15 - Juice of ½ lime
→ Optional Toppings
16 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
17 - Sour cream or Greek yogurt
18 - Sliced jalapeños
# How to Cook:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange bell pepper halves cut side up in a baking dish, brush lightly with olive oil, and bake for 10 minutes to soften.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken strips and cook 3 to 4 minutes until lightly browned.
03 - Add sliced onion, red and yellow bell peppers, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables are tender and chicken is fully cooked.
04 - Incorporate chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and lime juice into the skillet. Cook an additional minute until mixture is evenly coated.
05 - Remove peppers from oven. Fill each half with the chicken and vegetable mixture evenly.
06 - Sprinkle shredded cheese over the stuffed peppers evenly.
07 - Return stuffed peppers to oven and bake for 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with optional sour cream, Greek yogurt, or sliced jalapeños.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes like restaurant-quality fajitas but comes together in under an hour with minimal cleanup.
- The peppers become tender vessels for all that savory, smoky chicken and vegetables—no tortilla needed.
- Works beautifully for meal prep, which means you can eat this all week without getting bored.
02 -
- If your peppers are still too firm after stuffing, they won't soften much more—that initial 10-minute bake is essential, not optional.
- Lime juice makes all the difference between these tasting homemade-delicious and tasting like a forgettable side dish.
03 -
- Marinate your chicken in lime juice and the spice blend for 15 minutes before cooking if you have the time—it deepens the flavor without adding complexity.
- Use fresh cilantro for garnish rather than dried; it makes a surprising difference in how fresh the whole dish tastes.