Delicious, quick and family friendly, this Easy One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake is the perfect midweek meal. The pasta is cooked ‘al dente’, the chicken is tender, the fajita sauce just coats the pasta beautifully and the whole lot is covered with oozing, melted cheese. And the best part? It’s all done in one dish, so this recipe is easy on the washing up too 😀
I don’t know about you, but I am a big fan of one pot meals – in fact so much so that I have been called ‘The Queen of One Pots’ on more than one occasion!! You can find lots of delicious one pot recipes on my site. For example, my One Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken Rice and Beans, my Easy One Pot Chicken and Chorizo Paella and my One Pot Chorizo, Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew.
However, one thing I have always been a bit cautious about is one pot pasta recipes…for the simple reason that I have always a bit dubious about cooking pasta in a small amount of sauce, not a large pot of boiling water.
The other thing that has always bothered me is the cook times of similar recipes I have seen on the internet. The length of time that such recipes suggest you should cook the pasta for is often rather alarming to say the least…this is coming from a girl who definitely likes her pasta ‘al dente’.
But the idea of One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake was too irresistible not to try. And so, I have been tinkering about with this recipe for a few months now – trying get the pasta cooking perfect, while not compromising on the quality of the sauce.
And I finally feel the recipe is good enough to share with you guys!
So how have I done it?
Well first I create some great flavours by marinating the chicken in the same delicious fajita marinade I use for my Easy Homemade Chicken Fajitas, and by cooking up some onions, garlic and bell peppers.
Then I add in the pasta and just enough liquid (passata plus water) to create the perfect amount of sauce in the finished dish – not too watery, not too dry, but also enough to cook the pasta properly.
Then I UNDERCOOK the pasta. This is really important. If you want the pasta in the finished dish to be cooked perfectly, you need to undercook the pasta at this stage. The funny thing I have found, though, is that pasta cooks more slowly in a small amount of sauce, compared to a large amount of water, so I actually found I was cooking the pasta for almost the same amount of time as I would normally – but the crucial thing at this stage is the pasta should taste underdone – test a piece if you are not sure.
Finally, the One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake is topped with cheese and popped in a super hot oven for just 10 minutes. This is enough to ensure the cheese is melted, but not so much as it turns the pasta to mush or makes the dish too dry.
And that’s it! The whole dish is ready in just 40 minutes – and only one pot to wash – yay!
Just a quick note on pots and pans. In order to make this dish truly a one pot dish you need to cook it in a wide, fairly deep pan that is both suitable to go on the stove and in the oven. I use my much loved Le Creuset style sauté pan for this. But anything will do so long as it can be used on the hob and in the oven. If you don’t have anything suitable, then you will need to transfer the dish from a saucepan to an oven dish for the final step.
This Easy One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake recipe can very easily be adapted to suit your preferences. You could make this with steak, mince or leftover chicken/beef/pork…or simply leave out the meat to make this veggie. Alternatively, you could add in a tin of kidney beans or some Quorn chicken pieces to the veggie version for extra protein.
There are lots of wine options here, but my favourite for this type of dish would be a soft, easy drinking, fruity red such as a Merlot or a Chianti. Alternatively, if you prefer white wine, a zingy, zesty Sauvignon Blanc from somewhere like New Zealand, Australia or the USA would work brilliantly!
If you like this recipe…
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Easy One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake
Ingredients
Marinade
- ½ teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of 1 lime
Easy One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
- 2 large chicken breasts diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 large onion sliced
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- 300 g fusilli pasta (or your favourite shape)
- 350 ml passata
- 650 ml water (use the empty passata jar to measure)
- 200 g cheddar cheese grated
- Green salad to serve
Instructions
- Mix together all the marinade ingredients. Add the diced chicken and mix thoroughly to coat. Ideally put in the fridge and leave to marinate for 1-2 hours. Alternatively, if you don’t have the time, just continue with the recipe.
- Put the oil in a wide ovenproof pan and heat over a high heat for 1 minute. Add the marinated chicken and brown for 2-3 minutes, stirring regularly. Remove the chicken from the pan and put on a plate.
- Turn down the heat under the pan and add the sliced onion and peppers. Fry for 3 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes.
- Return the chicken and any juices to the pan, along with the pasta, passata and water. Bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice until the pasta is nearly al dente. Meanwhile preheat your oven to 220C / 200C fan / gas mark 7 / 425F.
- Remove the lid. Stir the pasta, then sprinkle over the cheddar cheese. Cook in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the pasta is cooked to your liking.
- Serve with a green salad.
Notes
Want more delicious chicken recipes? Find more here…
Love Mexican flavours? Find more Mexican Inspired Recipes here…
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Jacqui Bellefontaine says
I love the sound of this dish an interesting combination, fajitas and pasta are two of our fav things. I played around with a one pot pasta dish earlier this week. Cooked entirely in the oven. It was not very sucessful! so I am very interested to try this.
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jacqui – I can’t claim credit for the combination. I was inspired by a number of similar recipes I’ve seen on Pinterest etc. Like you say, fajitas and pasta are two of my favourite things too 😀 I have been working on this for a while and my first versions were not entirely successful either. They tasted alright, but the pasta was very overdone! It’s taken several attempts to get this right, but now I am really happy with it…and can’t wait to get cracking on a few other versions! Would love to know how you get on if you try it 🙂 Eb x
Donna says
Looks amazing, this is one of our favourites. My son loves pasta bake! #CookBlogShare
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Donna – it is super tasty. My kids positively wolfed this down 😀 Eb x
Monika Dabrowski says
Chicken fajitas happen to be one of my favourite dishes so I can imagine how delicious this dish is. Great idea to make it with pasta, and in one pot too:) Shared!
Eb Gargano says
Me too – and pasta!! So combining the two, I knew I was on to a real winner. And you KNOW how much I like an easy one pot 😀 Eb x
Jessica says
Omg Eb, that looks mighty fine! I love fajitas so I think this would go down well! Might put this on my meal plan next week 🙂 x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jess! It is such a great twist on a favourite and so delicious 🙂 I would love it if you included this in your meal plan. Do let me know how if goes 😀 Eb x
Corina Blum says
I’ve seen a lot of one pot pasta recipes and have been intrigued by them. I do always wonder how everything manages to be cooked properly with just the right amount of sauce at the end. We love chicken fajitas too and it sounds like you’ve done loads of work on this recipe – I’ll have to try it! x
Eb Gargano says
Me too – I was very intrigued…I’ve always been a bit sceptical…and when I read some of the recipes, I was even more sceptical (such long cook times!!). I ended up ignoring the other recipes I found entirely and creating my own version. It took a few goes as my first attempts still resulted in overcooked pasta, but I finally got there and I am so happy with this version now…the pasta is cooked just right and the sauce is just right at the end and it is already one of our family’s favourites…and I’ve got loads of other versions planned. Eb x
Jo / Jo's Kitchen Larder says
I used to be quite sceptical about one pot pastas until I tried them and I do think they work. I find whole wheat pasta actually slightly more forgiving than regular pasta but I do agree that you need to go through a bit of trial and error with the recipes to get it just right. I love your recipe Eb! It doesn’t get much better than chicken fajitas, it’s such a crowd pleasing dinner. Add pasta to the equation and BOOM even better! My kids will absolutely love it! x
Eb Gargano says
I was very sceptical until I’d tried it for myself. I feel like it really shouldn’t work, but it does…you just need a good recipe. And yes, it is a great one to do with kids 😀 Eb x
Balvinder says
This sounds so easy and very delicious!! I have pinned it to try!! Thanks!!
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Balvinder! Do let me know how you get on if you try it 😀 Eb x
jenny paulin says
mmmm this is packed full off such delicious flavours and I love how easy it is to put together Eb (naturally!). I also love that being made in one pot = less washing up! x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jenny. Hahaha – yes you’d be a bit shocked if one of my recipes wasn’t easy to put together!! But honestly this is so quick and easy….and very tasty! Perfect for busy weekday evenings…and the kids loved it – always a bonus! Eb x
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery says
We love a one pot pasta in this house! I got The Peachicks Thermos food flasks in the January sales & they take them hot for lunch most days. Its just so easy to get up & make one of these in the morning or in the evening when were rushing around! Love the sound of the flavours in this one!
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Midge! Thermos flasks for your kids, so they can take a hot lunch to school, sounds such a great idea! Especially at the moment when it is so chilly!! Eb x
Sarah says
My sister has been sharing your recipes, I made this one which was delicious and is my new favourite meal with the whole family. Like the tip with cooking pasta when al dente too. Looking forward to cooking more of your recipes. Many thanks. ?
Eb Gargano says
Yay! So happy to hear that. New favourite meal – wow that’s a HUGE compliment – thank you! Eb 🙂
Helen says
I’ve made this pasta dish many times and it’s always a huge hit. Having friends over for lunch and won’t have time to cook in the morning. Could it be prepared the night before and popped into the fridge till the next day? Thanks
Eb Gargano says
Yay! So happy to hear that. Hmmm – it’s not a dish I would recommend making ahead of time… I mean you can, it won’t be horrible… but it definitely won’t be as nice reheated. Sorry! Eb ?