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Creamy Skillet Chicken Fajita Pasta

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A quick and easy 30-minute dinner combining smoky fajita-seasoned chicken, colorful bell peppers, and a luscious creamy sauce tossed with penne pasta. Perfect for busy weeknights and packed with flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, thinly sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium yellow or white onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A small handful fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Thinly slice the chicken breasts or thighs into bite-sized strips. Slice the bell peppers and onion into thin strips. Mince the garlic. Set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (about 9 minutes). Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the chicken strips, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, add the sliced onions and bell peppers. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and cook over medium heat until softened and slightly charred, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic in the last minute and stir.
  5. Lower heat to medium-low. Add softened cream cheese and sour cream to the skillet. Stir gently to melt and combine with the veggies. Slowly pour in chicken broth, stirring constantly until sauce is smooth and creamy. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
  6. Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Add drained pasta and toss to coat evenly with the creamy fajita sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to heat through.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or extra fajita seasoning if desired. Sprinkle chopped cilantro on top and serve with lime wedges.

Notes

If sauce starts to separate, lower heat and add a splash more broth or sour cream. Avoid overcrowding skillet when cooking chicken; cook in batches if needed. Rest cream cheese at room temperature for smoother sauce. Frozen bell peppers can be used if fresh are unavailable. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or spiralized zucchini. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and sour cream with plant-based alternatives.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken fajita pasta, creamy pasta, skillet dinner, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, fajita seasoning, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/creamy-skillet-chicken-fajita-pasta-recipe-easy-30-minute-dinner/