Writer and expert4 years ago

Fajita chicken in a cheesy pasta bake is the crossover we all needed.

Not sure what to have for dinner? Watch this recipe from Niall Kirkland and you’ll have made your decision, trust us.

It’s a flavour sensation of juicy chicken with softened peppers and onions, all in a creamy yet tangy salsa sauce — topped off with plenty of melted cheese. Just thinking about it makes our mouths water.

What you waiting for?

Serves 5

Ingredients

1 tbsp. coconut oil
350g chicken thigh (cubed)
1 onion (finely sliced)
2 bell peppers (finely sliced)
½ pack fajita seasoning
350g rigatoni
100g salsa dip
100g light cream cheese
A small bunch of coriander (stems removed, finely chopped)
50g light cheddar
30g light mozzarella

Method

First, preheat the oven to 180°C/ 360°C.
Heat the coconut oil in a large pan and add your chicken thighs. Season well with salt & pepper and fry for 6-7 minutes, flipping once or twice, until they start to brown on the outside. Remove from pan and set aside.
Get your pasta on so it’s ready to add to the pan in ten minutes.
Now, add the onion and peppers to the pan and fry until soft, stirring regularly. Add the fajita seasoning and the cooked chicken back in, stir well and fry for 5 minutes.
Then, add your cooked pasta (make sure to drain it before), the salsa, and the cream cheese and mix thoroughly so everything is evenly combined.
Finally, add your chopped coriander and stir well before transferring to a large baking dish.
Top with your cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes until it starts to turn crispy.
Garnish with chopped spring onions and coriander, then dig in!

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Nutritional info per serving:

Calories	521
Total Fat	16g
Total Carbohydrates	62g
Protein	28g

Lauren Dawes

Writer and expert

Lauren is an English Literature graduate originally from the South. She’s always loved swimming, has discovered the power of weight training over the past few years, and has lots of room for improvement in her weekly hot yoga class. On the weekends she’s usually cooking or eating some kind of brunch, and she enjoys trying out new recipes with her housemates – especially since shaking off student habits, like mainly surviving off pasta. Above all, she’s a firm believer in keeping a balance between the gym and gin. Find out more about Lauren’s experience here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-dawes-b4416aaa/