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close-up of a bowl of chicken fajita pasta
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5 from 4 votes

Chicken Fajita Pasta

This creamy chicken fajita pasta recipe uses cooked chicken to make a tasty family meal in about 30 minutes! 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken fajita pasta
Servings: 4
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion sliced or chopped
  • 2 bell peppers (assorted colors) sliced or chopped
  • 1 (10 fluid ounce) can Ro-tel diced tomatoes & green chilies with juices
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 (1 ounce) packet Old El Paso Fajita Seasoning see note
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese
  • 1.5 cups cooked chicken (rotisserie works)
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Take the cream cheese out of the fridge at least 30 minutes prior to starting the recipe so it has a chance to soften up. You can also microwave it for 20 seconds or so.
  • Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.
  • Meanwhile, add the oil to a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion and peppers for about 5 minutes, stirring fairly often. I like the veggies tender-crisp, but you can cook them for a bit longer if you wish.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the Rotel, chicken broth, fajita seasoning, and cream cheese. The cornstarch in the fajita seasoning will thicken the sauce quickly (see note). Stir until the cream cheese has dissolved.
  • Add the cooked chicken in and let it warm through. If the sauce gets too thick, you can always thin it it out with some of the hot pasta water prior to draining it. Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Season with salt & pepper if needed and serve immediately.

Notes

  • The fajita mix I used contains cornstarch, which helps thicken up the sauce. If your fajita mix doesn't contain any cornstarch or you're using individual spices, I would add in 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch (make a slurry with 1 teaspoon water) to get a similar consistency OR drain the Rotel and cook it for a bit longer so the sauce reduces more. 
  • Philadelphia cream cheese has a handy measuring guide right in the box it comes in so you can easily measure the 1/4 cup.
  • Original Rotel can be quite spicy, so use mild if needed.
  • Use low sodium chicken broth if sensitive to salt.