Baked Chicken Fajita Roll Ups (Printable)
Juicy chicken breasts stuffed with sautéed peppers, onion, and cheese, rolled up and baked with bold Tex-Mex spices.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lb)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
03 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Dairy
05 - 4.2 oz shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
→ Spices & Seasonings
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 tsp chili powder
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp cumin
10 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
11 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
→ Garnishes
14 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
15 - Lime wedges (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
02 - In a small bowl, combine chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir until evenly blended.
03 - Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to approximately 3/8 inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
04 - Drizzle the flattened chicken breasts with 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle half of the spice blend evenly over both sides of each piece.
05 - Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced bell peppers and red onion, sautéing for 3 to 4 minutes until just tender. Remove from heat and toss with the remaining spice blend.
06 - Lay each seasoned chicken breast flat. Distribute the sautéed pepper and onion mixture evenly across each breast, then sprinkle with shredded cheese.
07 - Tightly roll up each chicken breast and secure with toothpicks to hold their shape. Arrange seam side down in the prepared baking dish.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and juices run clear when pierced.
09 - Allow the roll ups to rest for 5 minutes. Remove toothpicks, slice into pinwheels, and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything you crave about fajitas gets tucked inside juicy chicken, so every single bite is loaded with flavor.
- Cleanup is remarkably easy since the baking dish does most of the work while you relax.
02 -
- Do not skip the toothpicks because unsecured rolls will unravel in the oven and make a mess.
- Letting the chicken rest before slicing keeps the melted cheese from spilling out onto the cutting board.
03 -
- Pound the chicken while it is slightly chilled because warm breasts tear easily and make rolling impossible.
- Do not overcook the vegetables during sauteing since they will soften further inside the oven inside the rolls.