Sharing one of my favorite chicken fajita pasta today! My Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta is the perfect quick fix dinner idea for those crazy busy nights full of peppers, chicken and cheese!
Chicken Fajita Pasta
This is one of our very favorite chicken pasta recipes! We love this flavor packed pasta that is so simple to make! Enjoy! I developed a quick and simple chicken pasta full of colors and flavor that the whole family will love. I call it my Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta. 30 minutes is what it takes to get this meal to the table. Save yourself some time by picking up a pre-chopped bag of fajita vegetables at your grocery store and use a rotisserie chicken. Enjoy friends.
Try my Chicken Caprese Pasta Bake too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration!
What You’ll Need
- small pasta – Any small pasta works great here. Rotini, Penne, Shell…choose your favorite.
- milk– 2% works best for the recipe. Avoid skim milk.
- packet of Ranch Dressing Mix– Find Ranch Dressing dry mix in the salad dressing section of the grocery store.
- cream cheese– Use full fat cream cheese for the recipe for best results.
- extra virgin olive oil– You’ll use olive oil to saute the vegetables.
- fajita vegetables such as peppers and onions– Often times you can find fajita vegetables already packaged in the produce section of the grocery store near the bagged vegetables.
- rotisserie chicken breast– Rotisserie chicken pieces work great here. Flavorful and quick to use.
- kosher salt – Kosher salt is a coarse salt commonly used in cooking and baking.
- freshly ground black pepper– For best tasting results use freshly cracked black pepper.
How To Make Chicken Fajita Pasta
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Heat milk and Ranch seasoning in a large dutch oven or pan over medium-low heat stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until hot.
- Slowly stir in whipped cream cheese into milk until melted and combined. Stir in cooked pasta.
- Heat oil into a medium skillet over medium heat. Saute fajita vegetables for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir into pasta along with your cooked shredded chicken. Heat and stir for a few minutes until hot. Season with a touch of salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Add your Ranch seasoning to the milk along with 8 ounces of softened cream cheese that you beat until whipped. Stir into the milk until smooth.Add the cooked pasta back to the pot.
Add the cooked shredded chicken. I use shredded rotisserie chicken for most of my weekday meals. Saves lots of time.
Saute about 2 cups of chopped fajita vegetables. You can usually find a package in the produce area of your grocery store.
Once those veggies are softened, add them right back to the pot and give a good stir. Quick and simple dinner!
How To Serve Fajita Pasta
Serve pasta with a nice Caesar Salad and crusty bread if desired. This meal can be enjoyed on its own as well.
How To Store Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat as needed.
Recipe Tips For Success
- Be sure to watch your pasta cook time, check it a couple minutes before suggested cook time. Mushy pasta ruins the whole dish.
- Use vegetables in your refrigerator that need using up. Many options aside from fajita veggies. Broccoli, zucchini, butternut squash cubes would be delicious too.
- Pick up a rotisserie chicken at the beginning of the week and use the shredded meat for quick fix dinner ideas.
Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta
Equipment
- Stove
- Dutch Oven or large pot
- strainer for pasta
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound small dry pasta
- 2 cups milk
- 1 packet dry Ranch Dressing Mix
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened and beaten until smooth
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups chopped fajita vegetables onions and colorful peppers, usually comes pre-chopped in the produce area of your grocery store
- 2 medium chicken breasts cooked and shredded (I used a rotisserie chicken)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Heat milk and Ranch seasoning in a large dutch oven or pan over medium-low heat stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until hot.
- Slowly stir in whipped cream cheese into milk until melted and combined. Stir in cooked pasta.
- Heat oil into a medium skillet over medium heat. Saute fajita vegetables for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir into pasta along with your cooked shredded chicken. Heat and stir for a few minutes until hot. Season with a touch of salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Never, I mean never, would I have dreamed that my pickiest eater would even eat this. Much to my surprise, she ate two bowls full and said that I could make it again! WINNING!!! Thank you so much! Super yummy, quick and easy! ❤️
Yum! So easy too!
This sounds really nice. Always looking for new recipes to try. Thanks for sharing.
Simon
Loving all of those gorgeous bright veggies in there!!
Unfortuantely fajita veggies won’t fly in my house, ever tried it with any other veggies? frozen peas? also is this good cold too or just warm?
Ohhh eiiii!! Ranchy fajita pasta? From your kitchen to my tummy – it’s grumbling!!
Love the fajita veggies in a pasta!
Fajita vegetables are a great addition to pasta!
looks easy and delicious! the best combo 🙂
This looks soon great Jenny!
Oh so creamy and delicious!! I love that you made this into pasta-form!!
Thank you for the nice recipe.
This looks like the perfect pasta for any backyard barbecue! Love the flavors!
Looks so delicious!!!! Will try it.