Low-Point Fajita Chicken Breasts Casserole
Servings: 6
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
- Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced chicken breasts and cook until they are no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the sliced onion and bell peppers. Cook until they are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir to combine with the vegetables and spices.
- Transfer the chicken and vegetable mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the salsa evenly over the top.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the salsa.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired before serving.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 225
- Total Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sodium: 480mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 9g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugars: 4g
- Protein: 29g
Note: Nutritional values may vary depending on the specific ingredients used.
Here’s a breakdown of the points for each ingredient:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 pound) – The points will depend on the specific nutritional values for the chicken breasts. Generally, skinless, boneless chicken breasts are low in SmartPoints. Let’s estimate it at 0 points for 1 pound.
Olive oil (1 tablespoon) – 1 tablespoon of olive oil typically equates to around 4 SmartPoints.
Onion (1 medium) – Onions are generally low in SmartPoints, so let’s estimate it at 0 points.
Red bell pepper (1 medium) – Again, bell peppers are low in SmartPoints, so let’s estimate it at 0 points.
Green bell pepper (1 medium) – Estimated at 0 points.
Garlic (2 cloves) – Garlic is typically very low in SmartPoints, so let’s estimate it at 0 points.
Chili powder (1 tablespoon) – Spices like chili powder are usually 0 points.
Cumin (1 teaspoon) – Estimated at 0 points.
Paprika (1 teaspoon) – Estimated at 0 points.
Oregano (1 teaspoon) – Estimated at 0 points.
Salt and pepper – If used in moderation, salt and pepper are 0 points.
Salsa (1 cup) – The points for salsa can vary depending on the brand and ingredients. Let’s estimate it at around 1-2 SmartPoints for 1 cup.
Low-fat shredded cheese (1/2 cup) – The points for cheese will depend on its fat content and other nutritional values. Let’s estimate it at around 4-6 SmartPoints for 1/2 cup of low-fat shredded cheese.
Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional) – Cilantro is very low in calories and would likely be 0 points.
Now, let’s add up the estimated points:
Chicken breasts: 0 points
Olive oil: 4 points
Onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper: 0 points
Salsa: 1-2 points
Low-fat shredded cheese: 4-6 points
Fresh cilantro: 0 points
So, the total points for the ingredients would be around 5-12 SmartPoints, depending on the specific type of salsa and cheese used.