Fajita Inspired Chicken Stuffed Peppers Food

FAJITA-INSPIRED CHICKEN-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a 7-by-11-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Slice 1/2 inch from tops of peppers; remove and discard stems. Scoop out any ribs and seeds; chop the pepper tops and set aside. Place the peppers cut-side-down in the prepared dish. Bake until slightly tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, fajita seasoning and salt; cook, stirring often to crumble the chicken, until lightly browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat (do not wipe it out); add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add corn, onion and the chopped pepper tops; cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the vegetables to the chicken mixture. Add beans, rice, 1/2 cup cheese and half of the cilantro; stir to combine.
• Flip the peppers cut-side up. Divide the chicken mixture evenly among the peppers, mounding and pressing lightly to fill them. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
• Bake until the peppers are tender, the filling is hot and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining cilantro; serve with lime wedges, if desired.

HEALTHY CHICKEN FAJITA STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Combine the chicken, chili powder, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a large bowl and toss to coat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until it just begins to smoke. Add the chicken and cook, undisturbed, until it just starts to brown in spots, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 3 minutes more.
• Transfer the chicken and onion mixture to another large bowl and rinse and dry the skillet. Add the rice, 1/2 cup of the cheese, half the lime juice, 3/4 teaspoon salt and few grinds of pepper to the chicken and toss to combine. Divide the filling among the peppers.
• Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet, arrange the peppers on top and turn to high heat. When the oil starts to sizzle, about 2 minutes, transfer to the oven and bake until the filling is hot and the peppers are softened, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese over the peppers and bake until melted, about 3 minutes more.
• Drizzle the remaining lime juice over the peppers and top with the cilantro leaves. Serve with the sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo if desired.