Description
Chicken Fajita Melts combine tender cooked chicken breast sautéed with colorful bell peppers and onions, seasoned with classic fajita spices, then layered with melted pepper jack cheese between buttery toasted bread slices. This quick and flavorful skillet sandwich makes a perfect weeknight meal or satisfying lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Fajita Filling
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, sliced or shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Assembly
- 1 1/2 cups shredded pepper jack or cheddar cheese
- 8 slices of bread (sourdough or sandwich bread)
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
Instructions
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced red and green bell peppers along with the sliced onion. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Add chicken and spices: Add the cooked chicken to the skillet with the vegetables. Sprinkle in chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to taste. Stir well to combine and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until everything is heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the bread: Butter one side of each slice of bread evenly using the softened butter. Place 4 slices of bread butter-side-down on a clean work surface to prepare for assembling the sandwiches.
- Assemble the sandwiches: On each unbuttered side of the bread slices placed down, add a layer of shredded cheese, then a generous scoop of the chicken fajita mixture, followed by another layer of cheese. Top each with a remaining slice of bread, butter-side-up.
- Cook the sandwiches: Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place the sandwiches onto the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Press down slightly with a spatula to help the cheese melt evenly and to achieve a golden-brown crust. Flip carefully and cook the other side until golden and the cheese inside is melted.
- Serve: Remove the sandwiches from the skillet, slice each in half if desired, and serve warm. Optionally, garnish with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for added flavor.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken breast from leftovers or rotisserie chicken to speed up preparation.
- For extra heat, add sliced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the filling.
- Choose a sturdy bread like sourdough to prevent sogginess and hold the filling well.
- Butter the bread evenly for a crispy, golden crust when toasted in the skillet.
- Serve with your favorite Mexican-style sides like guacamole or salsa for an enhanced meal experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
