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.