Chicken fajitas are a popular Mexican dish made with marinated and grilled chicken strips, bell peppers, onions, and a variety of seasonings such as chili powder, cumin, garlic, and paprika. The dish is traditionally served with warm tortillas, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and salsa.
What can I use instead of chicken?
Fajitas are wonderfully flexible and versatile! To save on prep time, use chicken tenders. They are a tad larger than chicken breast strips, so be sure to add enough time to cook them through. Swap out the chicken for steak, tofu and even portobello mushrooms. Or skip the protein and bump up the veggies.
Recipe: How to Make Chicken Fajitas at Home
Here’s a simple recipe for making chicken fajitas at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 2 bell peppers, sliced into strips
- 1 onion, sliced into strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 flour tortillas
- Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Place the chicken strips in a large zip-top bag and add half of the spice mixture. Seal the bag and toss to coat the chicken evenly. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and peppers and the remaining spice mixture. Sauté the vegetables for 5-7 minutes, or until they are tender and slightly charred.
- Remove the vegetables from the skillet and set them aside. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and add the marinated chicken strips. Sauté the chicken for 5-7 minutes, or until it is cooked through and slightly charred.
- Warm the flour tortillas in the microwave or in a dry skillet over medium heat.
- Assemble the fajitas by placing the chicken and vegetables on the warmed tortillas. Add any desired toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, or salsa.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Note: You can also grill the chicken and vegetables instead of sautéing them in a skillet for a different flavor profile. Simply grill the chicken and vegetables until they are cooked through and slightly charred, then assemble the fajitas as directed.
What should I serve with fajitas?
These can make up a meal all on their own, but we never turn down a good side dish. Go classic with some Mexican rice and refried beans. You can always serve up some chips with fresh salsa and an easy guacamole too!
What’s the Difference Between Fajitas and Tacos ?
A taco is a tortilla filled with meat or another protein along with toppings, while fajita refers to the meat—originally skirt steak—and the tortillas and garnishes are served on the side.
How to Store and Freeze
- You may freeze fajita filling for longer storage. Put the fajitas in an airtight freezer container or zip-close freezer bag and freeze them for up to three months.
- Reheat defrosted fajitas in a lightly oiled skillet on the stovetop until hot.
- If you have leftover fajitas, transfer the cooled fajita filling to a shallow covered container and refrigerate for up to four days.
