Chicken Fajitas with little strips of chicken, charred onions, and bell peppers, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. This is how to make an authentic chicken fajita recipe using homemade fajita seasoning. Fajitas are so easy to make for a simple one-pan meal in under 20 minutes!
I love an easy chicken recipe whether it’s grilled, made in the crockpot, or my secret marinade to tender chicken! This fajita recipe is sure a treat to a restaurant-quality dish! For more restaurant-style recipes try our Alice Springs Chicken (Outback Copycat), Chipotle Guacamole Recipe, and Shrimp Dip (Unos Copycat).
What is a Fajita?
What are fajitas? Fajitas (meaning little strips in Spanish) is a Mexican dish made with sliced chicken or beef, charred bell pepper strips, onions, and cheese served in a warm flour tortilla and often times a sour cream topping on the side. This simple combination gets all its flavors from the fajita seasoning which is so easy to make! Steak fajitas are usually marinated first then seasoned and cooked. A chicken fajitas recipe will cook faster than some other meats like pork.
Top Fajita Veggies:
The most popular fajita vegetables are bell peppers and onion. We have tested that the vegetables in fajitas are best with a balanced ratio of chicken to peppers meaning they shouldn’t overpower the meat in this Mexican dish. Another popular restaurant twist to a chicken fajita is to add sauteed mushrooms, smothered melted cheese, and bacon. We like crisp white onions which are mild in flavor and not as sweet flavored when sauteed. However, use any everyday onion of choice.
Best Fajita Seasoning:
The best chicken fajita seasoning is obviously homemade but if we have to go with store-bought fajita mix our first choice would be the McCormick fajita seasoning packet. Our fajita seasoning recipe was to replicate all those fajita spices in the store-bought seasoning packet so, be sure to give it a try (it won’t disappoint!) Here are all the spices if you want to make ahead the mix;
- Salt
- Paprika
- Chili powder
- Cayenne pepper (won’t be too spicy)
- Ground Cumin
- Coriander
- Turmeric
- Ground ginger
- Corn starch
- Citric acid to give that tang
Enhance the flavoring: I will squeeze fresh lime into the skillet when cooking fajitas. Dried oregano can be added for an aromatic flavor however since chili powder sometimes consists of this savory spice, I left it out.
Best Meat for Fajitas?
Chicken breast is the meat of choice for making fajitas. It’s the quickest meat to cook up for fajitas and doesn’t require that you, marinate the meat like you would for steak. Another option for fajita meat is chicken thighs however, fajitas recipes can be made with shrimp, beef, grilled chicken, or veggies (vegetarian option.) Easy chicken fajitas come together fast!
What Kind of Cookware is Best for Fajitas?
Wondering how to cook fajita meat and veggies? Use a cast-iron skillet to make sizzling fajitas and to create a charred look. You can cook fajitas in any large pan or skillet, however, if using a grill or griddle leave the chicken breast whole. I love this one-pan skillet dinner because it’s the fastest way to get dinner on the table without the hassle of preheating an oven for a casserole or sheet pan or using bulky equipment like an instant pot or crockpot.
Fajitas Ingredients:
Once you make our recipe for fajita seasoning you will need all the basic ingredients. Use white corn tortillas as a gluten-free option to flour tortillas and add any fajita toppings of choice to accommodate your vegetables like sour cream, shredded cheese, lettuce, salsa, guacamole, Pico De Gallo, and Jalapeno Ranch Sauce. For a hearty meal prepare beans and rice on the side. Here is what goes in fajitas;
- Tortillas: you will need about 10 small fajita-style flour tortillas for two pounds of chicken.
- Chicken: skinless and boneless chicken breasts, is what I used to cut the chicken into strips.
- Vegetables: I like to use half of the red and green bell pepper, which is plenty for this dish combined with onion.
- Fresh Lime: the fajita seasoning packet uses lime powder which I substitute by squeezing fresh lime into the skillet. This gives a pungent flavor and zest!
- Water: will moisten the chicken and deglaze all the flavored tidbits from the skillet.
How To Make Fajitas:
If you are wondering how to make a fajita it’s super simple. There is no one particular way to cook fajitas. Many cut strips first whereas others leave the chicken whole and then slice after cooking. This fajita chicken recipe is so basic and is as simple as it gets!
- Cut the fajita peppers and onion into strips.
- Saute the vegetables over high heat to get a char and remove
- Cook the chicken with the fajita seasoning in the same skillet until partly cooked through
- Add the lime juice and water and finish cooking
- Evenly divide chicken and vegetables into warm tortillas and wrap in your favorite fajita toppings!
Note: chicken fajitas don’t need to marinade if cooking strips and using the homemade fajita seasonings. Chicken breast is cooked when the chicken strips reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
What To Serve With Fajitas:
We love to plate our fajitas with simple sour cream and Mexican cheese! There are so many sides to serve with fajita chicken including fresh salsa, guacamole, limes, Creamy Jalapeño Sauce, avocado slices, and refried beans with Mexican rice. Here are some more side dishes for fajitas;
- Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
- Ranch Dressing
- Homemade Flour Tortillas
- Spicy Chipotle Southwest Sauce
- How To Cook Black Beans in the Slow Cooker
Wondering how to cut fajita onions? The key to a perfectly charred onion is to use white onions. Peel the skins off the bulb and cut the onion in half using a sharp knife. Leave the root intact so the layers don’t slide. Cut in either direction to make strips. Pro-Tip: freshly cut onions can irritate the eye and cause tears, wear goggles or chill your onions to minimize the gas released from the onion. The two spice mixes have similar seasonings in common however, taco seasoning is mainly made of chili powder. Whereas, fajita seasoning has more cumin and sour citric flavors. Both mixes are mild in flavor unless labeled hot. Fajitas de Pollo simply means chicken fajitas in Spanish. Fajita filling can keep up to 4 days in the fridge, inside an air-tight food container. I do not recommend wrapping the filling with tortillas as leftovers can make the tortillas soggy. Furthermore, keep the filling separate from the toppings or tortillas, and if they are already assembled they will still keep fine for 1-2 days. Prepare all the fajita ingredients as directed, only do not assemble them into tortillas. Place the chicken and bell peppers into a crock pot insert and keep refrigerated. Two hours before serving set the slow cooker to low and heat. When ready to serve warm the tortillas, and assemble hot filling into the tortillas to make fajita tacos. Serve with all the chicken fajita fixings. FAQ
How To Cut Onions For Fajitas?
Difference between Taco and Fajita Seasoning?
What Does Fajitas De Pollo Mean?
Storing Fajitas:
To Make-Ahead:
Fajitas Tips:
- Our Homemade fajita seasoning mix is enough to season 2 pounds of poultry or meat.
- Fajita seasoning can be used on meat, seafood, veggies, or poultry. Cook in the oven, skillet, or grill.
- Turn this recipe into a fajita salad by using leafy greens, and favorite salad toppings.
- Use any taco toppings for fajitas.
- To make sizzling fajitas pre-heat your cast iron pan in a 500°F oven. Place fajita filling into the skillet and drizzle the edges with oil to create a sizzling effect.
- Skip the carbs and use a white corn tortilla for keto and Gluten-free options.
- Opt for a healthy sprouted wheat tortilla and roast your meat and veggies in the oven for a healthier take on fajitas.
- Leftovers? Mix fajita filling into pasta for a quick meal.
- Homemade fajitas are best-served sizzling from the skillet, however, I like to serve mine assembled on a tray for a grab-and-go meal.
- The best fajita recipe is made simple in one pan to cut on time and you don’t need any fancy equipment to make some.
More Mexican Recipes To Try:
From a hot bowl of soup to more Mexican-inspired dishes there is a recipe for you to make including a taco seasoning mix! Mexican fajitas aren’t the only food to make, try these tasty recipes!
How To Make Chicken Fajitas:
Chicken Fajitas
Equipment
- 1 12-inch cast-iron skillet or pan
- 1 cutting board (to cut meat and vegetables into strips)
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken breast (cut into 1/2-inch strips)
- 2 Tbsp oil (divided)
- 1 medium onion (cut into strips)
- 1/2 green bell pepper (cut into strips)
- 1/2 red bell pepper (cut into strips)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 10 flour tortillas (6-inch), warmed
Instructions
Directions:
Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add 1 Tbsp of oil and saute the vegetables for 2-3 minutes until charred. Remove from skillet.- In the same skillet add 1 Tbsp of oil, chicken strips, and Fajita Seasoning. Partially cook chicken for about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the water and lime juice and continue to cook until the chicken is done.
- Spoon into tortillas and serve with all your favorite fajita toppings.
Notes
- Our Fajita Seasoning Recipe makes 4 Tbsp of seasoning which is just enough for this portion of chicken fajitas.
