Chicken Fajitas
775 Comments
Aug 21, 2024
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Chicken fajitas are a classic Mexican recipe and a personal favorite for an easy, healthy, and flavorful weeknight meal. Juicy chicken breasts are seasoned and seared, then tossed with vibrant vegetables, and finished with a punch of fresh lime juice. And while this is the perfect meal wrapped with tortillas and toppings, I’ve got a few more tasty serving ideas below!
Why Everyone Raves About These Chicken Fajitas
Chicken fajitas are hands-down the item I order most frequently at Mexican restaurants (besides guacamole, of course). There’s just something about the sizzling skillet being brought to the table that gets my taste buds excited! And the good news is that it’s incredibly easy to recreate this fabulous dinner at home. It’s also a fun crowd-pleaser for Taco Tuesday or when I’m hosting a dinner party. But here are a few other things to love about this recipe:
- The homemade fajita seasoning is unmatched. The simple blend of bold spices really elevates the flavor of the dish. I often make a double batch of the fajita seasoning to keep on hand.
- It’s made in less than 30 minutes. From start to finish, it takes very little time to create juicy chicken, tender veggies, and an all-around satisfying meal. That’s why it’s a favorite for easy weeknight dinners.
- It’s great for meal prep. You can store any leftover fajitas in the fridge to enjoy for several days or top the sliced chicken and veggies on salad greens for a lighter lunch.
- You can switch up the proteins. While chicken fajitas are my go-to, I often switch up this recipe and make shrimp fajitas or steak fajitas. Essentially, I’ll happily eat all the different types of fajitas.
Chicken Fajita Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: I’m using boneless skinless chicken breasts. But you could also use chicken thighs for an even juicier option.
- Vegetables: Sliced onion and bell peppers make for a bright and tasty fajita dish. I like to use red, yellow, and green bell peppers for lots of color, but you can choose any color of bell peppers.
- Lime: Grab a fresh lime to squeeze on top at the end. The punch of acidity really makes the dish.
- Fajita seasoning: Skip the pre-made seasoning packets because nothing compares to the flavor of homemade seasonings. Plus, you’ll avoid any unnecessary fillers and additives. You just need a combination of chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Taco additions: A few essentials I love to prepare are my cassava flour tortillas, sour cream, pico de Gallo, and sliced avocados. But I’ll talk through more serving ideas below.
Is it better to use a fajita seasoning or marinade? Both are great options! I have a chicken fajita marinade (from my list of chicken marinades) that can be used for this recipe with delicious results. But the dry rub fajita seasoning flavors the chicken perfectly for an equally delicious and super quick meal.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make Chicken Fajitas
Season the chicken. Generously sprinkle the fajita seasoning on both sides of the chicken and use your fingers to press it in.
Sear the chicken. Lightly coat your skillet with oil and sear the chicken breasts on each side for 7 to 8 minutes. Then remove them from the pan and let them rest for a few minutes before slicing them into strips.
Saute the bell peppers and onion. While the chicken is cooking, slice the bell peppers and onions. Then saute them in the same skillet for a few minutes until caramelized. You’re essentially making fajita veggies!
Mix everything and serve. Slice the chicken into thin strips and add them back into the skillet. You can also slice those strips in half again if they’re too thick. Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice on top, and stir everything together before serving.
Ways To Serve Chicken Fajitas
- Make chicken fajita tacos or wraps: This is my favorite way to serve them! Grab a fresh batch of tortillas and prep a few toppings such as sliced avocados or guacamole, red salsa or pico de gallo, sour cream, and chopped cilantro.
- Go light with lettuce wraps. Instead of using tortillas, use butter lettuce to make a lettuce wrap! Then add your favorite taco toppings.
- Make a fajita rice bowl: Make my cilantro lime rice or Mexican rice for a super delicious rice bowl. Then add black beans, sweet corn, cotija cheese, and a drizzle of lime crema or chipotle sauce on top for a flavorful touch.
Common Questions
When it comes to cooking the chicken, a cast iron skillet is ideal for searing. It gives a nice char and maximizes the flavors from the seasoning. Just make sure to season your cast iron properly to prevent sticking. But if you don’t own a cast iron pan, a stainless steel pan will work.
Fajitas are typically cooked in a skillet, but you are more than welcome to grill the chicken! You’ll get a nice smoky flavor, enhancing all those delicious Mexican spices.
Definitely! This is another great way to ensure the seasoning coats all sides of the chicken before it’s thrown onto the skillet. But again, it’s not necessary.
Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 4 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just thaw it in the refrigerator the night before, then quickly reheat it in the microwave.
More Easy Mexican Recipes
- Carne Asada: Made with the best marinade for carne asada tacos.
- Birria: Turn this into crispy, cheesy birria tacos.
- Carnitas: A pork lover’s dream.
- Taco soup: Enjoy the best taco flavors in one hearty soup.
- Shrimp Tacos: Paired with a tasty cilantro bacon slaw.
- Huevos Rancheros: The best kind of savory Mexican breakfast.
- Or enjoy these other delicious Mexican recipes!
If you make this chicken fajitas recipe, I’d love to know how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more food inspiration (and exclusive content), join my free newsletter.
Chicken Fajitas – Easy & Flavorful!
Description
Video
Equipment
- Staub Cast Iron Fry Pan My favorite cast iron fry pan for stovetop dishes!
- Zwilling Chef's Knife This is the knife I use in my everyday cooking.
Ingredients
Chicken Fajitas
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 3 bell peppers , thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ lime
Fajita Seasoning
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For Serving
- tortillas
- sour cream
- pico de gallo
- avocado
Instructions
- Make fajita seasoning. Add the fajita seasoning ingredients to a small mixing bowl and stir together.
- Season the chicken. Generously sprinkle the fajita seasoning on both sides of the chicken and use your fingers to press it into the chicken.
- Cook the chicken. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts for about 7 to 8 minutes on each side.
- Slice the veggies. While your chicken is cooking, cut the bell peppers and onion into thin slices.
- Cook the veggies. Once the chicken has finished cooking, remove it to a plate and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Add the bell peppers and onion to the same skillet over medium heat and saute for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Slice the chicken. When the bell peppers are just about done sauteing, slice the chicken breasts into strips. You can slice those pieces in half again for thinner strips of chicken.
- Mix and serve. Add the chicken back into the skillet, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice and stir everything together. Serve immediately with tortillas and extra toppings such as sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole.
Lisa’s Tips
- If you’re unsure if your chicken is cooked through, use an instant-read thermometer to see if the internal temperature is 165°F. And since you’ll be letting the chicken rest while cooking the veggies, I recommend taking it out of the pan at around 160°F, as there will be carry-over cooking.
- If you want extra flavoring on your chicken, use my fajita marinade from this chicken marinade post! Plus, these can be frozen and used at a later time.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally posted February 2020, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
Made these fajitas this evening and they were delicious! I filled the recipe to the T but added a few jalapeños on my tortilla. The extra kick made this dish a new staple! Thank you for the easy to follow video as well!
Yay! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed this chicken fajitas recipe, Michele.
Thank you for the recipe for the fajita seasoning. I used it to season the chicken breast I am chopping up to go on a taco bar for a happily ever after party.
What a fun idea for a taco bar! I’m glad this fajita seasoning worked wonders.
Great flavor , could use a lil bit more heat I may throw in a pinch of cayenne pepper the next time I make it. But will make again . Perfect flavor for kids who are being introduced to fajitas
More heat is always welcome in this chicken fajitas recipe! But, I’m glad the kiddos loved it.
I plan to make the fajitas tomorrow. Hope you can advise on the weight of one chicken breast. The chicken breast I buy are precleaned and pkged. They are so very large and seems like this recipe would take a smaller one.
Thank you.
Rochelle
Hi Rochelle – I believe my chicken breasts are about 7-ounces each in this recipe. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much. You were just in the nick of time. I was preparing to coat the breast with the spices. This sounds so good and healthy. I can’t wait to have it with our football game.
Our family really enjoyed this. It was quick and easy with lots of flavor. I think the spice mixture is what makes this recipe. I used all of it by sprinkling what I had left on top once I added the sliced chicken back in with the. Envies and sautéed a little bit. I added some sliced tomato with the chicken as well just because I had to use it up. Otherwise followed the recipe. Thank you for a great recipe!
Thanks Shawn! Happy to hear your family loved these chicken fajitas. And yes, it’s all about that spice blend. ;)
Thank you for sharing your recipe. It is very good. Even my grandkids loved it minus the veggies lol.
That’s great to hear, Wendy! I hope you and your family love this chicken fajitas recipe to come.
Hey Lisa the fajita recipe was so easy and delicious to make I used orange and black pepper spice in mine. Needless to say there were no leftovers thank you so very much.
Thrilled to hear you loved this chicken fajitas recipe John!
OK this looks amazing, cooking this tonight,following instructions totally!! I’m sure it will be loved!!!!! Thanks
Be sure to report back with how it turned out, Linda!
It looks amazing but I am just wondering how many calories are in it. I am aware it says 140kcal but converted to calories that is 140,000 calories so I am just a bit confused.
140kcal is equivalent to 140 calories :)
Easy, delicious and healthy — my 3 favorite recipe qualities! My husband and I loved these and will add to our rotation list — yum!
Happy you and your husband loved them, Jane! And yes, easy, delicious, and healthy is sort of my motto. Haha. Enjoy!
Great recipe!
Thank you
Lynn
For a recipe like this for a long time, look So Good.
With our schedule on the go we need these quick recipes thank you for sharing 😄
Hope you enjoy this chicken fajitas recipe Juan!
Delicious! I used the portions of spices as shown … for one (1) chicken breast, halved longwise. Perfect.
Glad this chicken fajitas recipe worked out great and you were able to tweak the serving and ingredient amount!
This was an easy recipe to pull together. I cut the chicken breasts into strips first so all sides were coated with the spices and they cooked up faster. For our family it needed more spice so adding more of that mixture or using salsa to serve would have been more to our liking, but that’s personal preference. Thanks for the easy, delicious recipe.
Yes, spice level is always a personal preference. But it’s certainly easy to add a little bit more. Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Excellent, wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m a “Cheat” and proud of it. I got the chicken breasts and sliced them into bite size pieces, tossed them in a Zip Lock Bag and smothered them with the Fajita Seasoning and let the sit in the refrigerator overnight. Then I went to the market to buy the bell peppers and onion. It was then I found a package of prewashed, pre sliced Bell Peppers, red, green and yellow AND red onion. I decided to go that route. And like the last time I made Chicken Fajitas, following your instructions, they came out just as delicious. I guess it’s the end result that counts, right?
Nothing wrong with a bit of prep work done! Glad you enjoyed this fajita recipe :)
The best fajitas recipe!!! Family loves it!
Happy you love it!
This fajita recipe was great! I also did a can of refried beans, on the side, which made it even better. The Pico de gallo was awesome, and my husband loved the whole meal. Super easy, healthy, and not expensive! I used 2 large chicken breasts, cut in half, and the seasoning was enough for that, but needed a little extra cook time. Overall, very thankful to have found this recipe!
So happy you and your husband loved the chicken fajitas, Rebecca! And you can’t go wrong with some beans on the side.
How many lbs of chicken breast do you use?
My chicken breasts are typically around 6oz each.
— Love It! This is a great get together meal when placed into a wrap —
Best chicken fajitas ever, I always place it into a wrap together with some pico de gallo and oregano-salt mixed avocado + some hungarian “tejföl – garlic” mix.
Glad you’re loving this chicken fajitas recipe in a wrap form!
This recipe is soooo good! I feel like I’m connected to my culture when I make it. Definitely recommend!
Happy to hear this dish makes you feel more connected in a good way!
Valeria your name is very pretty..
We really enjoyed the chicken fajitas. I did cut back on the cumin. My husband is a little picky about that. I added 1 tsp. instead of 1/2 Tbs. It was just right for him. The blend of spices was so good. We will definitely make this again. Thank for sharing!
Glad you were able to tweak this to your liking! :)
The best recipe I’ve found! Even better than the packets in the store. Super easy preparation and turned out great! Printed and saved this recipe. Will def make again!!
Yay, I’m happy you loved these chicken fajitas, Stephanie!
Granddaughter requested fajitas. She had them at a restaurant. I have never had them. Found and used your recipe. Liked how simple it was. She said yours was better than the restaurant. I found I needed to add a bit more spices to mine. I do not like “hot” but I do love spices. Thank you for sharing your recipe
I’m glad you and your granddaughter both loved these chicken fajitas!
Making this tonight! All ingredients already prepped and ready for the skillet!
Hope your chicken fajitas turned out great!
Quick easy low carb meal that gets the veggies in all in a single skillet. Great combination of spices that taste like a day in the kitchen when it’s only minutes!
The homemade fajita seasoning really makes this recipe!
Ok, I’ve got to say this…. ever since discovering your recipe last year, it has been a hit in my house. My husband LOVES it and requests it every so often. Tears of joy fall down the side of his face when he hears that we’re having chicken fajitas that night and while he eats 70% off the skillet on his own.
This recipe is a must and a go-to!
I love that Jacqueline! Happy to hear this recipe has become a favorite now for both you and your husband.
This is delicious!! Easy to make and highly recommended. The spice mixture would work well with chicken breasts in other recipes, too.
Definitely save the fajita seasoning for so many other meals!
So so good and such a crowd pleaser. This has become a regular dish in our household. The only thing I did differently was salt the bell peppers and onions when they’re being sautéed. There’s not enough seasoning on the skillet, and there’s not a ton that gets transferred from the chicken when you mix the chicken back in with the veggies.
You can always add more seasoning to your liking :)
Came across this recipe and video and what a find it is. Going to prepare this for dinner tonight and there is no doubt it will be good,
Presentation was very will done….thanks.
Hope you enjoy it!
I was in a pinch when friends dropped by. (Love them and happy to have them anytime) Anyways, I had a Costco cooked chicken, peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, and all the fixings. Was a total of 15 mins and we all had a great snack.
Happy you and your friends enjoyed the chicken fajitas!
Easy and delicious recipe
my husband and kids love it
Hello! I am a new fan of yours. I found you by searching for healthy meal prep ideas. I am Mom to three and Grandma to three. My husband and I are loving your website and cookbook! We just made this dish tonight. It’s so good! Just the right spices. Thank you for all you do. God Bless.
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I’m happy you love my recipes and cookbook. :) x
Delicious!!!!
Glad you enjoyed this chicken fajitas recipe!
Such an easy recipe and very tasty. Best of all it’s quick to prepare
Glad you’re loving this chicken fajitas!
Good but lacked flavor Chicken may be better be marinated in spices. Will try again but double the spices and soak the chicken.
Loved it! I cut the chicken up beforehand but otherwise followed the recipe to a tee. Yummy! ☺️
Happy you loved the recipe, Lori!
Watched video….then had to make. Made a batch for hubby with seasonings, then made small batch for ME, without any spices. Both So YUMMY !!! My new fave. So easy!
Glad this recipe was a win, Susan!
Easy to make and delicious!!!
Glad you enjoyed this chicken fajitas recipe, Javier!
I’ve never made fajitas before and these were fantastic. Just as good as what we typically get at our local restaurant! I made it exactly as directed except I just sprinkled bottled lime juice on top (that’s all we had on hand) and made it in our big electric skillet as I don’t own a cast iron skillet. Perfect!
Thanks for leaving a review and glad you enjoyed this recipe!
This recipe was simple and wonderful. Perfect blend of spices (I used extra) and cast iron was a huge plus for cooking. Will definitely make again. Even my college age son asked that I send him the recipe to make for his house mates!
Thanks for leaving a review! I hope your son and his house mates enjoy this recipe as well :)
The recipe is delish 😋. I baked the recipe in the oven on parchment paper. I like baked rather than fried. I also cut the chicken into strips with the peppers and onions and tossed the seasoning over everything before baking.
Glad this worked out great with your seasoning!
This recepie is something my kids just adore :). I just did the veggie version with zucchini and bean and peppers. I put all the spices on veggies. When it’s done, put in tortilla with lettuce and sprinkle od soft cheese…. heaven :)
Happy to hear you and the kiddos are loving this chicken fajitas recipe Kristina!
I don’t normally leave ratings however, this recipe will be a staple in our household. It’s simple yet bold and authentic tasting. The cast iron suggestion is a must. My chicken breast came out so juicy and tender! Using the perfect herbs and spices rubbed in and the high heat from the skillet with olive oil 7-8 minutes on each side was key. Resting the meat is important. The ‘rest’ fell into place. The whole family table was oohing and aahing the whole time. Thank you for this recipe.
I’m so thrilled you loved it!
This was soooooo delicious. I followed the recipe as is and watched your video. This is by far the best chicken fajita recipe I ever made. It’s even better than what I’ve had in restaurants. It’s is so flavorful and the extra freshness of the lime, took it over the top! Please add me to your mailing list. I don’t want to miss any of your new recipes. Thank you so much! This is a winner and a keeper!
Thanks so much, Merri! I’m happy you loved the recipe. And for my mailing list, make sure to sign up using the button at the top of my website. :)
This was incredible! I made it vegan using a soy based chick’n (Daring is my fave). I also added zucchini, squash, and mushrooms.
Love all the additional vegetables!
I used chicken tenders, not on purpose but husband bought wrong chicken. It really good and well seasoned so probably would do it again. Everyone loved it!
Glad this still turned out great with chicken tenders!
Love this, super easy and I end up making it about 1X a week for easy, tasty dinners. My kids love them…
Happy to hear the whole family is loving this recipe :)
Yummy
These were so incredibly flavorful! My family loved them. I did substitute chicken thigh instead of breasts because I am not a dry meat fan haha but they turned out absolutely delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Made these for cinco de Mayo and they were so simple, easy and delicious! Probably the easiest and most delicious fajitas recipe I have ever tried which is so nice! Definitely will be making again!
Awesome! So happy you loved the recipe, Jessica. :)