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Home » Dinner » Best Chicken Fajitas Recipe

Published: February 5, 2020 Last Modified: February 5, 2020 By Sara 34 Comments

Best Chicken Fajitas Recipe

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Chicken Fajitas Recipe #chicken #fajitas #peppers #dinner #dinneratthezoo #lowcarb

These chicken fajitas contain zesty marinated chicken, peppers and onions, all cooked until caramelized and golden brown. An easy dinner option that tastes as good as what you’d get at a restaurant!

I make Mexican food at least once a week, my family always requests carnitas tacos, barbacoa beef, and these simple but totally flavorful chicken fajitas.

Chicken Fajitas Recipe #chicken #fajitas #peppers #dinner #dinneratthezoo #lowcarb Chicken Fajitas Recipe #chicken #fajitas #peppers #dinner #dinneratthezoo #lowcarb

A pan of chicken fajitas with peppers and onions, topped with sliced avocado and cilantro.

Whenever I go to my local Mexican restaurant, I order the chicken fajitas. I just can’t resist that tender chicken and veggies with all the fun toppings! My homemade version tastes totally authentic, and is great for feeding a crowd.

How do you make chicken fajitas?

This recipe starts with chicken breasts, which are sliced then soaked in a flavorful marinade. The marinade is a combination of lime juice, olive oil and plenty of spices. An assortment of peppers and onions are also coated in the same marinade. Place your marinated chicken and vegetables in a hot pan, then cook until chicken is done and vegetables are tender. Add a sprinkle of cilantro, then serve and enjoy.

Sliced chicken breast in a bowl.

Tips for the best fajitas

  • I like to use sliced chicken in this recipe, but you can also marinate whole chicken breasts. Cook the whole chicken breasts, then slice them and layer over the cooked peppers.
  • I like to use an assortment of bell peppers, it makes for a more festive presentation. You can use all of one color pepper if you prefer, or even try other varieties of pepper such as fresh Anaheim chiles.
  • You can saute, broil or grill your fajitas. The various cooking times and methods are outlined in the recipe below.

Chicken breasts and peppers in a bowl of marinade.

What do you serve with chicken fajitas?

When I make this dish I serve it with tortillas, pinto beans and rice, and a variety of toppings. You can use flour or corn tortillas, whichever you prefer. Watching your carbs? Skip the rice and tortillas and serve your chicken and vegetables over cauliflower rice. Some of my favorite toppings include shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, lettuce and olives. I typically put out bowls of all the different toppings and let everyone serve themselves to make their own creations.

Sliced chicken, peppers and onions coated in marinade.

Chicken fajita variations

  • Protein: Try using chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, or use a different type of protein such as flank steak, pork tenderloin, shrimp or fish.
  • Vegetables: Add more veggies to the mix such as mushrooms, zucchini, poblano peppers, tomatoes or corn.
  • Flavorings: You can add more flavors to the marinade such as hot sauce, dried oregano, minced canned chipotle peppers or fresh cilantro.

A plate of chicken fajitas with sliced avocado, tortillas and herbs.

These fajitas are a hit with both kids and adults alike. It’s the best way to get your favorite restaurant flavors without leaving the house!

More Mexican food favorites

  • Salsa Chicken
  • Black Beans and Rice
  • Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
  • Taco Soup
  • Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

Chicken Fajitas Video

A pan of chicken fajitas with peppers and onions, topped with sliced avocado and cilantro.
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5 from 31 votes

Chicken Fajitas

These chicken fajitas contain zesty marinated chicken, peppers and onions, all cooked until caramelized and golden brown. An easy dinner option that tastes as good as what you'd get at a restaurant!
Course Main
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Marinating Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 226kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the chicken

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

For the fajitas

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 3 bell peppers thinly sliced, can use red, orange, yellow or a combination of colors
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • tortillas, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, salsa etc for serving

Instructions

For the chicken

  • Place the 1/4 cup olive oil, lime juice, sugar, salt, cumin, garlic, water, smoked paprika, onion powder and chili powder in a gallon sized resealable bag or large bowl.
  • Whisk until thoroughly combined.
  • Add the chicken, onions and peppers to the marinade. Chill for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours.

For the fajitas

  • Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Add the chicken and pepper mixture. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
  • Season with salt to taste if desired.
  • Sprinkle cilantro over the fajitas, then serve with tortillas and toppings of your choice.

Notes

Grilled Fajitas: Preheat a grill or indoor grill pan to medium heat. Use a grilling basket if you're using an outdoor grill. Cook the chicken and vegetables for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Broiled Fajitas: Place the chicken, peppers and onions on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray. Broil for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 605mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2700IU | Vitamin C: 81.7mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2.6mg
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    Comments

    1. Felicia Thayer says

      September 19, 2020 at 8:39 pm

      5 stars
      These were absolutely delicious but I have never met chicken in my life that only take 6 minutes or even eight minutes to cook thoroughly unless it’s sliced extremely thin. Dumped everything in my cast iron skillet and cooked for 25 minutes stirring frequently. They came out perfect so flavorful!

      Reply
    2. Glenda Cook says

      August 25, 2020 at 10:08 am

      5 stars
      These fajitas are better than any restaurant fajitas. They are packed with flavor. I drained the mixture well before cooking in a preheated cast-iron skillet. Also used poblano peppers which I had on hand instead of bell peppers. This will be our go to fajita recipe. Thank you

      Reply
    3. Netty says

      August 11, 2020 at 2:08 am

      5 stars
      The best chicken Fajitas I’ve ever tasted they were delicious! Netty

      Reply
    4. Lisa says

      August 10, 2020 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      Best fajita recipe I have ever tried! I doubled everything & am glad I did! Followed the recipe exactly as written

      Reply
    5. Nancy Brennan says

      June 5, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      This was spot on purrfect! Best one that I have ever tried! Thanks you!

      Reply
    6. Yetty says

      May 13, 2020 at 9:11 pm

      5 stars
      Best recipe I’ve ever tried. It cane out better than any restaurant made fajita. 5 stars don’t do it justice. Thank you for posting. I’m going to try it he marinade on shrimp next time

      Reply
    7. Yetty says

      May 13, 2020 at 5:21 pm

      Can you make this recipe with shrimp?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        May 13, 2020 at 7:47 pm

        Yes you can!

        Reply
    8. yvon says

      May 6, 2020 at 6:34 am

      5 stars
      easy but very tasty. Thank you

      Reply
    9. Sue says

      March 9, 2020 at 12:43 pm

      5 stars
      The seasoning on this recipe was perfect! Flavorful but not to spicey!

      Reply
    10. Allyson Zea says

      February 15, 2020 at 9:51 am

      5 stars
      I make these all the time and they’re always a hit! Thanks for the easy recipe!

      Reply
    11. Tiffany La Forge-Grau says

      February 11, 2020 at 11:32 am

      5 stars
      Chicken fajitas are such a fun recipe to make and eat. These look so darn good too!

      Reply
    12. Katerina @ diethood .com says

      February 11, 2020 at 1:08 am

      5 stars
      These fajitas look incredibly delicious! I can’t wait to make them for my family!

      Reply
    13. Vikki says

      February 10, 2020 at 9:12 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner and LOVED it! Such vibrant color and beautiful flavor!

      Reply
    14. Jacque Hastert says

      February 10, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      5 stars
      I bet these taste better than anything you can get at a restaurant! Loaded with veggies is always the best!

      Reply
    15. Jacque Hastert says

      February 10, 2020 at 6:21 pm

      5 stars
      Love that these are loaded with fresh veggies! Can’t beat an easy and delicious recipe like this one.

      Reply
    16. Krissy Allori says

      February 10, 2020 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      These fajitas are yummy! I made them and my family and I gobbled them right up.

      Reply
    17. Kristyn says

      February 10, 2020 at 5:37 pm

      5 stars
      A family favorite!! They are so flavorful & great any night of the week!

      Reply
    18. wilhelmina says

      February 10, 2020 at 4:57 pm

      5 stars
      These fajitas are my favorite! They turned out perfectly and I got rave reviews on dinner!

      Reply
    19. Erin says

      February 10, 2020 at 3:44 pm

      5 stars
      I just can’t resist fajitas! This chicken version is delish!

      Reply
    20. Amanda says

      February 10, 2020 at 3:27 pm

      5 stars
      These are the best looking fajitas I have ever seen!

      Reply
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