Chicken Fajitas

Chicken Fajitas are a classic Tex-Mex and Mexican dish made with seasoned chicken strips seared and tossed with bell peppers and onions, and fresh lime juice. Pair them with warm tortillas, guacamole, and salsa for a quick meal everyone loves.

This chicken fajita recipe is one of my go-to's whenever I need to whip out something quick for dinner. It's so tasty and healthy, plus my family and I get to enjoy it with all our favorite sides and sauces! Build your own chicken fajita bowl , anyone?

Now, let's start with something essential. If you want to make restaurant-style, sizzling, charred fajitas, you need a cast-iron skillet. It's the only way to give the chicken and veggies that delicious smoky, charred look and flavor!

The other key to ensuring juicy, flavorful chicken is marinating it in lime juice for a few minutes. This tenderizes the chicken, allows the flavors of the fajita seasoning to penetrate, and ensures the chicken won't dry out.

Once everything is seared and cooked, I love to brighten things up by squeezing fresh lime juice and sprinkling cilantro all over the dish. For this recipe, I served the chicken fajitas with tortillas, salsa, sour cream, and shredded cheese, but you can personalize with your favorite toppings!

Looking for more fajita recipes. Don't miss our Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas, Salmon Fajitas, and Crockpot Chicken Fajitas.

Why You’ll Love Making These Chicken Fajitas

If you're looking for a fast, flavorful, and versatile dish, chicken fajitas are a must-try! Here’s why:

• Ready in a Flash: Whip up a restaurant-quality meal in just under 30 minutes! It's perfect for busy weeknights with a quick prep and even faster cooking time. Want to save even more time? Prep your ingredients ahead, and this delicious dish will be on the table in record time!
• Authentic Mexican Flavors: Infused with zesty spices and seasonings, every bite bursts with the vibrant flavors you crave from your favorite Mexican dishes. It's faster and more affordable than takeout.
• Incredibly Versatile: Serve these chicken fajitas with rice, tortillas, guacamole, or your favorite salsa. Whether you load it with cheese, top it with sour cream, or enjoy it as is, this dish is customizable to suit any craving or occasion. It’s delicious any way you choose and can even stand alone as a low-carb option!

Ingredients and Easy Substitutions

To make this easy dinner, here’s what you’ll need—and a few simple swaps to make it your own:

• Chicken Breast: Use thinly sliced, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for quick, even cooking. Want something juicier? Swap in chicken thighs or switch things up with steak, ground beef, pork, or veggies.
• Bell Peppers: Mix up the colors! Red, green, yellow, or orange peppers all bring crunch and flavor. You can use frozen bell peppers and onions in a pinch, but they won't have the same crunch or char.
• Red Onion: I love using red onions for their color, but white or yellow onions also work.
• Lime: The burst of acidity from fresh lime juice (and zest!) ties all the flavors together. No limes? Lemon juice is a quick substitute that works.
• Fajita Seasoning: Store-bought works fine, but making your fajita seasoning lets you control the spice levels and skip the extra additives. You can also swap in taco seasoning.
• Olive Oil: Use it to marinate and sear the chicken to perfection. Avocado oil or vegetable oil are great alternatives that hold up well to heat.
• Flour Tortillas: Flour tortillas are often used with fajitas, but you can also use corn tortillas as a gluten-free option. You can also swap in low-carb tortillas or lettuce wraps or skip the tortillas completely for fajita bowls and salads.
• Cilantro: Finish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, or if you don't love cilantro, swap in fresh parsley
• Toppings: Customize your fajitas with all your favorite toppings, including fresh lime wedges, red or green salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, and more.

How to Make Homemade Fajita Seasoning

Homemade fajita seasoning consists of chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. For a spicier mix, you can add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or even ancho chili powder.

Here is my go-to recipe.

• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper

How to Make Chicken Fajitas

It’s so easy to recreate restaurant-quality chicken fajitas at home. No need to order takeouts! And here’s how you can do it in under 30 minutes:

1. Marinate the chicken: Combine the chicken, olive oil, lime juice, and half the fajita seasoning in a large bowl. Let the chicken marinate for 15-30 minutes.
2. Cook the veggies: Heat a heavy cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the peppers and onions. Season with half the fajita seasoning. Cook for 4-6 minutes (longer for softer veggies), stirring as needed until the veggies are tender-crisp and lightly charred. Remove and set aside. Tip: Feel free to add mushrooms to the mix for an easy umami boost!
3. Pan fry the chicken: Add the sliced chicken to the same skillet in a single layer. Do not crowd the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes until chicken is just cooked through. Do not overcook.
4. Combine: Add the peppers and onions back to the pan. Season if needed with salt, pepper, or extra fajita seasoning. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the top and sprinkle with cilantro.
5. Serve: Serve in warm flour tortillas with fresh cilantro and extra lime juice. Add all your favorite toppings or pile on greens or cauliflower rice.

Can I grill the chicken for fajitas?

While the typical way to cook fajitas is on a cast-iron skillet, you can also grill the chicken. It gives the chicken a smoky flavor that can enhance the spices of the fajita seasoning.

Check out our recipe for grilled chicken fajitas.

Pro Tips for Restaurant Fajitas

Impress your family and friends with a delicious meal, and make the best fajitas by following these tips:

• Season well: Be generous when seasoning the chicken. Sprinkle the seasoning on both sides and rub it in to lock in the flavor. Don’t forget to season the bell peppers and onions while you cook them..
• Space out: Do not overcrowd the pan when searing the chicken to ensure every piece is cooked correctly. Cook in batches if you have to, or the chicken will steam, and you will lose all that delicious char.
• Don't overcook: Cook the fajita veggies until tender-crisp and lightly charred to retain their crunch and texture. No one likes mushy peppers!

Ways to Serve Chicken Fajitas

Fajitas are so fun to make because they can be served in various ways that are all equally delicious yet different. Here are some serving ideas:

• Tacos: I almost always serve fajitas with warm tortillas, salsa, and sour cream. Sprinkle some shredded cheese and fresh lime juice on top, and have a perfect meal! Serve with rice and beans.
• Lettuce wraps: Make a healthier version by replacing the tortilla with lettuce.
• Salad: For a low-carb meal, add the chicken fajitas to a bowl of lettuce, drizzle with lime vinaigrette dressing, and toss everything!
• Fajita bowl: Serve the chicken fajitas on top of Mexican rice or cauliflower rice. Add black beans, corn, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese to make a tasty chicken fajita bowl filled with tasty ingredients.
• Pasta: Switch out the carbs and use fajita pasta instead. Make the pasta sauce with milk/cream and chicken broth. And, of course, top with lots of cheese!

Best Fajita Toppings

There are so many options for a delicious chicken fajitas, it’s almost endless! From cheddar cheese to salsa verde, here are just some I love to add to my ingredient list:

• Sour cream: Balance out the spice with sour cream, Mexican crema, or Greek yogurt.
• Pico de gallo: Traditionally served with fajitas, pico de gallo is made with a combination of fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice.
• Avocado or guacamole: Sliced avocados or guacamole are a great way to balance the flavors of the dish with its creaminess.
• Cheese: The best cheeses to use are queso fresco, cheddar, and Monterey jack cheese.
• Corn salsa: The combination of corn, cilantro, and lime salsa complements the spiced chicken and vegetables so well. It's so simple to make your corn salsa and believe me, it goes with almost any Mexican dish!

Find more tasty fajita topping ideas.

Storage and Reheating

Chicken fajitas are great for meal prep because you can easily prepare and cook all the ingredients ahead of time. Portion them to your desired serving, freeze for up to three months, and reheat in the microwave for an easy meal. If you have any leftovers, here’s what you can do:

• To store: Put leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
• To reheat: Thaw frozen chicken fajitas in the fridge then reheat in the microwave until warmed through.