These Easy Chicken Fajitas are bursting with plenty of flavors, from tender chicken marinated in chili powder, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, and smoked chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, bell peppers, and onions. This healthy, delicious meal comes together quite quickly after the chicken is marinated.
I love to serve this with refried beans and Mexican rice. This is a meal that everyone enjoys, and it is one of my family’s favorites. You are going to love this easy, delicious, and flavorful meal.
How to make Chicken Fajitas
Start by combining the cut chicken, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, onion powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce in a zipper bag or bowl. Then marinate the chicken for 30-60 minutes. Next, heat a little oil in a large pan or large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in batches in a single layer until cooked through and slightly charred. Remove cooked pieces of chicken to a plate and cover loosely to keep warm.
Heat a little more oil over medium heat. Now add the veggies to the skillet, cooking until the onion is soft and the peppers are slightly charred. Then add the chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine and warm. Next, squeeze a little extra lime juice over the fajita mixture. Serve with warm tortillas, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, and fresh lime slices.
Recipe notes and tips
- Any colored peppers will work, but a variety of colored bell peppers make for a beautiful presentation.
- Marinate the chicken for 30-60 minutes. That is plenty of time for the chicken to absorb the flavors of the marinade and to tenderize. I really find that marinating chicken much longer than that (especially bite-size pieces) does nothing positive to enhance the flavors and may indeed toughen the chicken.
- Add 1 chopped chipotle pepper and 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce to the marinade. You can find canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the Mexican food section of most local grocery stores.
- Cut the chicken into uniform pieces. I like to slice it fairly thin in pieces that are about twice as long as they are wide. With a little practice, anyone can master it.
- Other toppings to try include avocado, lettuce, Pico de Gallo, salsa, and cheddar cheese or queso cheese.
- For a low-carb meal, throw the cooked chicken in a bowl with some lettuce, black beans, corn, avocado, and salsa.
What are chipotle peppers?
Chipotle peppers are jalapeno peppers that have been aged, dried, and deliciously smoked. They are earthy, robust, and smokey, yet still incredibly spicy. You can find them canned with adobo sauce in the Mexican food section of most local grocery stores. Adobo sauce is a slightly sweet, tangy, rich reddish brown sauce made with ground ancho and guajillo chiles.
The combination of the two is an amazing taste sensation. One chopped chipotle pepper with a little bit of the adobo sauce can take your Mexican and southwestern recipes over the top. Store the remaining chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
To freeze the chicken, first flash-freeze it on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Then move the chicken to a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight
Other Tex-Mex recipes you will love
Easy Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in bite size pieces or chicken thighs
- 1 lime juiced about 2 tablespoons
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 chopped chipotle pepper canned in adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from the can of chipotle peppers
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 bell peppers cut in thin strips any color but variety is better
- limes for squeezing over cooked fajitas mixture and for garnish
- flour tortillas
- sour cream
- guacamole
- fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Combine cut chicken, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, kosher salt, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce in a zipper bag. Marinate for 30-60 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken in batches in a single layer until cooked through and slightly charred. Remove cooked pieces of chicken to a plate and cover loosely to keep warm.
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in the same large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and peppers and cook until the onions are soft and the peppers are slightly charred on the edges. Add the chicken back to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes to warm.
- Squeeze a little additional lime juice over the fajitas. Serve with warmed tortillas, sour cream, guacamole, and chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Any colored peppers will work but a variety of colored bell peppers makes for a beautiful presentation.
- Marinate the chicken for 30-60 minutes. That is plenty of time for the chicken to absorb the flavors of the marinade and to tenderize. I really find that marinating chicken much longer than that (especially bite size pieces) does nothing positive to enhance the flavors and may indeed toughen the chicken.
- Add 1 chopped chipotle pepper and 1 tablespoon adobo sauce to the marinade. You can find canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the Mexican food section of most local grocery stores.
- Cut the chicken in uniform pieces. I like to slice it fairly thin in pieces that are about twice as long as they are wide. With a little practice anyone can master it.
- Other toppings to try include avocado, lettuce, Pico de Gallo, salsa, and cheddar cheese or queso cheese.
- For a low carb meal throw the cooked chicken in a bowl with some lettuce, black beans, corn, avocado, and salsa.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at a reduced power.
- To freeze the chicken, first flash freeze it on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Then move the chicken to a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
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Emily Flint
I was searching for a fajita recipe that didn’t use packaged spices and I’m so glad I found this one! It was so, so good and my family devoured it in minutes. LOL. We will be making it again!
Jacqueline Meldrum
Fajitas are always such a fun family meal. I’m going to try your suggestion of adding Chipotle to the sauce.
Sadia Malik
delicious and colorful dish, will make again
Adrianne
Yum, I love the colours and flavour of this dish! Sounds like we will be having it next Mexican night we have. Those spices all sounds delicious also!
AISilva
My family loves chicken fajitas! I can’t wait to make this recipe for them. I would love to incorporate the chipotle peppers too, though I think my kids might have a hard time!
Alexa
We tried this chicken fajita this week and loved it! Thanks for this amazing recipe!
Lisalia
Beth I loved this recipe! Here’s what made the difference for me… smoked paprika AND adobo sauce. You really took this to next level deliciousness with that. Gives just the perfect mystery ingredient that my family said these were amazing. Can’t wait to have them again.
Aimee Shugarman
LOVED how easy these fajitas were to make for the family. Definitely going on our dinner rotation!
Toni
This recipe is really amazing!! I loved that it is so easy to make!
Mairead
Thanks for this great fajita recipe. It’s perfect for Cinco de Mayo or any day. Love all the veggies in these fajitas.
Biana
Love all the flavors this chicken fajitas, such a great recipe with all the veggies!
Andrea
These fajitas look absolutely delicious! and that marinade is bursting with flavor!
Dannii
Chicken fajitas are always a favourite in our house, and these look delicious.
Elizabeth
This is a fantastic fajita recipe! Chicken fajitas are one of my all-time favourite dinners and this recipe has just taken them next level. Thank you!
Kevin
These were full of the best flavors! I have to keep them on the weekly menu!
Toni
This is absolutely amazing!! It was a huge hit at my house!
Erin
These Easy Chicken Fajitas are on my must-make list!
Sandra
This quickly became a favorite meal at my house!! So delicious!
Sara Welch
Definitely making this for dinner tonight! Can practically smell all those delicious aromas! Yum!
Catalina
Such an easy and delicious weeknight dinner! Must make it this week!
Dorothy Reinhold
I love the spices that you used! We love fajitas! I am also excited to try your taco salad!
Alison
Lots of fresh flavors in these easy skillet fajitas. A great weeknight meal!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
I love how delicious and easy these sound! I can’t wait to make these for the family this week.
Jessica Formicola
This is my go to dish when going to our local Mexican restaurant, but I’ve never made them at home. I can’t wait to try them!
Neli Howard
Wow, those fajitas look and sound amazing! Love the pretty colors from the peppers.
rika
My husband and I love fajitas! This recipe looks easy to make. I’ll try it soon because I have everything I need to make this recipe.