As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Flavorful chicken fajitas are a perfect dinner when the family is craving Mexican and you want them to eat healthily. These delicious chicken fajitas get their flavor from a tangy marinade and a spicy seasoning rub.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
I like to serve them with The Best Guacamole, Homemade Chunky Salsa and Queso, a Jalapeno Guava Margarita or two, and a Chocoflan Bundt Cake for dessert.
Chicken Fajitas
If your family is anything like mine, Mexican food is always a favorite, and fajitas are at the top of their list. While I want to feed them what they love, I also want them to be healthy.
This recipe is a wonderful compromise. It has all the Mexican flavors that my family adores, and yet is still a healthy meal full of lean protein and fresh veggies. Just watch the toppings as they can add a lot of fat and calories.
Healthy Fajita Toppings
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. You still get all of the tangy creaminess but with a bit more protein and some probiotics.
- Salsa, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, diced jalapenos, and onions up the veggie intake and add more fiber.
- Serve black beans as a topping – they add tons of flavor, texture, and lots of fiber.
- There are some tasty low-carb or high fiber tortillas on the market. Look for one that your family will enjoy. Only flour tortillas will do? Use a smaller street taco size tortilla instead of a larger one and serve the fajita meat and veggies on top of the tortilla instead of folding it or rolling it around the filling.
Ingredients Needed
From the pantry:
- Olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper, granulated and brown sugars, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and Mexican oregano. You’ll also need tortillas, salsa, or pico de gallo.
From the refrigerator:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, limes, cilantro, garlic, onions, bell peppers, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.
From the liquor cabinet:
- Tequila
How Do I Make This Recipe
- Make the marinade by combining all of the marinade ingredients in a ziptop bag and add the chicken breasts. Chill for at least 30 minutes, but overnight is better.
- Stir together all of the seasoning rub ingredients and rub onto the chicken that has been marinating.
- Cook the chicken breasts and then remove them from the pan to rest.
- Saute the onions and peppers.
- Slice the chicken and return to the pan with the vegetables.
- Squeeze lime over the chicken and veggies and allow to cook and caramelize a little bit for flavor.
- Serve hot with your favorite tortillas and toppings.
More Mexican Recipes To Try
- Mexican Shrimp Ceviche
- Seafood Enchiladas (a Chi-Chi’s copycat)
- One Pan Beef Enchilada Skillet
- Truckstop Enchiladas
FLAVORFUL CHICKEN FAJITAS
- Total Time: 36 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
Description
Flavorful chicken fajitas are a perfect dinner when the family is craving Mexican and you want them to eat healthily. These delicious chicken fajitas get their flavor from a tangy marinade and a spicy seasoning rub.
Ingredients
For the marinade:
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup tequila
- 1 lime, zested and juiced
- ½ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the seasoning rub:
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
For the fajitas:
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 3 bell peppers, thinly sliced (I used one green, one red, and one yellow)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ lime
For serving:
- Tortillas
- Guacamole
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Chopped fresh tomatoes or pico de gallo
Instructions
Make the marinade.
Place the chicken breasts in a large ziplock bag.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, tequila, lime juice and zest, cilantro, salt, sugar, garlic, and black pepper until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
Pour the mixture over the chicken in the bag. Squeeze the air out of the bag, seal, and massage the marinade into the chicken breasts.
Refrigerate and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
Meanwhile, make the seasoning rub.
In a small bowl, stir together the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, Mexican oregano, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Combine well and set aside.
Make the fajitas.
Remove the chicken from the marinade.
Generously sprinkle the seasoning rub on both sides of the chicken and press it into the meat.
Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and warm until shimmering.
Sear the chicken breasts for about 6 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and allow to rest.
To the same skillet, add the bell peppers and onions. Saute the vegetables until tender – about 4-5 minutes.
Slice the chicken into strips or cut it into chunks.
Add the chicken slices back to the skillet and toss them with the vegetables.
Squeeze the lime over the meat and vegetables. Cook for 1-2 minutes without stirring to allow some of the chicken and vegetables to caramelize around the edges. Toss once and remove from the heat.
Serve hot with tortillas and assorted toppings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Marinating time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Category: Main Dish - Chicken
- Method: Pan saute
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: flavorful chicken fajitas, chicken fajitas, chicken fajita recipe, Mexican food, fajitas, chicken, chicken marinade
