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Chicken Fajitas | Sizzling Dinner

Chicken Fajitas

Sizzling, marinated chicken strips and colourful charred vegetables served in warm tortillas. A classic, customizable Tex-Mex meal perfect for a fun weeknight dinner.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken & Marinade
  • 600 g boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into 1cm strips
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Juice of 1 large lime
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp mild chilli powder or more, to taste
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
For the Vegetables
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion red or white, thinly sliced
  • 2 bell peppers a mix of red, yellow, or orange, deseeded and thinly sliced
For Serving
  • 8-10 small flour tortillas
  • Sour cream
  • Guacamole
  • Salsa or pico de gallo
  • 100 g mature cheddar cheese grated
  • Fresh coriander chopped

Method
 

  1. Make the Spice Mix & Marinate the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, chilli powder, salt, and pepper. In a larger bowl, place your sliced chicken. Add the 2 tbsp of olive oil, the juice of one lime, and the entire spice mix. Toss everything together until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Set aside to marinate for at least 15-20 minutes at room temperature while you prepare the vegetables.
  2. Prepare the Vegetables: While the chicken is marinating, slice your onion and bell peppers into thin strips of roughly equal size. This helps them cook evenly.
  3. Cook the Chicken: Place a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan or cast-iron skillet over a medium-high heat. Once it's properly hot, add the marinated chicken strips in a single layer. You may need to do this in two batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. I find that using a cast-iron skillet gives the best char. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
  4. Sauté the Vegetables: Add the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil to the same pan. Tip in the sliced onions and peppers. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they have softened but still retain a slight bite and have some lovely charred edges.
  5. Combine Everything: Return the cooked chicken to the pan with the vegetables. Squeeze over a little more lime juice if you like. Stir everything together and cook for another minute until the chicken is heated through.
  6. Warm the Tortillas: While the chicken and veg are finishing, warm your tortillas. You can do this by wrapping them in foil and placing them in a warm oven (150°C/130°C Fan) for a few minutes, or by heating them one by one in a dry frying pan for about 30 seconds per side.
  7. Serve Immediately: Bring the sizzling pan straight to the table (on a trivet!). Set out the warm tortillas and small bowls of sour cream, guacamole, salsa, grated cheese, and fresh coriander. Let everyone build their own perfect fajita.

Notes

Bring the sizzling pan straight to the table (on a trivet!) and let everyone build their own perfect fajita with their favorite toppings.