Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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These chicken fajitas are easy to make and have amazing seasoning. This 30-minute recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner!

Simply pan-fry peppers and onions, then sauté chicken. Mix everything together and serve!

Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

These chicken fajitas are so good! They're one of my favorite weeknight dinners. They’re easy, intensely flavorful, and - just as important - ready fast. From start to finish, this recipe is ready in about 30 minutes, including chopping the vegetables.

Mexican food is always delicious. In addition to these fajitas, I greatly enjoy recipes such as jalapeno poppers, slow cooker carnitas, and keto taco salad.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • Chicken Fajitas Instructions
  • Expert Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • More Mexican Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card

Ingredients

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Here’s an overview of the ingredients needed to make these chicken fajitas. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

  • Vegetables: Onions and bell peppers. I like to use three different colors for the peppers – it looks so pretty! You can also use frozen pre-sliced peppers, as I do in the video below. They add a bit more liquid to the dish, but the convenience is worth it.
  • Chicken breast: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, sliced fairly thinly.
  • Spices: Salt and pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes.
  • Avocado oil: This oil has a neutral flavor and a high smoke point, making it ideal for high-heat cooking.

Variations

  • If you'd like to marinate the chicken, mix half the spices with a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of lime juice. Place the chicken strips in a resealable bag and add the marinade, spreading it all over the chicken. Seal and marinate for two hours in the fridge.
  • Play with your spices! In addition to those listed in the recipe card, tasty options that I tried and enjoyed include onion powder and dried thyme. You can add ½ teaspoon of each to the seasoning mix.

Chicken Fajitas Instructions

The detailed instructions for making this recipe are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of the steps:

Slice the chicken and vegetables.

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Combine the spices in two bowls, half the spices in each. One bowl will season the chicken, and the second will season the vegetables.

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Season the veggies with half the seasoning mix and cook them. Set aside.

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Season the chicken with the second half of the mix and cook it.

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Add the vegetables back to the skillet and cook briefly.

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Serve immediately.

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Expert Tip

If you use frozen sliced peppers, they will release water into the dish. You can thicken the cooking liquids by stirring in a cornstarch slurry – 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 ½ tablespoons of cold water.

Recipe FAQs

What is fajita?

Fajitas are a Tex-Mex dish of marinated and grilled strips of meat (beef or chicken) served on top of cooked onions and peppers.

This dish is typically served with soft tortillas, which the diners stuff with the meat/vegetable mixture.

What toppings go on fajitas?

Popular toppings include sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese.

Do you need to marinate chicken for fajitas?

You can, and it will make the chicken more tender. But you don't have to. Since making this recipe quickly is a top priority for me, I don't marinate the chicken, and it still comes out tasty and juicy.

Serving Suggestions

Traditionally, fajitas are served in flour tortillas. But they’re just as good simply piled on a plate. Sometimes, I serve them in lettuce cups or on top of cauliflower rice.

You can top the fajitas with guacamole, sour cream (as shown in the photo below), salsa, and/or shredded cheese.

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Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power.

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More Mexican Recipes

  • Steak Fajitas
  • Pork Rind Keto Nachos
  • Keto Taco Salad
  • Keto Tacos

Recipe Card

Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (16)

4.96 from 256 votes

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Easy Chicken Fajitas

Chicken fajitas are easy to make, and their seasoning is amazing. Simply pan-fry peppers and onions, cook the chicken, mix, and serve!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 363kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

Seasoning mix:

  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Fajitas:

  • 3 medium bell peppers cut into thin strips (or 1 pound of frozen sliced peppers)
  • 1 medium onion thinly sliced
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into strips
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil

Optional, to thicken the sauce if using frozen peppers:

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 ½ tablespoon cold water

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the seasoning ingredients: sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes. You can divide each of the spices in half and mix them in two different bowls. Half will season the veggies, and half will season the chicken.

    Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (17)

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bell peppers, onions, and half the seasoning mix. Cook, stirring often, until just tender, about 5 minutes. If the bottom of the skillet becomes too dry, add a little water, a tablespoon at a time. You can also reduce the heat to medium.

    Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (18)

  • Using a slotted spoon, remove the vegetables onto a plate. Add the remaining oil to the skillet, then add the chicken slices with the second half of the seasonings. Stir-fry until the chicken is almost fully cooked, about 4 minutes. Again, if the bottom of the skillet becomes too dry while you cook the chicken, add a little water.

    Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (19)

  • Return the vegetables to the skillet. Stir-fry everything together for 1-2 more minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the dish is heated through.

    Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (20)

  • Serve the fajitas in bowls, drizzled with the pan juices, and topped (if you wish) with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and/or shredded cheddar. You can also spoon them into warm tortillas or serve them in lettuce cups.

    Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (21)

Video

Notes

  • If you'd like to marinate the chicken, mix half the spices with a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of lime juice. Place the chicken strips in a resealable bag and add the marinade, spreading it all over the chicken. Seal and marinate for two hours in the fridge.
  • You can thicken the cooking liquids by stirring in a cornstarch slurry – 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 ½ tablespoons of cold water. This is optional and only needed if you've used frozen bell peppers, which release water into the dish.
  • The nutrition info does not include cornstarch, tortillas, or toppings.
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 0.25recipe | Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 516mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g

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Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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About the Author

Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (32) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Elizabeth

    Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (33)
    Followed recipe exactly as written and it turned out awesome. This was the perfect amount of seasoning; didn’t even need to add additional salt or anything. Served it on flour tortillas with Spanish rice, shredded lettuce, guac, and grated cheese.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Elizabeth! Thank you for leaving a comment.

      Reply

Easy Chicken Fajitas - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

How healthy are chicken fajitas? ›

Fajitas can be very healthy, if done right. On its own, the chicken, peppers, and onion mixture comes in macros friendly with high protein, low carb, and low-moderate fat (depending on if using white or dark meat). The final macros comes down to you and your choices of how you put it together on the plate.

Are chicken fajitas bad for cholesterol? ›

Fajitas can be a tasty and healthy Mexican dish. Make sure that you use grilled chicken or shrimp instead of beef to help lower the cholesterol content. Fajitas don't come with cheese, so the dish is fairly low in cholesterol.

Can you eat fajitas everyday? ›

Chicken fajitas in their most basic form: grilled chicken, onions, peppers and tortillas aren't bad for you if you go light on the oil. It's when you start piling on the cheese, sour cream, and chimichurri sauce that things take a turn for the worse. Good bye diet!

Are fajitas better on grill or skillet? ›

The quick answer is all will work. If the weather is beautiful and you would like to cook your steak on the grill, that's awesome. If the weather is hot or rainy, or you want to get dinner on the table in a hurry, your grill pan, cast-iron skillet, or regular skillet all will work just fine.

Are red or white onions better for fajitas? ›

White onions have a more pungent flavor that can add intensity to your fajitas. What is this? Ultimately, the choice of onion comes down to personal preference, so feel free to use your favorite. (Personally, I usually like sweet onions for chicken fajitas and red onions for steak fajitas.

Are Chicken Fajitas healthy at Mexican restaurants? ›

A great way to eat healthily at a Mexican restaurant is to choose grilled foods. Instead of ordering a chimichanga or taquito, opt for steak, chicken or shrimp fajitas. Fajitas are much healthier than fried items but are just as filling; they taste even better when flavored with peppers and onions.

Is sour cream healthy? ›

Sour cream doesn't provide the same nutritional value and is high in fat and calories. Still, it's a tasty garnish and healthy food. There's probably room in your diet for a tablespoon or two of sour cream, especially if you limit your overall intake of saturated fats.

What can I eat at a Mexican restaurant if I have high cholesterol? ›

Skip the Sour Cream When Eating Mexican

The Cleveland Clinic recommends choosing corn tortillas over white flour tortillas, since corn tortillas are significantly lower in calories, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar compared with flour tortillas. Grilled fish and chicken are both good lower-fat, high-protein options.

What is the healthiest Mexican food to order? ›

10 Healthy Orders at Mexican Restaurants, According to Registered Dietitians
  1. Cactus. ...
  2. Seafood. ...
  3. Salsa. ...
  4. Guacamole. ...
  5. Tacos. ...
  6. A Margarita (Yes, Really!) ...
  7. Agua Fresca. ...
  8. Ceviche or Salad.
May 2, 2023

Should I stop eating chicken if I have high cholesterol? ›

If you have high cholesterol, you should talk with your doctor about what you eat, including meat. There are good, lean choices. For example, you can consider chicken or turkey breasts without skin; pork tenderloin; or beef round, sirloin, or tenderloin. Avoid highly processed meats (bacon, ham, lunchmeat, etc.).

What kind of fajitas are healthy? ›

South Texas Steak Fajitas

For a healthy choice, pick dressing with a short and simple ingredient list including canola or olive oil. Serve the steak fajitas with fresh pico de gallo, guacamole and cold beer.

What are the cons of fajitas? ›

Cons: it is high in sodium, uses white instead of whole grain tortillas which is less nutritious, some people might not have some of the ingredients on hand for example, cumin.

How many fajitas is a serving? ›

Fajitas for how many people? Six to eight ounces per person, raw weight, would be a pretty nice portion. Once you include sautéed onions and peppers into the mix, everyone could easily make three to four big fajitas. Three to four big fajitas is plenty of food.

Is fajita meat good for diet? ›

Meat contains high levels of iron, zinc, Vitamin B12, and of course, protein. Meat also provides the body with quality fats that help protect our body's organs and provide the body with insulation and energy. The meat used in Fajitas has many health benefits and is also very tasty.

Are Mexican fajitas unhealthy? ›

They are one of the healthier items on the menu, basically grilled meat with veggies (onions and peppers) and seasoning. The bad part is in the Tortilla's, rice, and refried beans that usually come with it.

How are you supposed to eat fajitas? ›

When you're ready to eat, hold the fajita with one or two hands, using your pinkies to keep the bottom fold of the tortilla in place. Eat your fajita normally, ending your last bite with the folded up end. Use a fork to eat any ingredients that fall onto the plate.

Are fajitas or burritos healthier? ›

Fajitas Vs Burritos: What's The Difference

Also, the burrito is wrapped with extra-large-sized tortillas but Fajitas wrapped in small ones. Burritos are high in calories and contain 206 calories per 100g. However, Fajitas contains only 135 calories per 100g, so it is healthier as compared to Burritos.

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