The BEST Chicken Fajitas!

These easy Chicken Fajitas are the perfect Tex-Mex recipe for dinner tonight! Made with just a few pantry staples, the marinade whips up in just minutes! Marinate your chicken for as little as 30 minutes or overnight. Either way, this yields a tender mix of chicken, peppers, and onions that are ready to grill or oven bake.

Easy Chicken Fajitas

Tex-Mex is not optional around here. Whether it’s chips and guacamole as a snack, or a big pan of homemade cheese enchiladas… Tex-Mex is what’s for dinner at least a few times a week!

For special occasions, we always make chicken fajitas with a huge pile of homemade tortillas and a pot of refried beans! With this recipe, it’s easy to prep the chicken in advance so that the meal comes together quickly on the big day.

Ingredients

This recipe is so simple, and you likely have everything you need to make it right now! This makes enough for about two pounds of chicken, but if you are making a large batch, you can double or triple the recipe as needed.

• Olive Oil – While you can use any oil you prefer, we have found that olive oil provides the best base for this marinade.
• Lime Juice – A must-have! Don’t replace with lemon juice if you can avoid it, as lime juice gives this Tex-Mex dish a very distinct taste.
• Sugar – Any type of sugar will work. I’ve even used maple syrup on many occasions! Don’t skip it though, because the sugar helps with caramelization and balances the acid from the lime.
• Salt & Pepper – Use what you have, but we like to use sea salt for a better quality taste.
• Spices – Cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder round out the rest of this blend! You can adjust to your tastes, but these measurements will give you a solid flavor profile without being over-the-top spicy!
• Chicken – You can use breasts or thighs, depending on your preference. I like to use chicken breasts and leave them whole until after baking or grilling. It makes them easier to work with and you can slice them afterwards!
• Onions – We like to use white or yellow onions, as red onions have a drastically different flavor. But you can use whatever you prefer!
• Peppers – Use bell peppers in any color, or step it up with whatever type of pepper your heat tolerance will allow!

Instructions

Make this chicken fajita marinade right before dinner, or the day before. It’s perfect for a party or just because it’s Wednesday!

1. Prep – Thinly slice the onions and peppers into strips and set aside. If baking, place your chicken in a single layer in as many baking pans as needed. If grilling, you can place the chicken in a large bowl instead.
2. Combine – In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients and mix very well.
3. Cover – Add the onions and peppers over the chicken before pouring the marinade over everything as evenly as possible.
4. Rest – Top the pans/bowls with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours (overnight).
5. Cook – If you are baking, preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is 165°F at the thickest part. If you are grilling, remove the chicken and grill it while you pan-fry the onions and peppers in a little olive oil.
6. Sear (optional) – If you baked your chicken, you can pan-sear your finished chicken breasts in a little olive oil to sear the outside. Note, this is not necessary but adds a nice finishing touch!
7. Slice and Serve – Once your chicken, onions, and peppers are cooked, remove the chicken from the pan/grill and slice right before serving! Enjoy with homemade tortillas, guacamole, homemade refried beans, and a side of Mexican street corn!

Even More Tex-Mex Recipes to Enjoy Next!

• Easy Mexican Street Corn (No Grilling Required!)
• Homemade Refried Beans
• The Best Homemade Cheese Enchiladas

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