These Easy Skillet Chicken Fajitas are flavored with homemade fajita seasoning and simple cooking steps, making them perfect for weeknights or family dinners. Learn how to make crispy, juicy fajitas from scratch with crispy bell peppers and onions. Serve them over warm tortillas and your favorite toppings like sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Here’s how to make it with step-by-step photos and a quick video tutorial.
My family loves fajitas. Whether it's a fajita chicken sandwich or fajita chicken and rice, they're a big hit in our household. They're packed with delicious flavors and are nutritious and filling, making them one of my favorite Mexican dishes.
Instead of reaching for a pre-made fajita seasoning, I made my own by mixing simple spices like chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, etc., This homemade seasoning is fresh and more flavorful than anything you’d find in a packet.
It also allowed me to reduce the sodium and avoid unnecessary additives, giving my chicken fajitas a clean, homemade taste that everyone loved.
About Chicken Fajitas
Chicken fajitas are a Tex-Mex (Texas and Mexico), regional American dish. The word "fajita" comes from the Spanish word "faja," meaning strip or belt, which refers to how the meat is sliced before being cooked.
Fajita is made with meat that is cut into strips. These meat strips are seasoned with spices and grilled with vegetables usually onions & bell peppers.
Chicken Fajitas consists of seasoned, grilled strips of chicken, usually combined with sautéed bell peppers and onions. Traditionally, they're served with tortillas and a variety of toppings like salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese.
Skillet Chicken Fajitas Ingredients
You can make chicken fajitas with just a handful of fresh ingredients. This recipe calls for juicy chicken breasts, crispy bell peppers, and onions, all seasoned with a homemade fajita seasoning that’s simple and easy to make. You can use this fajita seasoning to make other dishes like Chicken Fajita Rice Bowl, Mexican Chicken And Rice, or Vegetarian Burrito Bowl. Here's what you'll need to make chicken fajitas at home:
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
- Bell Peppers: Red, green, and yellow bell peppers. Any colored red bell pepper can be used.
- Onion: Thinly sliced red onions add flavor and texture. You can also add white onions.
- Olive Oil: For marinating and cooking.
- Fresh Lemon/Lime Juice: Adds a tangy flavor to the chicken.
Homemade Fajita Seasoning
- Red Chili Powder: Substitute with paprika.
- Cayenne Pepper: Adds a spicy touch to the dish. Skip if you do not like a spicy dish.
- Ground Roasted Cumin: Adds a beautiful warm earthy flavor to the dish.
- Dried Oregano: Adds a hint of herbal freshness.
- Garlic Powder: You can also use freshly minced garlic.
- Onion Powder: Adds a nice flavor to the seasoning. Skip if you do not have it.
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Skillet Chicken Fajitas (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Prepare the Fajita Seasoning
Make fajita seasoning by mixing red chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Step 2: Marinate the Chicken
- Slice the chicken breasts into halves, lengthwise. You will get 4 chicken breast slices. Marinate them with 2 teaspoons of the fajita seasoning, olive oil, and lemon juice. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes (for the best flavor, marinate for an hour or overnight in the refrigerator).
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
- Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a pan/skillet over medium heat.
- Add the marinated chicken and let it cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until charred and fully cooked. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Tip: To cook it perfectly, first, sear the chicken on high heat to get a nice crispy exterior. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked and juicy on the inside.
Step 4: Stir-fry the Vegetables
- In the same pan, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Then add bell peppers and onions.
- Cook on medium-high heat for about 3 minutes or until the vegetables are slightly charred but still crisp.
- Add 2 teaspoons of the remaining fajita seasoning and combine. Cook it for a minute.
Step 5: Combine Chicken and Veggies
- Slice the chicken breasts and add them back into the pan with the vegetables. Toss everything together and cook for another minute to blend the flavors.
- Finish it with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Combine and remove it from heat. Chicken fajitas are ready to serve.
Fajita Toppings
Top your fajitas with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, guacamole, sliced avocado, or sour cream for a classic touch. For a healthier alternative go for low-carb cheese and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
Tips for Making the Best Chicken Fajitas
- Marinate the chicken: For the best flavors, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to an hour or overnight. Place the marinated chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate it until ready to cook.
- Preheat the pan: Make sure that your pan is very hot before adding the chicken. You should hear a sizzling sound when the marinated chicken hits the pan. This helps seal the outer layer of the chicken, locking in the juices and ensuring the chicken remains tender and moist with a crispy exterior.
- For Smoky flavor: To give the chicken that authentic, smoky flavor similar to what you'd find in a restaurant, cook it until the outside gets slight char. This charred surface enhances the flavor and adds a bit of crispiness to the fajitas.
- Avoid overcooking: Be careful not to overcook or undercook the chicken. Overcooked chicken becomes dry and rubbery. To cook it perfectly: First, sear the chicken on high heat to get a nice crispy exterior. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked and juicy on the inside.
- Cook the vegetables separately: Pan-fry the onions and bell peppers separately from the chicken. Cook them until they are slightly charred on the outside but still retain a bit of crunch for texture.
- Slice the chicken after it cools: Allow the cooked chicken to cool down completely before slicing it into strips. This helps retain the juices and keeps the chicken moist when served.
Skillet Chicken Fajitas Meal Prep
Meal-prepping chicken fajitas is a great time-saver for busy weeks. You can quickly make a healthy and flavorful meal. Here's how to meal prep chicken fajitas.
- Prep the ingredients: Slice and marinate the chicken with fajita seasoning, olive oil, and lime juice (up to 24 hours ahead) or for 30 minutes. Slice bell peppers and onions.
- Cook: Sauté the chicken until golden and cooked through, then cook the veggies until crisp-tender.
- Store: Divide the chicken and veggies into containers. Keep tortillas and toppings like guacamole or salsa separate. I like to make fresh guacamole.
- Reheat & serve: Warm up the chicken and veggies when ready, and enjoy with fresh tortillas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serve chicken fajitas with warm tortillas (corn or flour).
Add your favorite toppings: sour cream, guacamole, salsa, shredded cheese, or pico de gallo.
You can also pair it with rice or make a fajita salad with chicken and vegetables on top of a bed of greens.
It is made by mixing simple spices like red chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Mexican Chicken and Rice or Lime Cilantro Rice.
Refried Beans.
Pico de Gallo, Corn Salsa or Mango Salsa.
Guacamole or Avocado Slices.
Grilled Vegetable Skewers.
Cucumber Salad.
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Recipe Card
Easy Chicken Fajitas with Homemade Seasoning
Equipment
- 1 small mixing bowl
- 1 Heavy bottom pan/skillet
Ingredients
For Fajita Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder/ paprika
- ½ teaspoon spicy chili powder/ cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
For Chicken Marinade
- 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, Substitute boneless chicken thighs
- 2 teaspoon fajita seasoning
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon fresh lemon/lime juice
For Fajita Vegetables
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 2 teaspoon fajita seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare the fajita seasoning: Make fajita seasoning by mixing red chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Marinate the chicken: Slice the chicken breasts into halves, lengthwise. You will get 4 chicken breasts slices. Marinate them with 2 teaspoons of the fajita seasoning, olive oil, and lemon juice. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes (for the best flavor, marinate for an hour or overnight in the refrigerator).
- Cook the chicken: Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a pan/skillet over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken and let it cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until charred and fully cooked. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Tip: To cook it perfectly, first, sear the chicken on high heat to get a nice crispy exterior. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked and juicy on the inside.
- Stir-fry the vegetables: In the same pan, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Then add bell peppers and onions. Cook on medium high heat for about 3 minutes or until the vegetables are slightly charred but still crisp. Add 2 teaspoon of the remaining fajita seasoning and combine. Cook it for a minute.
- Combine chicken and veggies: Add the cooked chicken strips back into the pan with the vegetables. Toss everything together and cook for another minute to blend the flavors. Finish it with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Combine and remove it from heat. Chicken fajitas are ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- Marinate the chicken: For the best flavors, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to an hour or overnight. Place the marinated chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate it until ready to cook.
- Preheat the pan: Make sure that your pan is very hot before adding the chicken. You should hear a sizzling sound when the marinated chicken hits the pan. This helps seal the outer layer of the chicken, locking in the juices and ensuring the chicken remains tender and moist with a crispy exterior.
- For Smoky flavor: To give the chicken that authentic, smoky flavor similar to what you'd find in a restaurant, cook it until the outside gets slight char. This charred surface enhances the flavor and adds a bit of crispiness to the fajitas.
- Avoid overcooking: Be careful not to overcook or undercook the chicken. Overcooked chicken becomes dry and rubbery. To cook it perfectly: First, sear the chicken on high heat to get a nice crispy exterior. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked and juicy on the inside.
- Cook the vegetables separately: Pan-fry the onions and bell peppers separately from the chicken. Cook them until they are slightly charred on the outside but still retain a bit of crunch for texture.
- Slice the chicken after it cools: Allow the cooked chicken to cool down completely before slicing it into strips. This helps retain the juices and keeps the chicken moist when served.
- Refrigeration: Store leftover chicken fajitas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.
- Freezing: Freezing is not recommended as the vegetables may turn mushy when thawed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Samaira Naik
I tried it today and it was like so good and tasty. I like it!
Preeti
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
Govel
Tried it, Loved it.