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You are here: Home / Recipes / Best Chicken Fajitas

By Karina 57 Comments Filed Under: Chicken

Best Chicken Fajitas

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The BEST chicken fajitas are so quick to throw together. Chicken gets marinated in the best juicy lime marinade, then seared for that unmistakeable crisp-charred outer edge!

Serve with onions and colourful bell pepper strips and the traditional corn tortillas (or flour tortillas) for the best dinner in minutes. OR wrap them in a lettuce leaf for a low carb option. These are the Best Chicken Fajitas and they are so versatile!

Best Chicken Fajitas are quick to throw together! Chicken gets marinated in the best juicy lime marinade, then seared for that unmistakeable crisp-charred outer edge! Serve with onions and bell pepper strips! | cafedelites.com
BEST CHICKEN FAJITAS

Chicken Fajitas would have to be one of the easiest recipes out there, BUT people (used to be me) usually opt to buy seasoning in a packet from the supermarket. Well, these chicken fajitas hit those packets over the head a million times over. Why buy it when you can make it SO MUCH BETTER yourself with just a handful of ingredients, and maybe only 3 extra minutes added to your prep time?

The BEST chicken fajita marinade | cafedelites.com

CHICKEN FAJITA MARINADE

My marinade base consists of 5 ingredients. ONLY 5.

  • Lime juice (freshly squeezed is best)
  • Cumin
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Chili (you can use crushed red pepper flakes or ground chili)

From here, you can add as much salt and pepper as you wish, finely chopped cilantro, dried oregano, whatever you have on hand. SO MUCH BETTER than a dry rub! You’re guaranteed tender, juicy chicken just from the addition of tangy lime juice.

The BEST chicken fajitas are so quick to throw together! | cafedelites.com

CHICKEN BREAST OR THIGHS

This one is personal preference, although my favourite option is chicken thighs. You can’t beat naturally juicy thigh strips in a tortilla wrap. Having said that, my husband is all for chicken breasts and isn’t that the beauty of cooking! There’s no right or wrong. Charred edges can absolutely be achieved with both cuts.

Cast iron skillet or pan

A cast iron skillet is what I use for the best sear. To use cast iron, make sure you’ve seasoned it properly first to avoid the meat sticking on the base. HOWEVER, if you don’t own a cast iron, you can most certainly use a nonstick pan. Just get your pans hot first before adding your chicken.

Add your thighs in whole and cook them until they are completely cooked through. Allow them to rest, then slice. THIS guarantees the juiciest chicken thigh strips EVER. Cooking them as strips won’t give you an incredibly juicy result.

I choose three different coloured red bell peppers (or capsicums) to get the best visual impact of seeing fajitas on a plate. You can also add orange or use whatever colours you can find in your store.

You guys have so far loved my take on some incredibly crispy Pork Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooked Pulled Pork), not to mention these popular Chili Lime Steak Fajitas. Being a big believer of if-you’re-onto-something-REALLY-good-why-change-it type of thing, I didn’t mess around too much with your much loved chicken fajita marinade found in this amazing grilled chicken fajita salad here.

There you have it. The most juiciest, tender chicken strips with charred golden crusts and crunchy outer edges. Perfectly seared. Amazingly juicy.

The BEST chicken fajitas are seared for that unmistakeable crisp-charred outer edge! | cafedelites.com

Since I serve our fajitas straight from the skillet onto the table with a buffet of fajita additions, I add avocado slices to the pan just to slightly heat them up a tiny little bit.

Best toppings to serve with chicken fajitas

  • Sour cream
  • Guacamole
  • Salsa
  • Pico De Gallo
  • Cheese (I use a Mexican blend, but you can use Cheddar, Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack
  • Black Beans & Rice

MORE RECIPES

Carne Asada
Crispy Pork Carnitas (Mexican Slow Cooked Pulled Pork)
Cilantro Lime Chicken

Best Chicken Fajitas | cafedelites.com

Best Chicken fajitas

The BEST chicken fajitas are so quick to throw together! Chicken gets marinated in the best juicy lime marinade, then seared for that unmistakeable crisp-charred outer edge! Serve with onions and bell pepper strips!
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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Serves: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon ground chili (adjust to your desired spice preference)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro (optional)
  • 1 1/2 pounds (650 grams) chicken thighs, skinless and boneless
  • 3 large bell peppers (or capsicums), cut into strips (I use green, red and yellow)
  • 1 red onion thinly sliced
  • 2 avocados, peeled, seeded and sliced

Instructions

  • In a large shallow bowl, combine lime juice, oil, garlic, cumin, salt, chili and cilantro; mix together. Add the chicken thighs and If time allows, let marinate for 30 minutes.
  • Heat a large skillet or pan (12-inch | 30cm) on medium-high heat until smoking. Add a drizzle of olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Sear the chicken on both sides until golden, charred and cooked right through (about 8 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of your fillets). Flip them a couple of times while cooking so they get a nice even char.
    Transfer chicken to a warm plate, loosely tent with foil and let rest. 
  • Add the peppers and onions to the skillet (drizzle with a little extra oil only if needed), and cook until the onion is soft and the peppers are slightly charred and cooked to your liking. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Slice chicken into strips.
    Serve with warmed tortillas, chopped cilantro and sliced avocado (plus your desired fillings).

Nutrition

Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4115IU | Vitamin C: 171.4mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 3mg
« Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Annalisa says

    December 24, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    5 stars
    This was so bomb! I have made fajitas a lot but these are were the BEST. So simple but so so tasty! I used thighs cuz they have more flavor. Didnt have avocado but didn’t miss em. Will be using this marinade on everything! Thank you! You are are genius!

    Reply
  2. Tarissa says

    December 24, 2020 at 12:30 pm

    5 stars
    Soooo good!

    Reply
  3. Yvonne B says

    September 28, 2020 at 5:41 am

    5 stars
    Omgosh! This is the 2nd time I have made this recipe and my husband and I absolutely LOVE it! I used chicken thighs and they were moist and juicy! Easy enough to make for a crowd! Easy, Peasy and oh so good!

    Reply
  4. Lana P says

    September 28, 2020 at 4:04 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! Used a cast iron grill pan and served with charred corn tortillas and a sprinkle of cilantro. I’m sure avocado would be a great addition, but we didn’t have one and it wasn’t missed. Definitely wouldn’t skip marinating – at least let the chicken marinate while cutting up the vegetables. Lastly, the husband is sensitive to hot food so I used Kashmiri chilli powder instead of cayenne powder or pepper flakes as it’s much milder. Regular sweet paprika could be used here too if you don’t like it spicy. Thank you, Karina!

    Reply
  5. Mindy Mcjunkin says

    May 14, 2020 at 8:21 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was AMAZING!!! I used chicken breast instead of thighs, and marinated for 4hrs. then grilled it. Was absolutely ridiculously amazing

    Reply
  6. Catherine says

    April 29, 2020 at 9:06 am

    5 stars
    HOOOOLLLY SMOKES this recipe was the best!! Thank you!! the chicken thighs turned out juicy after marinating in the fridge for a little over an hour. Stuck these in the air fryer at 360 degrees for ten minutes, then flipped them over for another 5-7 and they turned out PERFECTLY. so tender. saving this recipe <3

    Reply
  7. Nelson says

    April 22, 2020 at 9:41 am

    5 stars
    This was SO yummy!!! Thank you so much for posting. I diced up chicken breasts instead of thighs. It was SO good. I didn’t marinate the chicken. FIVE STARS😁😁

    Reply
  8. Michelle L. says

    April 16, 2020 at 10:49 am

    5 stars
    Omg! This recipe is sure to put a smile on your face-especially with the quarantining going on. My son and I absolutely loved it! Thanks for sharing the recipe and such easy steps.

    Reply
  9. Anu says

    April 15, 2020 at 6:50 am

    This was amazing . I am always hesitant trying out new recipes , but I sure am glad I tried this one cause this was loaded with flavor ! I added a bit more chilli powder and garlic when I made it . If you want to try a fajita recipe look no further , this is a winner !

    Reply
  10. Jennifer L Fowler says

    April 06, 2020 at 6:26 am

    5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe twice now…and all I can say is “OH MY GOSH!!!” It is absolutely delicious! Since I am not a fan of thighs, I made mine using two boneless skinless chicken breasts that I butterflied. Tasted AMAZING!!! Hubby and kiddos LOVED it! Thank you so much for the amazing recipe!!

    Reply
  11. Michelle says

    April 04, 2020 at 10:46 am

    5 stars
    This was so delicious ious, very flavorful! I’ll be adding this to my list of recipes for dinner!!

    Reply
    • Keith says

      June 23, 2020 at 12:39 pm

      Thanks for the recipe. Easy to put together, tasty as heck, and earned some brownie points with my life partner!

      Reply
  12. Mark says

    April 01, 2020 at 9:00 am

    5 stars
    I’m usually very critical of my own cooking, but this recipe was over-the-top! Limited number of ingredients, easy preparation, and explosive with flavor. One of the best dishes I’ve ever made.

    Reply
  13. Quinn says

    March 26, 2020 at 6:56 am

    5 stars
    Hi Karina!
    I LOVE this recipe. I am wanting to bake them in the oven on a sheet pan and I tried it last week and my chicken came out dry. What temp and time would you recommend?
    Thank you!!!!

    Reply
  14. Monique Straughter says

    February 10, 2020 at 10:41 am

    Hello!I fix the Best Chicken Fajita today and they were delicious. I will make it again.

    Reply
  15. Stacey Heller says

    January 27, 2020 at 5:08 am

    I was wondering if I could use white meat chicken instead of chicken thighs?

    Reply
    • Karina says

      January 27, 2020 at 8:54 am

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  16. Jenifer says

    January 27, 2020 at 12:20 am

    5 stars
    Very easy and very good I had a marinade similar to this and have lost it. I was so happy to find your recipe.I also made the black bean and rice to go along. Loving having your site on my radar!

    Reply
  17. Linda says

    January 26, 2020 at 10:51 pm

    5 stars
    Best EVER – WOW followed all exactly – except I slipped with the cumin and put in about 1 tbsp. -not sure It still came out incredibly delicious. No more package MSG packs for me this marinade is amazing with only 30 minutes. Thank you for sharing this keeper!

    Reply
  18. Manuel III Vasquez says

    January 23, 2020 at 7:03 am

    just got your recipe from my Google feed and WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE! I’VE GOTTEN SO L accustomed to horrifically bad fajita recipes. from big names like SerioususEats , and other poularplatforms with accomplished chefs…that seem to completely mix the mark and can’t even understand the concept of fajitas in their recipes and articles. Your recipe blows them away. It feels very much like true to the originating cuisine and is one that I think any Tejano would be very proud to make at home…and some might even claim as their own family’s creation. Thanks for sharing your version with others.

    Reply
  19. Viki D says

    January 12, 2020 at 11:10 pm

    5 stars
    OMGoodness…………..made these for dinner last night when I got home from work. Fantastic and they took no time to put together. They are going into my regular recipe rotation. They were so good I shared the recipe with all of my friends and pinned it so I won’t lose it. Thank you………..superb!!!!

    Reply
  20. Jalisa Miller says

    December 10, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    5 stars
    This meal was easy and absolutely great!! I doubled everything due to the pack of chicken that I purchased and let the chicken marinade for a few hours while we put up Christmas decorations and it turned out soooooo tender and delicious!! My fiance and daughter were going crazy over this meal! Thank you thank you thank you!

    Reply
  21. Roro says

    November 26, 2019 at 6:29 pm

    Oh my good grief these are delicious. Had them for our wedding anniversary dinner with champagne!!!

    Reply
  22. Amy says

    August 06, 2019 at 12:55 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for a family of 5, Exactly per the directions, but doubled it. Used the cilantro and avocado – OH EM GEE!! Soooo freaking delicious! Because I doubled it, I had to deglaze the pan after each batch of chicken, but worth the extra step…definitely going to be making this again! Topped with sour cream, salsa, and Tex mex cheese. Will definitely make a pico de gallo next time- I think that extra mile would be worth it. Thank you!

    Reply
  23. Clare says

    August 01, 2019 at 6:53 am

    5 stars
    These were great, the whole family loved them and I have some really picky eaters!

    Reply
  24. LIz says

    August 01, 2019 at 4:03 am

    just made this today, it was amazing! Works great with gluten free flatbread too! 🙂

    Reply
  25. Ruksana Williams says

    July 27, 2019 at 9:34 pm

    I have tried this and absolutely love it. I have friends who are vegan, could I substitute the chicken for mushrooms or jackfruit? Wondering if the marinade would work well with either of them

    Reply
  26. Jill says

    July 14, 2019 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    These were AMAZING! Soooooo moist and flavorful. For sure a keeper that I will make over and over. I couldn’t resist sprinkling a tiny bit more salt and seasoning when they were out of the marinade and into the pan. I also love to a add a bit of lime zest and a splash of juice to my sour cream. Thank you so much for this, I feel like I now have the perfect recipe!

    Reply
  27. Kimberli says

    July 07, 2019 at 7:11 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was so good! My eight year old daughter helped me cook and she is a picky eater, but she loved the chicken. I let the marinade sit for an extra 30 minutes. Love!!

    Reply
  28. Kat Daniel says

    June 29, 2019 at 8:18 pm

    5 stars
    Winner winner chicken dinner. The marinade was perfect.

    Reply
  29. Larry says

    June 03, 2019 at 6:39 am

    5 stars
    Very nice. I covered the chicken in the cast iron skillet which allowed it to cook properly.

    Reply
  30. Mona says

    February 11, 2019 at 1:11 pm

    Made this recipe just today. It was delicious! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes. Also I’ve made your chili lime steak fajitas. Just soooooo good!

    Thank you again!

    Reply
  31. Esther Ramadan says

    January 07, 2019 at 3:45 am

    Did you cut your chicken through the middle to make them thin? Yours looks a lot thinner than mine typically do.

    Reply
    • Karina says

      January 08, 2019 at 10:12 pm

      Hi Esther,

      No I did not.

      Reply
  32. JJ says

    December 11, 2018 at 10:00 am

    5 stars
    The good stuff! Exactly like the fajitas you would get in a restaurant in So-Cal. Where I grew up it was standard to use green bell peppers and cut them and the onions into good sized squares.

    Reply
    • Karina says

      December 14, 2018 at 7:10 pm

      I am so glad that you enjoyed them!! They really are so good. Thanks for the feedback and thanks for following along with me! xo

      Reply
  33. Beth says

    December 09, 2018 at 10:21 am

    5 stars
    I make this recipe once a week, and I always look forward to fajita night! This recipe is sooooo good, thank you for sharing!!!!

    Reply
  34. Marilyn Schmidt says

    November 13, 2018 at 1:34 am

    Is there a site I can go to to print this recipe?

    Reply
    • Karina says

      November 22, 2018 at 12:43 am

      Yes, please visit my site at cafedelites.com. Here is the link to this recipe for you: https://cafedelites.com/chicken-fajitas/. You can print any of my recipes from my site. Thanks for following along with me! XO

      Reply
  35. Trish says

    November 10, 2018 at 1:23 am

    5 stars
    Made this last night. Needless to say the pan was empty. Everyone loved it!! Thank you

    Reply
  36. Darla U says

    October 03, 2018 at 9:22 pm

    5 stars
    LOVE THIS RECIPE!! My Boys keep begging me to make it again. Thanks so much for sharing. Also tried this with Pork not bad but the Chicken thighs was the best tasting!

    Reply
  37. Maggie Unzueta says

    August 27, 2018 at 11:34 pm

    This dish looks amazing. I wish I could eat that right now!

    Reply
  38. Beverly Chance says

    May 31, 2018 at 11:09 pm

    5 stars
    I am not a good cook…at all. I decided to try cooking again here lately and found your website. This was the first recipe to try…THANK YOU! It turned out delicious, the directions were spot on, nothing confusing, I barreled right through. Thanks again.

    Reply
    • Karina says

      June 01, 2018 at 12:04 pm

      That is great to hear! I am so glad that you tried this recipe and it worked great for you! Thank you for sharing and following along with me! XO

      Reply
  39. Diane Bernard says

    May 01, 2018 at 11:03 am

    5 stars
    Made chicken fajitas with this recipe and it was awesome! My husband owns a restaurant & is the chef and he declared this as THE BEST Mexican dish I’ve ever made! Made it exactly as you did but did add some fresh hot peppers coz th hubbly loves them! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  40. ken Weaver says

    March 13, 2018 at 1:17 am

    5 stars
    I made this over the weekend and my 2 sons loved it

    Reply
  41. Laura Burton says

    March 05, 2018 at 3:29 am

    5 stars
    Can I marinate the chicken longer than 30 minutes?

    Reply
    • Karina says

      March 05, 2018 at 12:39 pm

      Yes, of course! YUM!

      Reply
  42. Angie says

    February 18, 2018 at 10:14 am

    I made this tonight for my family. Very flavorful. Very easy to make. My family loved it. Will be making again.

    Reply
    • Karina says

      February 23, 2018 at 9:30 am

      YAY!! That is so exciting to hear! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
  43. Debbie says

    February 09, 2018 at 12:27 pm

    5 stars
    I made this tonight for my family and they loved it. I followed the directions as written. So easy and so flavorful. A crowd pleaser at my house. Will be making again and again. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Karina says

      February 09, 2018 at 3:50 pm

      That is awesome! Too perfect! So glad that it worked out for you! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  44. Sharon Hamilton says

    January 29, 2018 at 5:12 am

    5 stars
    I made the chicken fajitas last night. Soooo delicious. The marinade made the chicken truly juicy and even more tasty than I could have imagined! This recipe is going to be a frequent meal and so good I will most definitely make it for dinner guests. Thanks for the great recipe. I’m moving on to other Cafe Delites recipes FOR SURE!!!

    Reply
    • Tymeron Smith says

      January 31, 2018 at 4:03 pm

      YAY! Perfect! Thanks so much for your love and support! I really appreciate it!

      Reply
  45. jessica says

    January 27, 2018 at 5:09 pm

    5 stars
    I love this Chicken fajitas SO much! I’ll have to give it a try one of these days thanks for sharing

    Reply
  46. Karin B says

    January 26, 2018 at 4:10 am

    Can you post a pic of what your ground chili bottle looks like? I have no clue what that is, but I want to! 🙂

    Reply
    • Beverly Y says

      November 14, 2018 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      It’s just chili powder. McCormick’s or Badia or even store brand. That’s all.

      Reply

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