These Chicken Fajitas have a terrific flavour hit from a great marinade. Served alongside charred peppers and onion, this meal is a kaleidoscope of colours no one can resist!
Whenever I see rainbow coloured capsicum on sale at the stores, I immediately think of Fajitas.
I know, I know, full points for (un)originality. Though to be fair, when I see just redcapsicum on sale, my first thought is the not so well known Spanish Romesco Sauce. The magic chargrilled capsicum-almond sauce that I use as a dip / sauce / marinade that I am abnormally addicted to.
So don’t crucify me for choosing the obvious when multi coloured capsicums are on sale!😂
FAJITA CHICKEN DESERVES A GREAT MARINADE
The secret ingredient in this marinade is orange juice. No, it doesn’t taste of oranges once cooked. When mixed with other savoury ingredients (lime, garlic, cumin, olive oil) then cooked, you end up with an incredibly flavourful chicken that’s savoury, fragrant and balanced with a hint of sweet.
Fruit juice is used in a wide range of marinades, from Cuban Mojo marinades to Mexican Pork Carnitas, to Korean Marinades to Hawaiian. It injects with subtle flavour and also the sugar brines like salt so proteins retain juiciness when cooked. Did you know that? There’s your cooking trivia for the day!
PS Don’t worry if you don’t have fresh or bottled OJ on hand. See recipe notes for alternatives.
A BIG HIT OF VEGGIES
One of the reasons I enjoy Fajitas so much is that you get a good serve of veggies without even realising. To serve 4 people, I like to use 3 large capsicums (that’s bell peppers to some of you) and a large onion.
This way, I can stuff the warm tortillas with tons of veggies, then top with a sensible serving of chicken. A slice of avocado, a quick drizzle of sour cream and you’ll be clutching an overstuffed tortilla of Fajita goodness, ready to be devoured.
Go forth and fulfil your Fajita cravings!!! – Nagi x
FAVOURITE MEXICAN RECIPES
- Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)
- Carne Asada and Beef Fajitas
- Beef Enchiladas
- Queso Cheese Dip
- Mexican Fiesta Menu and recipes
- See all Mexican recipes
- 1/4 cup / 65 ml lime juice
- 1/4 cup / 65 ml orange juice (Note 1 for subs)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 700g / 1.2 lb skinless chicken thighs or 2 large chicken breasts , halved horizontally (Note 2)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 capsicums / bell peppers , deseeded and sliced (red, yellow or green)
- 1 large onion , halved and sliced thickly (brown, yellow, white or red)
- 8– 12 small tortillas
- 1 large avocado , halved and sliced
- Sour cream
- Fresh lime wedges
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Place Marinade ingredients in a large bowl and mix. Add chicken, toss well to coat. Marinade for 1 hour to 24 hours (or freeze immediately then defrost overnight).
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Use 2 skillets to cook the chicken and vegetables at the same time, if you can.
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Heat 1 tbsp oil in a heavy based skillet over high heat until smoking. Add vegetables to cover the base of the pan in a single layer without too much overlapping (I cook in 3 batches). Spread out, leave for 45 seconds (to char it).
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Toss quickly then spread out. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Leave 45 seconds, toss then spread out, then leave 45 seconds. Remove onto platter and repeat with remaining Vegetables.
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Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until caramelised. Turn and cook the other side for 3 – 4 minutes.
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Remove onto a plate, cover loosely with foil. Rest for 3 minutes then slice.
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Warm tortillas using chosen method.
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Pile peppers and onion onto tortilla. Top with chicken, drizzle with sour cream, squeeze over lime juice. Fold, devour and be happy.
1. Sub with pineapple, apple or mango juice. OR chicken broth + 1 tsp sugar. If you have none of these, leave it out, add 1/2 tsp each onion, garlic powder, coriander powder and paprika plus 1 tsp sugar - will compensate for loss of other flavour, though will taste a bit different.
2. If using chicken breast, use 2 large ones and cut them in half horizontally to form 2 thinner steaks (ie 4 steaks in total, 1 per person)
3. Other topping options: Avocado Sauce (skip the avo slices), Restaurant Style Salsa, Pico de Gallo, fresh coriander/cilantro leaves
4. Nutrition per serving, assuming 2 flour tortilla tacos per person, 1 tsp sour cream (if it’s thick, thin it so it’s like Mexican crema), ¼ avocado. This assumes only ½ the oil in the marinade is absorbed by the chicken.
Originally published in April 2017 using a rather generic Mexican seasoning / marinade which I no longer use - original recipe here. It's unusual for me to republish a recipe so soon after the original publish date, but the marinade in this new recipe is so much better. It’s based on either a Rick Bayless or Bobby Flay recipe, I cannot recall.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Chicken Fajitas recipe video!
LIFE OF DOZER
You can hear the wheels turning in his head as he assesses the distance between him, the Fajitas and the door, versus me behind the camera.
Calculated risk assessment result: No go. Better chance of getting a treat for good behaviour.
Hi nagi! The chicken looks amazing.
What kind of pan did you use to cook the chicken?
Hi TG! I usually use my black cast iron skillet for Fajitas 🙂 N x
Thank you, I always end up overcooking the chicken when I use a pan and the electric griddle doesn’t heat well. I’ll try the iron cast.
This looks delicious! Sadly I’m allergic to the secret ingredient. Would a non orange citrus substitute alright. Lemons for instance, or a combo lemen/lime?
Wow!! This recipe is fantastic!! Made it a few times now and always a hit! Do you think it would work with steak? Thanks so much
Paula
What a meal! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks! Another keeper.
It looks delicious. I wish this were in front of me right now.
I have been trying your recepies and talking to my friends about. They taste great, and easy to do. Thank’s from Canada
You’re so welcome Patricia! I’m glad you enjoy them! N xx
Thank you for sharing! I am completely obsessed with all of your recipes and I just know they will be delicious every time!! I will never buy fajita pack again after making this from scratch!! So tasty!! I am making the beef enchiladas next with Mexican rice and I cannot wait xx
This recipe needs to come with a warning because it’s insanely addictive. I bought 900 grams of chicken thighs and marinated them overnight in hopes of having a good amount of food for dinner and lunch the next day. Much to my surprise (and dismay in the lack of leftovers and ever growing waistline), my boyfriend and I somehow managed to scoff it all down.
Don’t ask me how we managed, we should still be in a food coma right now.
He hates Mexican food by the way so I marketed these as “chicken and capsicum” to him and got him all excited. Suffice to say that there is now ONE Mexican recipe that he thoroughly enjoys! Pairs super well with your kale rice with garlic butter, which was a real ripper. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge, you are an absolute goddess.
I’m not telling you how many wraps I ate.
It was a lot.
I don’t usually make fajitas as my favourite paste came from a jar (the shame!) but they stopped making it years ago and I couldn’t find a similar jar or recipe. But because it’s a Nagi recipe I knew I couldn’t go wrong!
I made a huge portion thinking there’d be leftovers for my second dinner (my Hobbit dinner I like to call it, when I feel peckish late on and the leftovers sing their song of “eat me, eat meeeeee,”)but every scrap was devoured. *sob*
There is no shame. This is HEALTHEEEEEEE!!!
So delicious… made it with you corn salad. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it Nadika!
Hi Nagi,
I love your website! Great recipes full of flavour! I use it almost daily and it’s my go to site when I need to sort out dinner.
I cooked both this fajitas recipe and the recipe you previously had on the website. I loved them both but now I can’t find the other recipe with the more dry rub seasoning any more. Am I overlooking something?
Greetings from Amsterdam!
Sophie
I have used this recipe 3 times now since you posted it, it’s amazing!!! The whole family LOVE it (that’s from someone who likes spice)! I did make a spicy guac as a side dish but it was hardly touched.
Trying your Eastern Lamb tonight! Please keep them coming 🙂
Glad you loved this Aiobhean!! Thanks for sharing your feedback! N x
This looks amazing. Gonna try it soon
Hope you do Antony!
I’ve got this recipe pinned and I’ve made it multiple times. Just came back to it and it seems the spice recipe for the chicken marinade may have changed? I remember there being a ton of spices?
Hi Kris! The original recipe is linked in the recipe notes, but I find this new version tenderises the chicken better and it’s the version I use all the time now! N x
THIS looks yum! Love the colors and the WAY YOU can use vegis. We ARE having on, and on gusty WIND, last night thunder. Made Big casserol and palenta. Nagi, the HOMELESSS MAN in park is HE still There ? Watched on SBS last week about PEOPLE and KIDS NOT having Food, SO much for Lucky COUNTRY. Is DOZER having Walkes?
The gusty winds are up here now! It’s wild weather today, though quite warm 🙂 Homeless man is still there! I still take food down to him most days 🙂 I just walk Dozer around the park on a leash (he HATES it!)
The chicken is marinating. This is a bit different than what I usually do. Namely the juice. I use equal parts fresh squeezed orange, lime, and GRAPEFRUIT, with an equal part of white vinegar. It’s a substitute for Bitter Orange used in the Yucatan. I make my pickled red onion with this juice. Any way…I am looking forward to this. How ever, I forgot the avocado…bummer 🙁 The chicken will marinade over night. I also put some Mexican Table cream mixed with finely chopped Cilantro in a jar in the fridge to top this off. I am lucky here in Phoenix to be able to head to the Ranch Market for fresh tortillas. I’ll get back to you when I have devoured, and am happy.
You’ll be fine even without avo!! The chicken is SO GOOD you will want to eat it plain 🙂 Promise! N x
I love using orange juice in a marinade, but did not know it acts like a brine. I haven’t had fajitas in years so I def need to try these. That marinade sounds amazing. I’m hungry.
It’s a terrific brine! Like apples and pears used for Korean marinades, orange for Cuban and Mexican marinades 🙂 SO GOOD! N x
Saw this the other day & made it tonight for the family. Easy marinade to put together, fast to make & best of all tasty! Very tender too. I was glad to see the lime juice in the recipe; I had a bottle of key lime juice, so was glad to use it for more than just one recipe. Always look forward to your recipes.
That’s so great to hear Renee! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this, thank you for letting me know! N x