The smoky flavor of Chicken Fajitas might seem hard to replicate if you want to reach that exact Tex-Mex restaurant version, but the dish is actually super easy to be home-made just by plain skillets.
What spices are in the Fajitas seasoning?
Just some herbs, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper and chilli powder.
So it’s basically a roll with butter, consider making this Fajitas spice blend right at home. Sure, you’ll easily find foil packets of Fajitas seasoning at Costco or so, but why over-egging it and bearing the charge while you can simply find the ingredients within your spice cabinet? All you need to do is to stir them all together, then bring to heat and cook together with the veggies on pan.
Besides, you’ll get to completely control what goes into your spice mix. For example, you could ditch pepper or paprika if you’re a bit too heat-intolerant, then switch it with other natural herb powders like cumin, dill or oregano to achieve the desired pungent flavor and astringent mouthfeel. Instead of regular sea salt, Kosher salt or low-sodium table salt could prove some help in reducing the sodium content. Consider some extra pinches of lime zest too if you’re craving an acidic taste for the dish.
Here’s one final fact: this Fajitas seasoning is not only adaptable for Chicken Fajitas alone, but is actually fitting for any tacos, soups, stews or burritos. So delightful isn’t it?
How long do you let the chicken meat rest?
This rest is also called carry-over cooking – which according to most home-kitchen experts, should take about 10 minutes for roasted chicken. This Chicken Fajitas is not an exception either, as this is literally the best way your meat can obtain its maximum flavor. Larger meat pieces like a standing ribs, butt roasts or whole turkeys will need a longer rest, while it’ll be shorter for smaller ones like tournedos or veal paillards.
Why is that so, you may ask? Apparently, since the guideline of “never letting your food sit out for too long” is something we’ve been living with for so long.
That’s an easy one. Keep scrolling down below.
How do you make Fajitas meat tender?
Pounding the chicken breasts properly to tenderize it is one thing (approximately to an even ½ inch of thickness), but keeping your chicken tender actually takes more than just careful prepping.
For any meat kind all over the world, there is always some juice built up inside during cooking. This juice will need some time to redistribute back to the meat post-cook. So, if you wish your meat to be juicy and tender enough, then remember to never cut it out to serve right away, since its moisture will leak out and only leave you with a dry roast.
Besides, the meat will keep on cooking even after being taken out of the oven. Its internal temperature will still continue to rise for a couple of minutes even when removed from the heat source. So that’s why it’s crucial to take your chicken out of the oven a little bit earlier than it’s supposed to be.
And toppings?
Okay so the toppings is what decides how healthy you can go. Shredded cheese strips, dollops of sour cream or gobs of salsa fresca may sound so adequate to you, but have you made your second thought about their alternatives? For example, low-fat cheese or Greek yoghurt, pickled onions with some wraps of leafy greens or avocado slices?
I’m just saying, do it whatever way you love. (´∀｀）
Chicken Fajitas is commonly piled in tortillas. There’s also gluten-free tortillas to suit your needs, if there is any.
Chicken Fajitas Recipe
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 4 servings
Packed with fresh greens, this Chicken Fajitas is tender crisp and can totally be prepped ahead of time, so you'll surely have your dinners ready in no longer than 20 minutes! You won’t have to spare no effort to make it at all.
Ingredients
- Fajita seasoning mix:
- 1 tablespoon chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Chicken: 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced into strips
- 2 bell peppers (any color is fine), sliced
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Serve: 8 small tortillas
How to Make
Preparations:
Make the Fajitas seasoning: Whisk together all the ingredients for the Fajitas seasoning above in a small bowl, then set aside.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F.
- Mix about 3/4 of the Fajitas seasoning to the chicken meat. Cook it on pan for 10 minutes with 2 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Heat 1 tablespoons of oil over medium heat on a second pan, then add in the bell peppers, onion and the remaining Fajitas seasoning. Stir-fry for another 10 minutes or until the veggies are tender.
- While the veggies and meat are cooking, wrap tortillas in tin foil and warm them in the oven over low heat for 5 minutes.
- Fill the tortillas with the chicken and the veggies mixture above. Add more of your favourite toppings.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 224 | ||
% Daily Value | ||
Total Fat 16.4 g | 25% | |
Saturated Fat 5 g | 25% | |
Cholesterol 83 mg | 28% | |
Sodium 601 mg | 25% | |
Total Carbohydrates 38 g | 13% | |
Dietary Fiber 10 g | 40% | |
Sugars 4 g | ||
Protein 34 g | 68% | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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