Authentic Mexican Chicken Fajitas-Fajitas De Pollo

Authentic Mexican Chicken Fajitas-Fajitas De Pollo is a popular dish served in Mexico for casual entertaining. One of the easiest dishes of Mexican cuisine, fajitas, are usually made with chicken, beef, or shrimp.

Mexican Chicken Fajitas are the best.

Today, we will prepare a delicious authentic Mexican chicken fajitas recipe, or fajitas de pollo. One of the easiest dishes of Mexican cuisine is the fajitas made with chicken, beef, or shrimp.

You can serve them on a sizzling cast iron pan (like in restaurants), or you can serve them on a regular serving plate next to guacamole, limes, salsa, and warm corn or flour tortillas, as tacos.  

If you are looking for a low-carb meal, you can skip the tortillas and wrap the fajitas in a lettuce leaf or just eat them like that.

In Mexico, this dish is popular for casual entertaining. The recipe is easy to make, and the flavors are divine! Perfect meal for a weeknight dinner.

It also tastes better if you marinate the meat for at least 30 minutes before cooking it.

What ingredients go into this recipe of chicken fajitas?

Chicken

This recipe serves about six people, so that we will need about 3-4 medium skinless, boneless chicken breasts, or you can calculate to have about half a pound for each person.

I used chicken breast, but it is also your personal preference and what is available. Chicken thighs are great too.

Onion

Large white onions are the best, but you can also use yellow onions. You will need to slice the onions thinly.

Bell peppers

Use a variety of colored bell peppers. I like yellow, red, and orange, but greens are also accepted.

Vegetable oil

We use the oil to stir-fry the meat with the onions and pepper.

Marinade:

Limes or lemons

We will use both the zest and the juice.

Granulated sugar

We will use it to cut down the acidity in lemons.

Oregano

I like the dried Mexican oregano as it brings the original flavors of Mexico into the dish. However, if you don’t have Mexican oregano, use a regular one.

Cayenne pepper

We use cayenne pepper to spice up things. The measurements are for a milder spicy dish, so here is your moment to decide how spicy this dish will be.

Ground cinnamon

Cinnamon is a warm spice that pairs very well with the cayenne pepper.

Salt

Salt is what makes a dish delicious, so don’t be afraid of it.

Note: If you do not own individual spices, but you do have fajitas seasoning or taco seasoning, use them. The ingredients in each seasoning are slightly different, but the idea is the same. Taco seasoning is spicier than fajitas seasoning, so it is good to keep that in mind when you use them.

To serve the fajitas (all these items are optional):

Guacamole, salsa, sour cream/Mexican crema, flour/corn, fresh warm tortillas, more lemon juice, chopped green onions, etc.

How to make the Mexican chicken fajitas- or fajitas de pollo:

Step one.

Slice the chicken breast into 3/4 inch wide(about 2 cm)strips and place the pieces into a large bowl. 

Note: Some recipes tell you to cook the chicken without slicing it into strips, but, in my humble opinion, to marinate it properly, it needs to be sliced. It will not get dry if you don’t overcook it.

I added the lime zest and juice, granulated sugar, oregano, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon. These are my secret ingredients for this authentic fajitas recipe.

Step two.

I mixed it thoroughly and set it aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, I prepared the peppers. I used red, yellow, and green peppers. I love the red and the yellow, particularly, but feel free to use whatever peppers you have available.

You can also add jalapeno peppers if you like a little bit of heat.

I cut the onions in half and sliced them thinly. I also cut the peppers in half and sliced them into 1/2 inch(1cm) wide strips.

Do I use a cast iron pan or a regular one?

A cast-iron pan is my preference for searing the meat in a better way. Make sure the cast iron pan you use is seasoned well so it doesn’t stick to the pan.

However, if you don’t own a cast iron pan (which you should), a nonstick pan is also good.

No matter what you use, make sure the pan is hot before adding the chicken.

Step three.

I stir-fried the marinated chicken for 5-6 minutes. This is my enameled cast-iron pan I use very often.

Step four.

I added the peppers and onions and cooked for 3-4 minutes more.  

The chicken strips should be cooked through, and the vegetables soft and tender but still juicy.

Voila, super easy to make, and in just over 30 minutes, you have a delicious meal on the table.

Suggestions for serving the Mexican fajitas de pollo:

Spoon the chicken mixture into a serving bowl and take it to the table.

Serve the fajitas with:

• Fresh warm tortillas(I prefer the corn ones)
• Guacamole
• Salsa
• Fresh Mexican crema
• Mexican beans
• Rice
• Pico de gallo

If you do not have access to Mexican crema,  use sour cream or French creme fraiche. 

Mexican crema and French creme fraiche are slightly soured and thickened creams, milder and less thick than American sour cream.

Each guest takes a warm tortilla, spreads it with a bit of salsa, adds a spoonful of guacamole, and piles some of the chicken mixture in the center. The final touch is to add a small dollop of sour cream/crema (The American way).

The tortilla is then folded over the filling and eaten.

Can I freeze the fajitas for later use?

Yes, you can freeze leftovers. You can also marinate the meat in a bag and freeze it for later use. When ready to cook, defrost the meat and continue with the recipe.

More recipes to love:

Papas Con Chorizo

Caldo de Pollo Or Chicken Soup Mexican Style

Easy Mexican Horchata- Cinnamon Rice Drink

Authentic Mexican Capirotada- Bread Pudding

Mexican Chicken Tinga- Best Tinga De Pollo

Mexican Pork in Green Sauce- Puerco en salsa verde

Authentic Mexican Bistec Encebollado- Steak And Onion

Mexican Rice

Traditional Mexican Beans

Mexican Picadillo

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Yield: 6 servings

Authentic Mexican Chicken Fajitas-Fajitas De Pollo

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Authentic Mexican Chicken Fajitas-Fajitas De Pollo is a popular dish served in Mexico for casual entertaining. One of the easiest dishes in Mexican cuisine, fajitas are usually made with chicken, beef, or shrimp.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

• 3-4 medium skinless boneless chicken breasts
• 2 large onions sliced thinly
• 3 bell peppers(1 green, 1 yellow or orange, 1 red)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the marinade:

• 2 limes- juice and rind
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt

To serve:

• guacamole, salsa, sour cream/Mexican crema, flour/corn fresh warm tortillas, pico de gallo

Instructions

1. Slice the chicken breasts into 3/4in(2cm) wide strips and place these in a large bowl.
2. Add the lime rind and juice, sugar, oregano, cayenne, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Mix thoroughly and set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
4. Cut the onions in half and slice them thinly. Cut the peppers in half, remove the cores and seeds and slice them into 1/2 inch(1 cm) wide strips.
5. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Stir fry the marinated chicken for 5-6 minutes. Add the peppers and onions and cook for 3-4 minutes more, until the chicken strips are cooked through and the vegetables are soft and tender but still juicy.
6. Spoon the chicken mixture into a serving bowl and take it to the table.
7. Serve with fresh warm corn/flour tortillas, guacamole, sour cream, crema, salsa, etc.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 411Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 607mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 4gSugar: 12gProtein: 30g

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