Easy Chicken Fajitas Make-Ahead Freezer Meal Recipe
Chicken fajitas were one of the first dishes I learned to cook when I moved out of my parents house.
They are so easy to make and mouth-watering delicious that it quickly became my favorite recipe.
You really can’t mess these up!
Now with a growing family, making this dish for dinner along with a couple of extra freezer meals makes all the sense in the world!
Ingredient Profile
Chicken
These make-ahead freezer chicken fajitas work well with both chicken breasts and chicken thighs.
Fajita meat is typically boneless skinless chicken breasts.
They are a great option and always a favorite of the whole family, however, do not neglect dark meat, for it is higher in minerals than white meat and not to mention has a lower price tag!
Another great chicken tip is to never wash your raw chicken.
Yup, you heard that right! It’s crazy I know, but washing or rinsing your raw chicken does not kill bacteria, it actually spreads it all over your kitchen sink and counters!
Bacteria like Salmonella, Campylobacter, and other harmful bacteria can be found in raw chicken, by cooking your chicken properly, you kill these bacteria and your chicken is safe to eat.
Bell Peppers
What are fajitas without the bell peppers?
They are packed with vitamins A and C, high in minerals, and are even more nutrient-dense when you lightly cook them.
Heat breaks down the cell walls of the bell peppers and allows our body to absorb the carotenoids found in them.
This in turn also breaks down some of the vitamin C, but not all unless you cook it to a mush.
Bell peppers can be found in different colors such as yellow, orange, red, and green.
Green bell peppers are unripe peppers, much like most fruit when it is not ripe and they do not have very much flavor because they were harvested early.
The red ones are the sweetest because they were harvested at peak ripeness.
They also hold the most nutrients which is why I always reach for red bell peppers!
A mom hack to save overripe (soft, not mushy) bell peppers, is to cook them with some onions and add some seasonings.
You can top almost any dish with them 🙂
Tortillas
Do you eat fajitas with corn or flour tortillas?
Flour tortillas all the way! The answer has always been easy for me since I’m Mexican and this is second nature to me.
Most traditional Mexican food uses corn tortillas, think tacos and enchiladas, however, fajitas are the rare opportunity to bite into a soft and chewy flour tortilla taco style.
If you are gluten-sensitive or simply enjoy corn tortillas, don’t hesitate and make them corn, they’re delicious either way!
Best Chicken Fajitas Recipe
This recipe is incredibly easy to make with simple ingredients you most likely already have in stock at home.
You can make them even easier by substituting the perfect marinade for good old faithful taco seasoning.
If you have a little extra time, try my homemade 2-ingredient flour tortilla recipe for the most buttery soft tortillas.
Don’t forget to add your favorite topping to enhance the experience!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 – 2lbs of Chicken (2 Large Chicken Breasts or 4 Chicken Thighs)
- 1 Red Onion (sliced)
- 3 Bell Peppers (any color)
- 8-12 Flour tortillas (or corn)
- Fajita Seasoning Marinade
- 2 tbsp of Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp of Fresh Lime Juice (or lemon)
- 2-3 Garlic Cloves (pressed or minced) or 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1-2 Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce (remove seeds for mild flavor)
- 2 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp of Salt
- 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
OR
Substitute flavors with: 1/4 cup of Taco Seasoning (or 4 tbsp of chili powder), 2 tbsp Olive Oil, and 2 tbsp of Fresh Lime Juice
Suggested Toppings:
- Sour Cream
- Avocado Slices or Guacamole
- Squeeze of Fresh Lime Juice
- Fresh Cilantro
- Raw Onion Diced
- Pico de Gallo
- Salsa Picante: Red or Green
Make-Ahead Freezer Chicken Fajitas Instructions:
1. Decide if you are going to grill your chicken fajitas out on the BBQ grill or not. If you are going to cook them on the grill, do not cut your chicken.
2. If you are using chicken breasts, cut them in half horizontally to make 4 flat pieces. Slice your chicken into thin strips.
3. Mix all of the marinade ingredients in a small bowl, it will look like a thick paste.
4. Add your strips into a freezer-safe ziplock bag along with all of the marinade ingredients. Close the bag and mix the flavors until it’s well incorporated.
5. Place the sliced onions and bell peppers above the chicken mixture for the best results. Push out any air from the freezer bag and seal.
6. Label with preparation date, and cooking instructions (see picture example) and freeze for up to 3 months.
Cooking Instructions for Chicken Fajitas:
This easy meal will get food on the dinner table super quick with no fuss! I’ll cover the many ways to prepare your freezer fajitas.
Get juicy chicken every time by following these easy steps.
How to Defrost Chicken Fajitas
For the best fajitas, the first step before cooking is to thaw out your freezer meal in the refrigerator overnight.
Be sure to place your freezer bag on a pan or bowl to catch the thawing liquid.
Once you are ready to cook your chicken fajitas, take them out of the fridge and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
Mix the chicken and vegetables together to get some of the marinade on your veggies. Now you can continue the cooking process.
Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas:
Add this recipe to your list of sheet pan meals, for this is the perfect way to cook your fajitas. Swap out your sheet pan for your cast iron skillet to create a restaurant-style sizzle!
1. Preheat your large cast iron skillet (if using) in the oven at 400 degrees F.
2. Pour the ingredients from the freezer bag into the hot skillet or sheet pan.
3. Bake for 20-25 mins until chicken is cooked through.
4. Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Stovetop Chicken Fajita Instructions:
Although this method requires you to stand watch over the stove, it still creates quick and easy results.
1. Preheat cast iron skillet (if using) on medium heat for about 5 mins.
2. Set the veggies aside pour the rest of the ingredients from the freezer bag into the hot skillet and raise the flame to medium-high heat.
3. With a wooden spoon, spread the chicken evenly in the pan and do not disturb for 5 mins.
4. Stir and mix in the veggies, cook for an additional 5 mins.
5. Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Chicken Fajitas Instructions:
1. Pour the ingredients from the freezer bag into the Instant Pot insert, secure the lid, and set the vent valve to “seal”.
2. Pressure cook on high for 5 mins.
3. Let pressure naturally release.
4. Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
This method has to be the easiest way to make these delicious chicken fajitas, (I say that about all the methods don’t I?).
1. Pour the ingredients from your freezer bag into the crock pot, and slow cook on low for 3-4 hours.
2. Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Grilling fajita chicken Instructions:
1. Clean and preheat Grill to 375 to 420 degrees F.
2. Grill Chicken breasts or thighs for 5-7 mins on each side. Your chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
3. Grill the Veggies for just a few minutes until you get a good sear.
4. Let chicken rest for 10 mins before slicing into strips to keep your chicken juicy.
5. Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Chicken Fajitas Recipe Tips
Chicken Fajitas FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about freezer chicken fajitas.
How long is frozen chicken fajita meat good for?
You can freeze your chicken fajitas for up to 6 months if you’re following standards, however, if stored well, they can last a lot longer than that!
Can you freeze prepared fajitas?
You most certainly can store leftovers in the freezer for a quick lunch in the future.
Reheating is a breeze, you can microwave them frozen, or air fry them frozen since they are already cooked.
Can you freeze peppers and onions for fajitas?
Absolutely, you can freeze peppers and onions already chopped and prepared.
They lose a little bit of crispness however you will be cooking them so that won’t affect the taste or texture at all.
Is it better to freeze peppers raw or cooked?
You can freeze peppers cooked or raw, they will be sturdier if you freeze them raw.
The longer they are cooked the softer they will become and freezing them adds just a little more softness to their texture.
Best Chicken Fajita Recipe Conclusion
Don’t sleep on this chicken fajitas recipe, it is delicious, filling, and will be loved by the whole family!
Make another batch to add to your collection of freezer meals for easy cooking next time you get the craving.
Let me know if you gave it a try by rating this recipe and drop a comment below if you have any questions or compliments :-*
¡Buen Provecho!
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