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$13.90 recipe / $3.48 servingby Beth - Budget Bytes
published updated
4.95 from 275 votes
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These Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas have been a Budget Bytes staple recipe since I first posted them eight years ago! I love fajitas, but they require a super hot griddle to get that nice smoky flavor, which also means a lot of smoky smell in my house and standing over a super hot stove. Not my favorite way to spend my evening. So I make baked fajitas instead. Is it exactly the same? No, BUT it’s almost completely hands-off (yay) and you get some nice caramelization on the edges of the peppers and onions, which gives you a similar char effect. I’ll save the real deal fajitas for when I’m at a restaurant and not doing the cooking. 😄
What Kind of Sheet Pan to Use
You definitely want the largest sheet pan (or baking dish) you can find for this recipe. It’s imperative that the chicken and vegetables are not too crowded on the baking sheet otherwise the steam will get trapped as they bake and you won’t get that nice caramelization that only happens in a dry heat environment. I’m using a 13×16 inch baking sheet here and in the original version of this recipe I used a 13×15 inch glass baking dish.
Make it Fit in your Budget
Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are usually significantly more expensive than green bell peppers, but you can use any mix that fits your budget. Despite using a couple of more expensive colored peppers, I used more vegetables than meat to keep costs low. The meat to veggie ratio ended up being perfect once everything had been cooked down. If you want to make these Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas vegetarian, try this Chipotle Portobello Oven Fajita recipe.
Make Your Own Fajita Seasoning or Buy Pre-Made
The ingredient list below might look long, but most of that is the fajita seasoning mix. So if you’re looking for a short cut or your kitchen spice cabinet is not well-stocked, you can simply use a packet of store-bought fajita seasoning.
Toppings for Chicken Fajitas
I like to keep my chicken fajitas really simple with just a squeeze of lime, maybe some fresh cilantro, and a small dollop of sour cream, but there are so many other things you could use to top your chicken fajitas. Try these toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Cotija cheese
- Green onions
- Salsa
- Guacamole or sliced avocado
- Pickled red onion
- Pico de Gallo
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
4.95 from 275 votes
These easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas are a simple hands-off way to get that smoky-sweet flavor of traditional griddle fajitas.
Author: Beth – Budget Bytes
Servings 4 (2 fajitas each)
Prep 15 minutes mins
Cook 40 minutes mins
Total 55 minutes mins
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Ingredients
FAJITA SEASONING
- 1 Tbsp chili powder ($0.30)
- 1/2 Tbsp paprika ($0.15)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.03)
- 1/4 tsp cumin ($0.03)
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.02)
- 1 tsp sugar ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
FAJITAS
- 2 small yellow onions (or one large) ($0.57)
- 3 bell peppers, any color ($3.69)
- 1 lb. chicken breast ($6.24)
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.08)
- 1 lime ($0.30)
- 8 6-inch tortillas ($1.28)
- 1/2 cup sour cream (optional) ($0.90)
- 1/4 bunch cilantro (optional) ($0.22)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Mix all of the spices for the fajita seasoning in a small bowl and set aside (chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt).
Cut the onion and bell peppers into 1/4-inch wide strips. Slice the chicken breast into thin strips. Add the chicken and vegetables to a large baking sheet or casserole dish.
Drizzle the cooking oil over the chicken and vegetables, then sprinkle the fajita seasoning mix over top. Use your hands to toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and seasoning. Spread the chicken and vegetables out over the baking sheet evenly.
Bake the chicken and vegetables in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Squeeze the juice from half of the lime over top of the meat and vegetables after they come out of the oven.
To serve, scoop a small amount of meat and vegetables into the center of each tortilla. Top with a few sprigs of cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and an extra squeeze of lime if desired.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Equipment
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 483kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 31gFat: 21gSodium: 910mgFiber: 4g
Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.
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Video
What to serve with oven baked fajitas
Need a side dish to go with your Oven Fajitas? Try one of these awesome sides
Scroll down for the step by step photos!
How to Make Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas – Step By Step Photos:
Begin by preheating the oven to 400ºF. In a small bowl, stir together 1 Tbsp chili powder (this is a mild blend, not hot red chiles), 1/2 Tbsp paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/8 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp sugar. The sugar helps the vegetables caramelize and gives the dish a very subtle sweetness.
Slice three bell peppers and two small onions (or one large onion) into thin, 1/4-inch wide strips. Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are usually more expensive than green, so use a mix of peppers that fits your budget.
Slice 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast into thin strips as well. Place the sliced bell peppers, onion, and chicken on a large sheet pan (13×16-inch). You want to avoid piling the ingredients in so deep that they begin to stew in their juices in the oven, instead of browning, so you’ll need the largest dish available. You can also use an extra large casserole dish, if you don’t have a large sheet pan.
Drizzle 2 Tbsp cooking oil over the meat and vegetables, followed by the fajita spice mix, then toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and spices.
Now that everything is coated in oil and spices, it’s ready to go into the oven.
Roast the chicken and vegetables for 35-40 minutes at 400ºF, stirring once halfway through, or until the fajita veggies have softened slightly and are a bit brown on the edges.
Squeeze the fresh lime juice over the chicken and fajita veggies.
Serve hot with tortillas, extra lime wedges, sour cream, cilantro, or whatever other fajita toppings you like!
I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of culinary arts, particularly in the realm of sheet pan cooking and flavorful recipe development. My extensive experience allows me to share insights and tips on optimizing the cooking process and enhancing flavors, making me well-versed in various cooking techniques.
Now, diving into the article on Budget Bytes, the author presents a delightful recipe for Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. Let's break down the key concepts and details mentioned:
1. Recipe Overview:
- Name: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Author: Beth - Budget Bytes
- Published Date: Feb 18, 2013
- Updated Date: Mar 12, 2022
- Rating: 4.95 from 275 votes
2. Recipe Description:
- The recipe is a simplified and hands-off version of traditional griddle fajitas, designed to minimize active cooking time and deliver a smoky-sweet flavor.
- The author emphasizes using a large sheet pan or baking dish to prevent overcrowding, ensuring optimal caramelization without steaming the ingredients.
3. Ingredients and Costs:
- The recipe is budget-friendly, with the cost breakdown provided.
- Notable ingredients include chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, salt, yellow onions, bell peppers, chicken breast, cooking oil, lime, tortillas, sour cream, and cilantro.
4. Fajita Seasoning:
- The fajita seasoning mix comprises chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt.
- The author suggests making your own seasoning or using a store-bought packet for convenience.
5. Sheet Pan Size:
- The choice of a large sheet pan (13x16 inch) is highlighted as crucial to prevent trapping steam during baking, allowing for proper caramelization.
6. Vegetable and Meat Ratio:
- To keep costs low, the author balances the more expensive colored bell peppers with a higher quantity of vegetables compared to meat.
7. Toppings:
- Topping suggestions include lime, cilantro, sour cream, shredded cheese, Cotija cheese, green onions, salsa, guacamole, pickled red onion, and pico de gallo.
8. Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Prepare fajita seasoning and slice onions, bell peppers, and chicken.
- Toss ingredients with oil and seasoning on the sheet pan.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Squeeze lime juice over the cooked ingredients.
- Serve with tortillas and desired toppings.
9. Serving Size:
- The recipe yields 4 servings, with each serving consisting of 2 fajitas.
10. Nutrition Information:
- Per serving: 483 calories, 43g carbohydrates, 31g protein, 21g fat, 910mg sodium, and 4g fiber.
11. Video:
- A video link is provided for additional visual guidance.
12. Additional Recipe Recommendations:
- Side dish suggestions include Warm Corn and Avocado Salad, (Not) Refried Beans, Pico de Gallo, and Cilantro Lime Rice.
In conclusion, this Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas recipe is a flavorful and practical solution for those who enjoy fajitas without the hassle of extensive stovetop cooking. The detailed instructions, cost considerations, and customization options make it a valuable addition to anyone's recipe repertoire.
