Worknight Dinner Recipe: Easy Chicken Fajitas

When anyone asks me what my blog is about, I want to say "a food blog for busy, young professionals about cooking a balance of healthy and indulgent recipes." 

Instead, I usually say, "a blog about food and cooking." I write this blog partially because I'm a twenty-something who works full-time and likes good food. Of course, my blog is for everyone to read, regardless of age, profession or demographic.

The concept behind my food blog was, however, inspired by twenty-somethings and beyond who think they have no time to cook because they are busy. Or because they live alone. Or because they don't know how to cook. I have seen many friends' bare refrigerators, empty until the next time they visit their parents and can stock the shelves with leftovers and half-empty boxes of Double Stuff Oreos.

Well, last week I visiting a male friend and found myself in one of those kitchens. A kitchen stocked with little more than hot sauce, Bud Light and a Ziplock bag full of Taco Bell hot sauce packets.

I had promised to cook my friend dinner and was faced with the task of preparing a meal without a cutting board, colander, measuring cups, spoons or a sharp knife. You heard me correctly. No sharp knife.

To be fair, there was a paring knife, intended for slicing limes for Coronas. It served better than I thought it would for slicing vegetables.

So after a quick trip to the grocery store and some arm wrestling with the paring knife and a few bell peppers, we had chicken fajitas.

Chicken Fajitas with Onions and Peppers

(modified from Cooking Light) 

Ingredients: 

Marinade

1/8 cup olive oil 

1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind 

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 

1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 

3/4 teaspoons ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1 garlic clove, minced 

1 cup low-salt beef broth 

Fajitas: 

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced into strips 

1 red bell pepper, sliced 

1 green bell pepper, sliced

1/2 large Vidalia or other sweet onion, sliced 

Cooking spray 

8 (6-inch) whole wheat flour tortillas 

1/2 cup bottled salsa 

1/4 cup low-fat sour cream 

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Fresh cilantro sprigs (optional, garnish)

Directions: 

1. To prepare marinade, combine first 10 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside. To prepare fajitas, trim the fat from chicken. Combine 1 1/2 cups marinade with chicken in a large zip-top plastic bag. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 4 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Combine remaining marinade, bell peppers, and onion in a zip-top plastic bag. Seal and marinate in refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. 

2. Prepare grill. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Remove vegetables from bag; reserve marinade. Place reserved marinade in a small saucepan; set aside. Place chicken and vegetables on grill rack coated with cooking spray; cook 8 minutes on each side or until cooked throughout. 

3. Wrap tortillas tightly in foil; place tortilla packet on grill rack the last 2 minutes of grilling time. Bring reserved marinade to a boil. Place chicken and vegetables on a serving platter; drizzle with reserved marinade. 

4. Arrange about 1 ounce chicken, 3 bell pepper wedges, and 1 onion wedge in a tortilla; top with 1 tablespoon salsa, about 1 teaspoon sour cream, and 1/2 tablespoon cilantro. Fold sides of tortilla over filling. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired. Serve immediately.

Comments

[Rebecca_C]

Pet PEEEVE. This is why I hate cookign in other peoples kitchens. Unless they are more of a food snob than me ; )

[ryan]

this looks really good. I will have to try this soon

Ryan

[Owyn from Medifast Coupons]

The wonders of a chicken fajitas! Delicious meal every time and you could never get sick of these.

[Sarah]

This looks so tasty! I too wonder how some of my friends survive on canned food and frozen meals (not that I don't go there on occasion). Recipes like this are great when showing friends that cooking really isn't all that bad. Can't wait to try this!

[Bridgett]

Yum! We love chicken fajitas around my house. Funny how spoiled (if that is the right term) we get from all of our kitchen tools until you are faced with making a meal without them!

[leslie]

" a zip lock bag full of Taco Bell hot sauce"!!!Now that is classic!!!!!

[elra]

Delicious chicken fajita!

[Christine Medifast]

Chicken fajitas are one of my favorite foods except I always seem to think they are too complicated. Thanks for this great recipe. Much easier then previous ones I've tried.

[Juliana]

Wow, this is interesting...but at the end you manage...and the fajita looks great...

[Erin]

Oh, man... Have I ever been there and done that! I'm 25, and I sometimes see my friend's food situations and think "How do you people live like this?" Haha... Fajitas are a great choice. I think I actually made those at a friend's house too!

[Lindsay]

I always forget about fajitas as a dish that Hubs and I love, and can be modified for the wackily varied tastes of our offspring. You do have gorgeous pictures- so nice to have met you last weekend! All best.

[Jessica]

Wow this looks really good! Nummmmmmm.

[Kristen]

ROFL - oh my...sounds like your friend could use a few more shopping trips, or someone like you to take care of him ;)

[Melissa]

when in doubt, make something wrapped in a tortilla..... totally my motto around here.
great looking fajitas.

I recall in college making a trip to walmart specifically for sharp knives and real glasses for my boyfriend's (now husband's) apartment. I was DONE with the one dull knife they had. haha!

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

If you promise to make this, you can come and stay at my house any time! I even have my own knives.

[lisa (dandysugar)]

Yum, fajitas and tacos are a regular weeknight meal for me. Super easy to prepare. That's hilarious about your friend's hot sauce packets, but it's also true for many! It's surprising what you can throw together sometimes.

[THEJFF]

Wait, where the hell were the taco bell packets I was looking for those.

[Matt]

Now I can get down with this recipe.

Also? Your guy friend and I have similiarly stocked kitchens.

[kat]

Its funny what we used to get by with in our kitchen. I can't imagine living like that now

[Kristen]

Fajitas are so easy, and they're ALWAYS delicious (and impressive!). And you really have beautiful pictures!

[kate]

I wonder how many people claim they can't cook simply because they haven't got any tools to do so? How can someone live without any basic kitchen essentials? I grew up learning to cook from the time I was seven, and when I left home I had no idea that it just wasn't the way everyone was raised. I knew so many people in college who couldn't even properly cook a frozen pizza, and I was making ribs, roasted chicken, casseroles etc... much to everyone's amazement. Parents do their children a HUGE disservice by not teaching them life skills like that. HUGE!!!

[Chrissy]

Wow, impressive. Not even a knife? He must be happy you came along. The fajitas look great! And I not only have a sharp knife, but a fajita pan, so I'm all set. :-)

[doggybloggy]

good job - I have been in far too many a kitchen like this and they are no longer twenty something -

[Julia @ Mélanger]

Love the idea of your blog. All too often I neglect my cooking - in favour of baking, though. ;)

[Amy]

I am wondering if there is supposed to be steak in your ingredient list?

Regardless, I am making this (chicken only) tomorrow night. My peppers, onions & chicken are all marinating (not together, of course) and will be delicious. This was very timely as just an hour ago, I was thinking, should I make fajitas tomorrow night? And there was your recipe.

I don't think I tell you often enough how I love your site, even if I'm not a 20-something, but instead a 30-something w/ a job, grad school & an upcoming marathon (and dinner to make for the hubs). Thanks!

[mandy]

This sounds great and is going on my list of things to make on worknights.

[thatShortchick]

Chicken fajitas, rice & a corona with lime is something I could eat EVERY DAY.

[Daryl]

Ole! I love chicken fajitas. The peppers & onions look amazing!