Chicken or Steak Fajitas

I've made tacos a lot for dinner ever since I got married. They're good, you can change things up just a little every time, and they're simple. This was the first time I've ever made fajitas, and I like these more than my usual tacos! They have a lot of the same perks as tacos, but tacos remind me of making dinner for my roommates in college, whereas these make me feel more sophisticated. :-) I know, it's sad that fajitas made me feel sophisticated. Anyway, here's the recipe: (also found here)


Chicken or Steak Fajitas

*Measurements of meat and vegetables are approximate. Adjust depending on your preference and the number of people you’re serving. This will serve about 4-6.

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or steak
2-3 bell peppers, stem and membranes removed and peppers quartered
1 large onion (any color/variety) sliced into 1/2″ slices

Marinade:
1/4 C fresh lime juice
1/3 C water
2 T vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
3 t vinegar
2 t soy sauce
1-2 t liquid smoke
1 t salt
1/2 t chili powder, or chipotle chili powder
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t ground black pepper
1/4 t onion powder

*If you’re not familiar with liquid smoke, you can find it near the bbq sauces. Don’t make this without it! It’s definitely one of the key components. It makes things yummy and smoky and super flavorful. And if you’re wondering, it actually is real smoke in liquid form. Interesting, eh?

Place meat in a zip-top bag or shallow dish. Place vegetables in another. In a medium bowl, combine all marinade ingredients and whisk well. Reserve 3-4 Tablespoons of marinade for later use. With remaining marinade, add a splash to the vegetables (enough for a light coating) and the remaining to the meat. Marinate for 4-6 hours and up to overnight.

Preheat bbq grill (my preference), indoor grill pan, or large skillet. If you’re using a grill, place everything on at the same time. If using a skillet, slice peppers and onions first. Cook chicken for a few minutes on each side until cooked through and remove from pan. Cover with foil to keep warm. Add vegetables and cook until crisp tender.

Remove vegetables from cooking surface and slice. Slice meat. Toss with reserved marinade and serve along side any or all of the following:

Flour Tortillas
Black Beans
Lime-Cilantro Rice
Pico de Gallo
Salsa
Diced avocado
Guacamole
Sour Cream


I love this recipe! I made mine with steak since we eat chicken ALL the time, although I'm sure it would have been awesome with chicken as well. And seriously, the marinade is so delicious. It's simple, but the liquid smoke makes it oh so good. I just chopped up the steak, let it marinate for a few hours, and then threw it all on the skillet with some onions. Unfortunately I couldn't make it with the peppers because my husband can't eat those, but I had onions, rice, sour cream, and hot sauce.... and that was enough. We both loved it. I'll definitely make these again... and it'll probably be a while before I make tacos again!