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Chicken fajita bowls take everything you love about sizzling fajitas and turn it into an easy, customizable dinner you can eat with a fork. Seasoned chicken, colorful peppers and onions, rice, beans, corn, and fresh toppings come together in one satisfying bowl.
They are especially useful for busy weeknights because most of the components can be prepared ahead of time. Set everything out family-style and everyone can build a bowl exactly the way they like it.
The recipe
Easy Chicken Fajita Bowls
These easy chicken fajita bowls combine seasoned chicken, sautéed peppers and onions, rice, black beans, corn, and fresh toppings for a colorful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken fajitas
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, sliced into strips
- 3 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 lime
For the bowls
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels
- Pico de gallo or salsa
- Shredded cheese
- Guacamole or diced avocado
- Sour cream
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
Instructions
- Combine the sliced chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through to 165°F, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Add the peppers and onion and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender-crisp and lightly charred.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and squeeze the juice of 1 lime over the mixture. Toss briefly to combine.
- Divide the cooked rice among four bowls. Add black beans, corn, chicken, peppers, and onions.
- Finish with pico de gallo, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, and lime as desired.
Notes
- Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
- Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Keep avocado and other cold toppings separate when meal prepping.
Dinner · Mexican-inspired · Easy
Why You'll Love These Chicken Fajita Bowls
These bowls are colorful, filling, and easy to customize. The chicken and vegetables cook in one skillet, while simple ingredients such as rice and canned black beans make the rest of the meal straightforward.
They also work well for meal prep. Keep the hot ingredients separate from toppings such as avocado, salsa, and sour cream, then assemble when you are ready to eat.
For more easy chicken dinners, try our [Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole](/article/easy-chicken-enchilada-casserole), [Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup](/article/creamy-chicken-tortilla-soup), or [Easy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Casserole](/article/easy-chicken-broccoli-pasta-casserole).
Ingredients You'll Need
The fajita mixture starts with boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, bell peppers, onion, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and lime.
For the bowls, add cooked rice, black beans, corn, and whatever toppings you enjoy. Pico de gallo, shredded cheese, avocado or guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, and extra lime are all good options.
How to Make Easy Chicken Fajita Bowls
Slice the chicken, peppers, and onion into strips so they cook quickly and evenly.
Toss the chicken with part of the olive oil and the seasonings. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken until browned and cooked through. Transfer it to a plate.
Add the remaining oil to the skillet and cook the peppers and onion until tender-crisp with a little char around the edges. Return the chicken to the pan and squeeze fresh lime juice over everything.
Divide warm rice among bowls, then add black beans, corn, chicken, peppers, and onions. Finish with your favorite toppings.
How to Get Better Fajita Chicken
A hot skillet helps the chicken brown instead of steam. Avoid crowding the pan; if your skillet is small, cook the chicken in two batches.
Cutting the chicken into similar-size strips also helps it cook evenly. Chicken should reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
Easy Bowl Variations
Use brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice instead of white rice. Pinto beans can replace black beans, and you can add lettuce for more of a fajita salad bowl.
Chicken thighs are a flavorful alternative to chicken breasts. For more heat, add cayenne to the seasoning or top the bowls with sliced jalapeños.
Meal Prep Tips
Cook the chicken, vegetables, rice, beans, and corn ahead of time and divide them among meal-prep containers. Refrigerate fresh toppings separately.
When it is time to eat, reheat the chicken and rice mixture, then add avocado, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, or other cold toppings afterward.
What to Serve With Chicken Fajita Bowls
These bowls are already a complete meal, but tortilla chips with salsa or guacamole make an easy side. A simple green salad or fresh fruit also works well.
When we add our upcoming cilantro lime rice recipe, it will make an especially good base for these bowls.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Refrigerate cooked chicken, peppers, onions, rice, beans, and corn in covered containers. Reheat until hot, then add fresh toppings just before serving.
Avocado is best cut fresh because it can brown during storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken thighs?
Yes. Boneless skinless chicken thighs work very well and stay especially juicy. Slice them into strips and cook until they reach 165°F.
Can I make chicken fajita bowls ahead of time?
Yes. These bowls are excellent for meal prep. Store the cooked ingredients together or separately and keep fresh toppings in their own containers.
What rice is best for fajita bowls?
White rice, brown rice, and cilantro lime rice all work well. Cauliflower rice is another option if you want a lighter base.
Can I use frozen peppers?
You can, although fresh peppers usually develop better browning in the skillet. Frozen peppers release more moisture, so cook them over fairly high heat and avoid overcrowding the pan.
A Weeknight Dinner You Can Customize
Easy chicken fajita bowls are a practical way to turn a few basic ingredients into a dinner with plenty of color, texture, and flavor. Prepare the components once, let everyone choose their toppings, and you have a meal that works just as well for family dinner as it does for next-day lunches.
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