Description
A vibrant blend of zesty lime juice, aromatic spices, and olive oil that transforms plain chicken into restaurant-quality fajitas. Perfect for weeknight dinners with bold Mexican flavor.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound chicken breast, sliced into strips
- 1 1/2 cups sliced bell peppers
- 1/2 cup sliced onions
Instructions
1. Combine olive oil, lime juice, water, sugar, salt, cumin, minced garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, chili powder, and black pepper in a bowl. Whisk everything together until well blended.
2. Place sliced chicken strips, bell peppers, and onions into a large resealable bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over everything and toss to coat thoroughly.
3. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours for maximum flavor.
4. Remove chicken and vegetables from marinade. Cook in a hot skillet over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internally and vegetables are tender-crisp.
Notes
Use freshly squeezed lime juice for best flavor.
If using hot chili powder, start with 1 tablespoon and adjust to taste.
Don’t marinate longer than 8 hours as the acid can change chicken texture.
This marinade works great with shrimp, beef, or pork too.
Save unused marinade in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Marinating, Pan-Searing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg