Chicken Fajita Bowl (Printable)

Tender chicken with colorful peppers and onions served over fluffy rice with fresh toppings.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1 tsp chili powder
06 - ½ tsp garlic powder
07 - ½ tsp onion powder
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp black pepper
10 - Juice of ½ lime

→ Vegetables

11 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
13 - 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
14 - 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil
16 - Pinch of salt and black pepper

→ Rice

17 - 1¼ cups long-grain rice (white or brown)
18 - 2 cups water or chicken broth
19 - ½ tsp salt

→ Toppings (optional)

20 - 1 avocado, sliced
21 - ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
22 - ½ cup salsa or pico de gallo
23 - ⅓ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
24 - Fresh cilantro leaves
25 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water. Bring 2 cups water or chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add rice and salt, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15–18 minutes for white rice or 35–40 minutes for brown rice. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Combine chicken strips with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Toss thoroughly and let marinate for at least 10 minutes.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked and lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
04 - In the same skillet, add olive oil. Add bell peppers and red onion, season with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Sauté until tender-crisp with slight charring, about 5 to 7 minutes.
05 - Distribute rice evenly among four bowls. Top with cooked chicken strips and sautéed vegetables. Add optional toppings such as avocado, cheese, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, and lime wedges as desired.
06 - Serve immediately and enjoy.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than takeout but tastes like you actually tried, which feels like a small victory on busy evenings.
  • The spice blend wakes up your taste buds without requiring anything fancy or hard to find.
  • Everything is customizable, so picky eaters and adventurous cooks can eat the same meal happily.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating step even though 10 minutes feels short, because that's when the spices really bond with the chicken and transform it from plain to something worth remembering.
  • If your peppers release a lot of liquid while cooking, keep the heat high enough to let them soften without steaming into mush.
03 -
  • Cut your chicken strips thinner than you think you need to, because they cook faster and absorb the spices more fully, and thin is always more forgiving than thick.
  • Toast your spices gently in the oil before adding the chicken, and you'll unlock a deeper flavor that makes people ask what your secret ingredient is.
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