Grilled Chicken Fajitas with Tajin Seasoning

Why This Recipe is a Keeper:

Chances are you’ve seen Tajin seasoning everywhere lately and maybe even grabbed a bottle. Perhaps you sprinkled it over fruit, coated the rim of your margarita glass or rubbed it over chicken, fish or steak before grilling.

Chicken Fajitas are a family favorite that makes a fun, festive weeknight meal or weekend feast that’s also healthy. With its mild heat and kick of lime, Tajin is the perfect seasoning to add to fajitas like these Grilled Chicken Fajitas.

Boneless skinless chicken breasts have a reputation for being dry. However, this flavorful marinade with Tajin seasoning, fresh orange and lime juice, garlic and more spices flavor and tenderize it for chicken fajitas everyone will rave about!

How to Make Grilled Chicken Fajitas with Tajin Seasoning:

Recipe Ingredients:

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this grilled chicken fajitas recipe. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

• Orange Juice and Zest: Two large Navel oranges (approximately 4 inches from stem end to the navel) should deliver approximately 1/2 cup of juice. Be sure to zest the orange before you cut and juice it; it’s much easier! The zest adds an extra orange-y punch but you can substitute bottled orange juice in a pinch.
• Canola Oil: I use canola oil here because it’s inexpensive but any cooking oil such as corn or vegetable will work.
• Tajin Seasoning: I used the regular Clasico Tajin seasoning here. There’s also a low-sodium version and a habanero version. Clasico is mild while the habanero version is much spicier so just be aware!
• Hot Sauce: Use a Mexican hot sauce if possible. Tajin also makes hot sauces.
• Chicken: You’ll also need three large boneless skinless chicken breast halves that equal approximately 2 pounds. Most prepackaged chicken as shown will have three chicken breast halves in the package and they can be quite large so cutting them in half horizontally is ideal. More of the marinade flavor will get into the chicken and they’ll cook faster.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Combine all the marinade ingredients in a non-reactive bowl such as glass or a zipper-top bag. Taste before adding the chicken and add salt if desired.
• If using three large chicken breasts, cut them in half horizontally to form six cutlets. This will allow for quick, even cooking. (You won’t need to cut smaller breasts in half horizontally.)

• Submerge the chicken in the marinade and refrigerate up to 4 hours.

• While the chicken is marinating, prep the remaining ingredients.
• Cut the bell peppers in thick strips, the jalapenos in half and the onions from the top down into thick crescent moon shapes.
• Grill the chicken and the vegetables. I use a grill basket so the vegetables don’t fall through the grates and you can easily stir them.

• Gather all the other accompaniments for the Grilled Chicken Fajitas you desire and enjoy!
  • Cheese
  • Lime wedges
  • Fajita-size tortillas
  • Cilantro
  • Avocado wedges or guacamole
  • Sour cream
  • Salsa

Chef Tips and Tricks:

• Cutting thick chicken breasts into two pieces horizontally allows for faster, more even cooking. To easily cut thick chicken breasts in half horizontally, place the breast on a cutting board then secure it with your non-knife hand. Using a sharp boning knife, carefully slice it horizontally into two even pieces. Here’s more information plus a video at Serious Eats.
• For easy clean-up, I often marinate chicken and other proteins in a gallon-size zipper-top bag. Placing the protein in a zipper-top bag allows the marinade to thoroughly coat the protein because you can “massage” the bag and get it evenly distributed.

Make it a meal with:

• Cold Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Southwestern Sweet Potato Wedges with Avocado-Cilantro Sour Cream
• Black-Eyed Pea Salad
• Southwestern Orzo Pasta Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
• Whole Wheat Ancho Chili Brownies

More fun, festive Mexican-inspired meals!

• Chicken Tostadas
• Salmon Tostadas with Cilantro Lime Slaw and Chipotle Crema
• Cauliflower and Chickpea Tacos with Chipotle Lime Slaw
• Tofu Black Bean Tacos

Get all my delicious main dish recipes at Main Course Recipes – From A Chef’s Kitchen