Chicken Fajita Flavor Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

A vibrant bowl of seasoned chicken, sautéed peppers, and rice with fresh garnishes for a flavorful meal.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut 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

# How-To Steps:

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 15–18 minutes for white rice or 35–40 minutes for brown rice until tender. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - In a bowl, toss chicken strips with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Allow to 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 6–8 minutes. Remove from skillet and keep warm.
04 - Using the same skillet, add olive oil. Add bell peppers and red onion. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until vegetables are tender-crisp and slightly charred, approximately 5–7 minutes.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Top each serving with chicken strips and sautéed vegetables. Add optional toppings such as avocado slices, cheese, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, and lime wedges as desired.
06 - Serve immediately and enjoy.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in 40 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for weeknights when you're hungry but short on time.
  • The spice blend on the chicken is forgiving and builds flavor without overwhelming heat, so everyone at the table is happy.
  • You get that satisfying sear on the peppers and the tender chicken in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating step, even if it's just 10 minutes—this is where the spices actually penetrate the chicken instead of just sitting on the surface.
  • Medium-high heat is crucial for the chicken; too low and it steams, too high and the outside burns while the inside stays raw.
  • Taste your vegetables as they cook and pull them off heat while they still have some texture; overcooked peppers become mushy and lose their personality.
03 -
  • Cook your rice in chicken broth if you have it—it adds a depth that plain water can't match, and it takes no extra effort.
  • Don't crowd the skillet when cooking chicken; give it space to develop color instead of steaming in its own moisture.
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