Chicken Fajita Bowl (Printable)

Tender chicken with sautéed peppers and fluffy rice, finished with fresh, vibrant garnishes.

# 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 white or brown rice
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:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water. Bring 2 cups water or chicken broth to 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 until tender. 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 to coat evenly 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 cooked through and lightly browned, about 6–8 minutes. Remove from skillet and keep warm.
04 - Using the same skillet, add olive oil. Sauté bell peppers and onion with a pinch of salt and black pepper until tender-crisp and slightly charred, about 5–7 minutes.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Top each with 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 Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than delivery, and tastes like you spent all afternoon on it.
  • The spice blend is addictive without being heavy, and you can dial it up or down based on who's eating.
  • It's genuinely fun to customize—everyone builds their own bowl, which somehow makes people happier.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating step—it sounds optional but it genuinely transforms bland chicken into something worth talking about.
  • If your rice comes out mushy or hard, it's almost always a water-to-rice ratio or timing issue, not a character flaw; write down what you did and adjust next time.
  • The charred bits on the peppers and onions aren't mistakes; they're pockets of caramelized flavor that make the whole bowl taste better.
03 -
  • Cook your rice in chicken broth instead of water if you have it; it adds a layer of flavor that people notice but can't quite name.
  • Slice your peppers a day ahead and store them in a container—it's a small prep move that makes a weeknight dinner feel less frantic.
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