Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas - Budget Bytes (2024)

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$13.90 recipe / $3.48 serving

by Beth - Budget Bytes

published updated

4.95 from 279 votes

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These Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas have been a Budget Bytes staple recipe since I first posted them eight years ago! I love fajitas, but they require a super hot griddle to get that nice smoky flavor, which also means a lot of smoky smell in my house and standing over a super hot stove. Not my favorite way to spend my evening. So I make baked fajitas instead. Is it exactly the same? No, BUT it’s almost completely hands-off (yay) and you get some nice caramelization on the edges of the peppers and onions, which gives you a similar char effect. I’ll save the real deal fajitas for when I’m at a restaurant and not doing the cooking. 😄

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What Kind of Sheet Pan to Use

You definitely want the largest sheet pan (or baking dish) you can find for this recipe. It’s imperative that the chicken and vegetables are not too crowded on the baking sheet otherwise the steam will get trapped as they bake and you won’t get that nice caramelization that only happens in a dry heat environment. I’m using a 13×16 inch baking sheet here and in the original version of this recipe I used a 13×15 inch glass baking dish.

Make it Fit in your Budget

Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are usually significantly more expensive than green bell peppers, but you can use any mix that fits your budget. Despite using a couple of more expensive colored peppers, I used more vegetables than meat to keep costs low. The meat to veggie ratio ended up being perfect once everything had been cooked down. If you want to make these Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas vegetarian, try this Chipotle Portobello Oven Fajita recipe.

Make Your Own Fajita Seasoning or Buy Pre-Made

The ingredient list below might look long, but most of that is the fajita seasoning mix. So if you’re looking for a short cut or your kitchen spice cabinet is not well-stocked, you can simply use a packet of store-bought fajita seasoning.

Toppings for Chicken Fajitas

I like to keep my chicken fajitas really simple with just a squeeze of lime, maybe some fresh cilantro, and a small dollop of sour cream, but there are so many other things you could use to top your chicken fajitas. Try these toppings

  • Shredded cheese
  • Cotija cheese
  • Green onions
  • Salsa
  • Guacamole or sliced avocado
  • Pickled red onion
  • Pico de Gallo
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Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

4.95 from 279 votes

These easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas are a simple hands-off way to get that smoky-sweet flavor of traditional griddle fajitas.

Author: Beth – Budget Bytes

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas - Budget Bytes (4)

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas - Budget Bytes (5) Servings 4 (2 fajitas each)

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 40 minutes mins

Total 55 minutes mins

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Ingredients

FAJITA SEASONING

FAJITAS

  • 2 small yellow onions (or one large) ($0.57)
  • 3 bell peppers, any color ($3.69)
  • 1 lb. chicken breast ($6.24)
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.08)
  • 1 lime ($0.30)
  • 8 6-inch tortillas ($1.28)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (optional) ($0.90)
  • 1/4 bunch cilantro (optional) ($0.22)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Mix all of the spices for the fajita seasoning in a small bowl and set aside (chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt).

  • Cut the onion and bell peppers into 1/4-inch wide strips. Slice the chicken breast into thin strips. Add the chicken and vegetables to a large baking sheet or casserole dish.

  • Drizzle the cooking oil over the chicken and vegetables, then sprinkle the fajita seasoning mix over top. Use your hands to toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and seasoning. Spread the chicken and vegetables out over the baking sheet evenly.

  • Bake the chicken and vegetables in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Squeeze the juice from half of the lime over top of the meat and vegetables after they come out of the oven.

  • To serve, scoop a small amount of meat and vegetables into the center of each tortilla. Top with a few sprigs of cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and an extra squeeze of lime if desired.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 483kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 31gFat: 21gSodium: 910mgFiber: 4g

Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas - Budget Bytes (6) Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!

Video

What to serve with oven baked fajitas

Need a side dish to go with your Oven Fajitas? Try one of these awesome sides

Warm Corn and Avocado Salad$3.15 recipe / $0.79 serving
(Not) Refried Beans$2.51 recipe / $0.28 serving
Pico de Gallo$2.59 recipe / $0.22 serving
Cilantro Lime Rice$2.50 recipe / $0.42 serving

Scroll down for the step by step photos!

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How to Make Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas – Step By Step Photos:

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Begin by preheating the oven to 400ºF. In a small bowl, stir together 1 Tbsp chili powder (this is a mild blend, not hot red chiles), 1/2 Tbsp paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/8 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp sugar. The sugar helps the vegetables caramelize and gives the dish a very subtle sweetness.

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Slice three bell peppers and two small onions (or one large onion) into thin, 1/4-inch wide strips. Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are usually more expensive than green, so use a mix of peppers that fits your budget.

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Slice 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast into thin strips as well. Place the sliced bell peppers, onion, and chicken on a large sheet pan (13×16-inch). You want to avoid piling the ingredients in so deep that they begin to stew in their juices in the oven, instead of browning, so you’ll need the largest dish available. You can also use an extra large casserole dish, if you don’t have a large sheet pan.

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Drizzle 2 Tbsp cooking oil over the meat and vegetables, followed by the fajita spice mix, then toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and spices.

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Now that everything is coated in oil and spices, it’s ready to go into the oven.

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Roast the chicken and vegetables for 35-40 minutes at 400ºF, stirring once halfway through, or until the fajita veggies have softened slightly and are a bit brown on the edges.

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Squeeze the fresh lime juice over the chicken and fajita veggies.

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Serve hot with tortillas, extra lime wedges, sour cream, cilantro, or whatever other fajita toppings you like!

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Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas - Budget Bytes (2024)

FAQs

How much chicken do I need for fajitas for 30 people? ›

Fajitas start with the meat: You'll need 1/4 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, chicken cutlets or skirt steak for each person. If you're using chicken breasts, pound them until they're about 1/2 inch thick; if you're using skirt steak, cut each steak in half so that it fits easily in your skillet.

How much does 1 lb of fajitas serve? ›

I like to always say it's about one pound per three people...but let's be honest, I can almost eat a whole pound by myself lol.

How many pounds of fajita do I need for 16 people? ›

I'd say half a pound a person. People tend to eat a little bigger at family events and if you family is like mine, you'll probably have some big eaters. While I generally think 1/4-1/3 pound would be appropriate for a regular dinner, I think upping it to 1/2 pound would be a good idea.

Can I substitute taco seasoning for fajita seasoning? ›

Fajita seasoning and taco seasoning are very similar, but they are not the same. Taco seasoning typically has more oregano and chili powder than fajita seasoning. With that being said, however, you can use fajita seasoning and taco seasoning interchangeably in recipes, it may just warrant a slightly different flavor.

How many pieces of chicken do I need for 20 people? ›

To feed about twenty people with three pieces each (thighs, legs, and wings), you would need a total of 60 chicken pieces (20 people * 3 pieces each). Typically, a whole chicken can be divided into 8 pieces (2 thighs, 2 legs, and 4 wings).

How much chicken do you need to feed 20 people? ›

If chicken is the main entree, like these pan-seared chicken breasts, you can plan on 4 to 6 ounces per person. It can also vary based on the number of side dishes you plan to serve. If chicken is being added to pasta or stew, then you might not need a generous amount. In these cases 3 to 4 ounces per person is plenty.

What is the most tender meat for fajitas? ›

Tender, protein-packed flank steak works wonderfully for beef fajitas. It soaks up the marinade and becomes incredibly juicy and flavorful.

How many pounds of fajitas do I need for 40 people? ›

I cook fajitas for my work (about 30 people) and I try to do 1/2 pound per person. I also do half pound per person. I do one pound of beans per eight people. Beans are cheap, so you can always throw in an extra pound to be safe.

When cooking fajitas, do you cook meat or veggies first? ›

This recipe promises to be a one-pan dinner, but to ensure that the chicken's juices don't steam the vegetables — making them soggy — cook the vegetables first. Transfer them to a plate or cutting board, then cook the chicken in the same pan before bringing things together.

How do you keep fajitas warm for a party? ›

Wrap flour tortillas with foil and set aside. Get condiments ready. 4. Party time: One hour before serving place Pyrex dish with chicken (still covered tightly) in 325 degree oven for 45 minutes then put the foil wrapped flour tortillas in the over as well to warm through…about 15 minutes.

How much chicken do I need for 16 people? ›

For each adult, count on having about 4 to 5 ounces of cooked chicken, 10 ounces of uncooked boneless chicken breasts will yield approximately 6 1/2 ounces cooked, while 10 ounces of uncooked boneless chicken thighs will yield about 5 ounces cooked.

Can you use McCormick fajita seasoning as a marinade? ›

Savory Fajita Seasoning & Marinade's uniform texture works well when added to liquids or sauces for marinating meats and vegetables. Try this easy and delicious Beef Fajitas Recipe: 1. Combine the 2 cups canola oil and 1/3 cup McCormick Culinary® Savory Fajita Seasoning & Marinade.

What is in Old El Paso fajita seasoning? ›

Ingredients: Corn Starch, Salt, Sugar, Sea Salt (potassium magnesium chloride, salt), Spice, Chili Pepper.

How much chicken do you need for 30 people? ›

Assuming you're serving chicken thighs and aiming for a generous portion: Each chicken thigh serves approximately 2 people. For 30 people, you would need about 15 chicken thighs.

How many pounds of chicken per person for fajitas? ›

I cook fajitas for my work (about 30 people) and I try to do 1/2 pound per person. I also do half pound per person.

How much shredded chicken for 30 people? ›

Plan for ¼ pound of chicken per person. One pound of chicken will yield about 2 cups of pulled chicken. When you're making it for a large group, don't worry if you over estimate so you don't run out of food.

How many pounds of chicken do I need for 30 tacos? ›

I cooked 4 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast and wound up with enough meat for 30 tacos/tostadas.

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