Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas · Classic
Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas
Smoky, juicy chicken strips roasted with peppers and onions on a single pan, then wrapped in warm tortillas. Hands-off cooking and almost no cleanup.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 22 min
- Total
- 37 min
- Serves
- 8 to 10 fajitas
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
- Fajita seasoning
- 2 tsp chili powder
Swaps for chili powder
Instead of chili powder
- Homemade blend: For 1 tbsp: 1½ tsp paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp dried oregano, a pinch of cayenne. Close; adjust the cayenne for heat.
- Ancho chile powder: The same amount, plus a pinch of cumin. Smokier and fruitier, mild heat.
- 1 tsp ground cumin
Swaps for ground cumin
Instead of cumin
- Ground coriander: The same amount. Brighter and citrusy, less earthy.
- Chili powder: Twice as much. Contains cumin, plus chile heat and garlic.
- Caraway seeds, ground: Half as much. A related flavor, a bit sharper.
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Swaps for smoked paprika
Instead of paprika
- Sweet paprika + a pinch of chipotle or cumin: The same amount of paprika, plus a pinch. Some smokiness without the full smoked flavor; chipotle adds heat.
- Chipotle powder: About ¼ the amount. Smoky and much hotter.
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Swaps for garlic powder
Instead of garlic
- Fresh garlic: 1 clove for each ⅛ tsp powder, minced fine. Sharper and stronger.
- Granulated garlic: About twice as much as the powder. The same flavor in coarser grains, which blend better into rubs.
- ½ tsp dried oregano
Swaps for dried oregano
Instead of oregano
- Fresh oregano: 1 tbsp chopped fresh for each 1 tsp dried (three times as much). Brighter and more peppery; use a little less than you think.
- Dried marjoram, Italian seasoning or dried basil: The same amount. Marjoram is milder, basil sweeter; Italian seasoning already has oregano in it.
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Fajitas
- 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into 1/2-inch strips
Swaps for boneless skinless chicken breasts
Instead of chicken breasts or thighs
- Chicken thighs: The same weight. Juicier and richer; cook a few minutes longer.
- Extra-firm tofu or chickpeas: About the same weight of pressed tofu, or 1½ cups chickpeas per ½ lb chicken. A different dish, but it takes the same seasoning well.
More for chicken breasts or thighs
Cook all chicken to 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part, checked with a thermometer.
- 3 bell peppers, mixed colors, sliced into strips
- 1 large onion, sliced
Swaps for onion
Instead of onion
- Another onion: The same amount. Yellow is the all-rounder; white is sharper and crisper; red is milder raw and adds color; sweet onions are mildest.
- Shallots: The same amount, chopped. Milder and sweeter, with a hint of garlic.
- Leeks: About 1½ times as much, white and light green parts. Milder and softer when cooked.
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Swaps for olive oil
Instead of olive oil
- Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
- Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
- A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.
- 1 lime, half juiced, half in wedges
- To serve
- 8–10 small flour tortillas
- sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, cilantro (optional)
Cooking for a crowd? Pans, timing and salt for 12 to 50.
Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.
Cook to 165°F inside (check with a thermometer).
Steps
- Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack in the middle.425°Fa large sheet pan with parchment.
Line (how to line a pan)
Line a pan Cover the bottom (and sometimes sides) of a pan with parchment or foil so food doesn't stick and lifts out easily. 1. For a sheet pan, tear parchment the size of the pan and lay it flat.2. For a round cake pan, trace the bottom on parchment, cut the circle out and press it in.3. For brownies and bars, leave two long sides hanging over to make handles (a "sling").4. A little grease under the paper holds it in place. Done when: The paper lies flat with no folds where the batter could run under it. How to line a baking pan with parchment: mistakes to avoid - Mix the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl.
- Put the chicken, peppers and onion on the pan. Drizzle with the oil, sprinkle with the seasoning and toss with tongs until everything is coated. Spread into an even layer with a little space between pieces.
- Wash your hands and anything that touched the raw chicken.
- Roast, stirring once halfway, until the vegetables are tender and browned at the edges and the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).425°F⏱ Roast: 20 min
- Squeeze the lime juice over everything and toss. Warm the tortillas and fill them at the table with your favorite toppings.
Tap an underlined word for how to do it, or see all techniques.
Tips
- For more char, switch the oven to broil for the last 2 to 3 minutes and watch closely. Parchment can scorch under the broiler, so remove it first or use foil.
- Crowding the pan steams the vegetables. Use two pans if you double the recipe.
Storage
Refrigerate up to 3 days. Great reheated in a skillet for burrito bowls.
How long leftovers keep, and freezing and reheating: leftovers and storage. In season: bell peppers (July to October).
Quick answers
- What can I swap?
- Instead of chili powder: Homemade blend.
- Instead of cumin: Ground coriander, the same amount.
- Can I double it?
Use two pans if you double the recipe. The servings buttons on the ingredient list do the math.
Answered from this recipe's own storage, make-ahead and swap notes.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 680 2,850 kJ
- Protein
- 49 g
- Carbohydrates
- 67 g
- Fiber
- 8 g
- Sugars
- 10 g
- Fat
- 24 g
- Saturated fat
- 6 g
- Sodium
- 1,370 mg
Whole recipe, 4 servings: about 2,730 calories.
Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 13 of 13 ingredients.
How we estimate
We add up USDA FoodData Central values for each measured ingredient as written and divide by the recipe's 4 servings, so changing the servings or units here doesn't change a serving. Brands, swaps, trimming and cooking all change the real numbers.
Not counted: sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, c… (to taste or as needed).
Estimated cost
About $3.25 a serving
About $13.00 for the recipe as written (4 servings).
Estimate; prices vary by store and region. U.S. average prices for September 2026 from BLS Average Price Data and USDA ERS Purchase to Plate prices updated with the BLS Consumer Price Index. Priced: 6 of 13 ingredients, 99% by weight.
How we estimate
Each measured ingredient is weighed as in the nutrition estimate and priced at the U.S. average: BLS's average price where BLS publishes one, else USDA ERS's Purchase to Plate price for 2017-18 raised to September 2026 with the CPI for that food group. Whole packages, store brands, sales and regions all change the real cost: treat it as a ballpark.
- boneless skinless chicken breasts $6.30 BLS
- small flour tortillas $2.80 ERS
- bell peppers $2.60 ERS
- olive oil $0.60 ERS
- onion $0.50 ERS
- lime $0.35 ERS
Not priced (no official average price we can match, so not in the total): chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, kosher salt, black pepper.
Not counted: sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, c… (optional, or to taste).
More dishes for less: cheap eats.
Goes well with
Picked by our pairing rules: the same kind of kitchen, room in the oven and on the stove, ready in time, and a balance of starch, vegetables and richness.
- Side Creamy Classic Coleslaw 40 min No cooking: make it while the main cooks. Ready in 40 min, inside the main's 37 min. Brings the vegetables the chicken fajitas don't have.
- Side Southern-Style Collard Greens 2 hr 10 min Cooks on the stove while the chicken fajitas are in the oven. Make it ahead: it keeps. Brings the vegetables the chicken fajitas don't have.
- Dessert Classic Butter Shortbread Wedges 1 hr 45 min Make it ahead, so it's ready when dinner is.
Keep this one
Sign in to save recipes into your own collections, log the days you cook them and keep private notes, like "use less sugar next time". Only you see them.
Sign in to saveNo password: we email you a code.
Gear for this recipe
- See price on Amazon: Half sheet pan (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Parchment paper sheets (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Instant-read thermometer (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Locking tongs (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: 8-inch chef's knife (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Large cutting board (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Measuring cups and spoons (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Brands are suggestions; any similar item works.
Cleanup score 4/5 (easy cleanup): 2 things to wash, sheet pan, mixing bowl. More sheet-pan recipes.
Reviews (0)
No reviews yet. Made it? Tell us how it went.
simmerbee.com/r/sheet-pan-chicken-fajitas-classicSimmerbee