Lunch / Dinner
Chicken Fajitas with Cilantro-Lime Pesto
Load up a tortilla or two — this sizzling menu of chicken fajitas with cilantro pesto is Tex-Mex food at its finest. No matter how wonderful the cuisine is, there’s a fun casualness to meals that people can assemble themselves at the dinner table. These chicken fajitas are absolute crowd-pleasers.
Kick up the chicken with lime juice and spices, then round out the fajita mixture with onions and bell peppers. It’s meant to be a colorful dish, so feel free to use any or all colors of peppers. What’s most notable about this fajita recipe is the tangy pesto. Pesto is generally basil-based, but the cilantro used for this rendition better fits with the Tex-Mex theme.
Ingredients
FOR THE PESTO, PULSE:
FOR THE FAJITAS, TOSS:
Instructions
For the pesto, pulse cilantro, jalapeños, Parmesan, almonds, chopped onion, garlic cloves, and 3 Tbsp. lime juice in a food processor until chunky. Drizzle in ¼ cup oil and process until smooth; season with salt and black pepper.
For the fajitas, toss chicken with 1 Tbsp. oil, 1 Tbsp. lime juice, cumin, coriander, oregano, and garlic powder. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a heavy skillet over high. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, 5–6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in same skillet. Add sliced onions and bell peppers; cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Return chicken to skillet with vegetables just to heat through; season with salt and black pepper.
Serve fajitas with tortillas, pesto, and sour cream.
For the ideal consistency, process the pesto until it’s smooth but still has some texture.
In addition to spices, toss chicken with oil and lime juice. They offer flavor and help the spices adhere.
To serve everything sizzling hot, add the chicken back into the skillet with the vegetables at the very end.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 709
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 39g 60%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 80mg 26%
Sodium 997mg 41%
Carbs 51g 17%
Fiber 6g 24%
Protein 36g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.