Description
Zesty crockpot chicken fajitas bring Mexican-inspired flavors to home cooking with minimal effort. Juicy chicken, colorful peppers, and warm spices create a simple, delicious meal perfect for family dinners when cooking feels overwhelming.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) chicken breasts (or thighs), boneless, skinless
- 3 bell peppers (red, yellow, green), thinly sliced
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1 (14.5 oz / 411 g) can diced tomatoes (with green chilies if preferred)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 lime, juiced
- ¼ cup (60 ml) chicken broth or water (optional, for extra moisture)
- Warm tortillas
- Optional toppings: sour cream, shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa, fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Vegetable Foundation: Layer sliced bell peppers and onions across the crockpot bottom, creating a colorful base for the fajita preparation.
- Seasoning Infusion: Position chicken breasts over vegetables, generously coating with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper to develop robust flavor profiles.
- Moisture and Aromatics: Pour diced tomatoes over seasoned chicken, sprinkle minced garlic, and splash chicken broth to enhance moisture and depth of flavor.
- Slow Transformation: Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, allowing chicken to become incredibly tender and easily shreddable.
- Flavor Integration: Remove chicken, shred with two forks, then return to vegetable mixture, stirring to blend all components thoroughly.
- Citrus Elevation: Drizzle fresh lime juice over the mixture to brighten flavors and add a zesty dimension.
- Serving Preparation: Serve the aromatic chicken fajita filling in warm tortillas, offering additional garnishes for personalized enjoyment.
Notes
- Check Meat Doneness: Ensure chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature using a meat thermometer for safe consumption and perfect texture.
- Vegetable Texture Control: Cut bell peppers and onions uniformly to prevent overcooking; thicker slices maintain crispness during long cooking periods.
- Flavor Depth Enhancement: Toast spices briefly before adding to crockpot to intensify their aromatic qualities and develop richer, more complex flavor profiles.
- Dietary Adaptation Tricks: Swap chicken for plant-based protein like jackfruit or tofu for vegetarian version; use gluten-free tortillas to accommodate different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg