These Freezer Chicken Fajitas feature tender strips of chicken breast and sweet bell peppers marinated in lime juice and spices then frozen. With just 10 minutes of prep, they're the perfect easy dinner for stocking the freezer. Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free.
Fast, Flavorful, and Nutritious
These frozen chicken fajitas are one of my favorite secret weapons for weeknight-friendly meals which are satisfying yet simple. They're a breeze to prep: just add chicken, peppers, and seasonings to a ziploc bag then freeze flat for easy storage. The peppers don't need blanching before freezing, making them ideal for freezer-friendly meal-prep recipes like this! Once ready to eat, simply thaw overnight and either pan-fry or roast in the oven then serve up with your favorite sides.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
Chicken breast - Boneless, skinless breasts are lean, tender, and cook up quickly. You can always swap out some (or all) of the breast for thigh meat, for a richer flavor.
Bell peppers - Red and green peppers provide some sweetness and fresh flavor. Can be swapped for orange or yellow bell peppers.
Spices - A mixture of chili powder, cumin, onion powder, and smoked paprika add delicious flavor with little effort. Can be swapped for 1 ยฝ tablespoons taco seasoning, if you don't have all the individual spices to hand.
Garlic - Fresh garlic has the best flavor, but pre-chopped also works to speed up prep. You may use garlic powder instead, in a pinch.
Avocado oil - Helps the flavor of the spices infuse into the meat and peppers and aids caramelization when cooking later. Olive oil is a good swap if you don't have avocado oil.
Lime juice - Balances the flavors and brightens the dish. Use fresh-squeezed for the best taste.
How to Make Freezer Chicken Fajitas
Step 1: In a gallon size ziploc freezer bag, combine avocado oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, smoked paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper. Seal and shake to mix.Add sliced chicken strips and peppers to the bag, pressing out excess air before sealing. Lay flat on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, remove the baking sheet and store in the freezer until use (up to 3 months).
Step 3: When planning to use, thaw freezer bag chicken fajitas in the refrigerator overnight.ย Oven: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and spread the chicken fajita mixture out in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Stovetop: Sear in a hot skillet or grill pan until cooked through, about 7 minutes, and the internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Season with salt and pepper as desired.ย
Variations
Try out some other options for freezer fajitas:
- Use pork loin strips in place of chicken.
- Use peeled, deveined jumbo shrimp in place of chicken.
- Add wedges of blanched sweet potato.
- Add chunky slices of onion.
Recipe tips
- If you're meal prepping for one or two people, try splitting the fajita mixture into two or four smaller ziploc bags, so you can freeze smaller portions.
- Never re-freeze meat once it has been defrosted, so make sure you cook all of the fajita mixture once thawed.
- Squeezing as much air out of the ziploc bags will help prevent freezer burn.
- When thawing the bag of fajita mixture, place it on a tray or large plate in the refrigerator to catch any liquid that might seep out of the bag.
Serving suggestions
- A side of gluten-free tortillas is classic here.
- Can be served over rice or quinoa as a fajita bowl, too.
- For a low-carb option, serve with cauliflower rice or low-carb tortillas.
- Add toppings like chopped cilantro, homemade dairy-free sour cream, pickled jalapenos, salsa, or guacamole.
- Drizzle with avocado lime dressing for a fresh flavor.
- Serve alongside some dairy-free queso blanco.
More Chicken Entrรฉes
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๐ Recipe
Freezer Chicken Fajitas (Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 1 ยฝ pounds chicken breast sliced into strips
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ยฝ teaspoon onion powder
- ยฝ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 red pepper sliced
- 1 green pepper sliced
- 1 yellow pepper sliced
Instructions
- In a gallon size ziploc freezer bag, combine avocado oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, smoked paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper. Seal and shake to mix.
- Add sliced chicken strips and peppers to the bag, pressing out excess air before sealing. Lay flat on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, remove the baking sheet and store in the freezer until use (up to 3 months).
- When planning to use, thaw freezer bag chicken fajitas in the refrigerator overnight.
- Stovetop: Sear in a hot skillet or grill pan until cooked through, about 7 minutes, and the internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Oven: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and spread the chicken fajita mixture out in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve with gluten-free tortillas or over rice.
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