Chicken Fajita Bowl Flavorful (Printable version)

Tender chicken and sautéed peppers on fluffy rice with fresh toppings and vibrant flavors.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced into strips
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1 tsp chili powder
06 - ½ tsp garlic powder
07 - ½ tsp onion powder
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp black pepper
10 - Juice of ½ lime

→ Vegetables

11 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
13 - 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
14 - 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil
16 - Pinch of salt and black pepper

→ Rice

17 - 1¼ cups long-grain white or brown rice
18 - 2 cups water or chicken broth
19 - ½ tsp salt

→ Toppings (optional)

20 - 1 avocado, sliced
21 - ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
22 - ½ cup salsa or pico de gallo
23 - ⅓ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
24 - Fresh cilantro leaves
25 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water. Bring water or chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add rice and salt, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15–18 minutes for white rice or 35–40 minutes for brown rice until tender. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - In a bowl, combine chicken strips with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Toss to coat evenly and let marinate for at least 10 minutes.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and lightly browned, about 6–8 minutes. Remove from skillet and keep warm.
04 - In the same skillet, add olive oil, bell peppers, and onion. Season with salt and black pepper. Sauté until tender-crisp and slightly charred, about 5–7 minutes.
05 - Divide the cooked rice among four bowls. Top each with cooked chicken strips and sautéed vegetables. Add desired optional toppings such as avocado, cheese, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, and lime wedges.
06 - Serve immediately and enjoy.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 40 minutes but tastes like you spent all afternoon cooking.
  • Everyone at the table gets to build their own bowl, which somehow makes even picky eaters more adventurous.
  • The spice blend is bold enough to feel special but won't set anyone's mouth on fire.
02 -
  • Don't crowd the skillet when cooking chicken—let it sear properly rather than steam, or you'll end up with bland, pale strips instead of those beautiful caramelized edges.
  • Taste your rice after 15 minutes of cooking; rice can behave differently depending on altitude and your exact stove, so you might need to add water or finish cooking earlier than expected.
03 -
  • A squeeze of fresh lime over everything right before eating brightens the entire bowl and ties all the flavors together in a way that feels almost magical.
  • If your peppers aren't cooperating and won't char, bump the heat up a notch and give them a few minutes of undisturbed cooking time—don't stir constantly or they'll just steam.
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