Learn how to create this light and easy chicken fajita bowl! This flavorful, delicious dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes start to finish.
I love to make a light and healthy dinner that is both flavorful and easy. This chicken over rice fajita bowl is it!
It’s so amazing and packed full of flavor that you’d never know that it’s light in calories and incredibly easy to make! Who knew skipping the tortilla could be so delicious?
I recreated one of my favorite dishes from a local restaurant just around the corner from us. I’m always craving this fajita bowl and fortunately, it’s another restaurant inspired recipe that is simple and absolutely delicious.
Chicken and rice combine beautifully for a wholesome dinner, and this combination is used in many cultures and flavor profiles. There’s a good reason for that!
Regardless of seasoning or style, this combination is fast, inexpensive, filling, and high protein!
You can whip this recipe up in less than 30 minutes, start to finish. I like to make a large batch of our favorite Blackened Chicken or use my homemade fajita seasoning mix to enjoy throughout the week in salads, enchiladas, fajitas and wraps.
This bowl is just one more way to eat a fresh meal without a lot of work! It’s all the flavors of your favorite chicken fajitas, served in a fast and healthy bowl format.
Why You’ll Love these Chicken Fajita Bowls
- Light + Easy
- Customize to Your Tastes
- Great Weeknight Dinner
- Healthy and Fresh Flavors
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Bell Peppers – Red, green and yellow for color and flavor. Learn the easiest method for making sauteed peppers right here, and learn How to Cut a Bell Pepper here.
- Onion – Caramelized with the peppers for flavor and texture.
- Blackened Seasoning – A blend of spices to blacken chicken to perfect.
- Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Low in calories and packed full of protein.
- Olive Oil – Good quality olive oil enhances the flavor, makes the peppers and onion tender.
- Rice – The foundation for this fajita bowl. You can use your favorite – white rice, brown rice or even cauliflower rice!
- Cotija Cheese – Sprinkled on to garnish and compliment the spicy blackened chicken.
- Guacamole – The perfect protein packed garnish to add even more flavor to this delicious dish.
Variations
- Use beef instead of chicken.
- Try with traditional baked chicken instead.
- Use Taco Seasoning or Fajita Seasoning instead of blackened seasoning.
Tools to Use
- Rice Maker (optional – you can cook on stovetop, too)
- Measuring Cups + Measuring Spoons
- Cast Iron Skillet
How to Make a Fajita Bowl
- Caramelize – Sautée peppers and onion in olive oil until tender.
- Blacken – Preheat oven and heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Coat chicken breasts with melted butter or olive oil. Next, spread the blackened seasoning liberally on the chicken, coating both sides. Add the chicken breasts into the hot pan. To form the blackened crust, cook the chicken for 30 seconds per side.
- Now you’ll put the pan in the oven to finish cooking! This takes another 10 minutes, or until your chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow to rest covered five minutes before slicing.
- Prepare Rice – Make according to package instructions, and add the rice to the base of your bowl.
- Assemble – Add rice to each bowl and top with peppers, onions and sliced chicken breast. Garnish with cotija cheese, guacamole and optional sour cream.
Free Printable Meat Temperature Chart
Get the free printable Meat Temperature Chart to ensure your spiedini is cooked properly based on the cooking method and meat you select.
Tips
- Set up as a bar to allow guests or family to create their own combo with a variety of toppings.
- If you love that citrus flavor addition, fresh squeezed lime juice over the top of your chicken fajita bowl!
- Add a dollop of this incredible crema de cilantro.
- Add a little fiber with seasoned black beans. While beans aren’t a low carb/ keto addition, they do fit into many other diets and lifestyles.
- Like things a little spicier? Add more chili powder to your blackened seasoning or spice it up with jalapeños on top.
- Store refrigerated sealed in an airtight container up to three days – this makes an excellent lunch if you’re into weekly meal prepping!
Make More (or Less!)
Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!
Frequently Asked Questions
Coming in at just 675 calories per serving, you’re able to enjoy some incredible flavors in a lighter way with this bowl recipe… and that includes guacamole and cheese!
Much like my favorite taco toppings, fajita flavors are so easy to customize. Spice them up with jalapenos and spicy salsas, or cool them down with sour cream or lime crema. The choice is yours!
Serving Suggestions
- Pico de Gallo
- Chipotle Corn Salsa
- Queso Blanco White Queso Dip
- Cream Cheese Bean Dip
- Add a little dressing – this cilantro lime dressing is the perfect festive flavor!
- Serve your fajita bowl out of one of these Homemade Taco Salad Bowls.
- Don’t forget to top it off with the most delicious homemade margarita!
Dietary Considerations
- Gluten Free
- Nut Free
- For a Dairy Free bowl, simply eliminate cheese
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – This chicken fajita bowl can sit out for up to two hours while serving.
- Refrigerate – You can refrigerate this chicken fajita bowl for up to 2-3 days.
- Freeze – Store your leftovers in an airtight container for up to three months in the freezer.
More Tex Mex Inspiration
Chicken Over Rice Fajita Bowls
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt thick flakes, if possible
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups rice cooked – white, brown or cauliflower
- 2 whole peppers sliced, any color
- 1 onion sliced, yellow or white
Toppings
- 8 tablespoons cotija cheese crumbled
- 8 tablespoons guacamole
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Slice and sauté peppers and onion in olive oil until tender.
- Make rice according to package instructions, and add the rice to the base of your bowl.
- Heat a skillet over high approximately 5 minutes.
- Combine spices.
- Brush olive oil onto chicken breasts and generously season with spices, patting them on.
- Place chicken breasts in skillet 30 seconds to blacken then flip and blacken the other side 30 seconds.
- Transfer to the oven 10 minutes + until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- Transfer to covered serving dish and allow to rest five minutes and then slice.
- Assemble – Add rice to each bowl and top with peppers, onions and sliced chicken breast. Garnish with cotija cheese, guacamole and optional sour cream.
Julie’s Tips
- Set up as a bar to allow guests or family to create their own combo with a variety of toppings.
- If you love that citrus flavor addition, fresh squeezed lime juice over the top of your chicken fajita bowl!
- Add a little fiber with seasoned black beans. While beans aren’t a low carb/ keto addition, they do fit into many other diets and lifestyles.
- Like things a little spicier? Add more chili powder to your blackened seasoning or spice it up with jalapeños on top.
- Store refrigerated sealed in an airtight container up to three days – this makes an excellent lunch if you’re into weekly meal prepping!
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Explore More
Serving Suggestions
- Pico de Gallo
- Chipotle Corn Salsa
- Queso Blanco White Queso Dip
- Cream Cheese Bean Dip
- Add a little dressing – this cilantro lime dressing is the perfect festive flavor!
- Don’t forget to top it off with the most delicious homemade margarita!
