Description
A quick, affordable, and family-friendly weeknight dinner featuring chicken and bell peppers roasted on a single sheet pan with simple spices. This one-pan meal is ready in under 40 minutes and serves four people for under $12.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 large bell peppers (any color), chopped into thick strips
- 1 medium large yellow onion, sliced into half-moons
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 8–10 small flour tortillas (6-inch)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1–2 limes, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick spray.
- Cut chicken into 1-inch strips. Slice bell peppers and onion into similar-sized strips to ensure even cooking.
- Place chicken and vegetables in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Toss ingredients with hands or tongs until evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture onto the baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring pieces are not crowded.
- Roast for 10 minutes, then remove from oven and stir or flip the ingredients.
- Return to oven and roast for another 10-15 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and peppers are slightly charred.
- While fajitas roast, warm tortillas in a microwave (stacked in a towel for 30-45 seconds) or in a dry skillet.
- Serve chicken and veggies straight from the pan, topped with cheese, sour cream, and a squeeze of lime.
Notes
Do not crowd the pan, as this causes steaming instead of roasting. Use two pans if necessary. Chicken thighs are recommended for juiciness and lower cost, but breasts work if not overcooked. For a spicy version, add jalapeño or cayenne. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days and can be frozen (without tortillas).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving includes a
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 30
Keywords: budget sheet pan chicken fajitas, easy family meal, weeknight dinner, one pan recipe, cheap dinner, healthy chicken recipe, meal prep