Gluten-Free Chicken Fajitas

Gluten-Free Chicken Fajitas

Julia

These vibrant and sizzling Gluten-Free Chicken Fajitas bring the bold flavors of Tex-Mex cuisine right to your dinner table without compromising your dietary needs. Tender strips of seasoned chicken breast are paired with colorful bell peppers and sweet onions, all caramelized to perfection in a hot skillet. The secret to authentic fajitas lies in the seasoning blend and the high-heat cooking method that creates those irresistible charred edges and smoky notes.

While traditional fajitas originated in the ranch lands of West Texas in the 1930s, this gluten-free adaptation maintains all the authentic flavors while eliminating wheat-based ingredients. By using naturally gluten-free corn tortillas and ensuring your seasonings are certified gluten-free, you can enjoy this restaurant favorite at home with complete confidence. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity – fresh ingredients, bold spices, and quick cooking create a meal that's both nutritious and satisfying.

What makes these fajitas truly special is their versatility and crowd-pleasing appeal. Whether you're cooking for a family dinner or entertaining guests, the interactive nature of assembling your own fajitas makes mealtime fun and engaging. The colorful presentation of sizzling vegetables and juicy chicken served alongside warm tortillas and fresh toppings creates a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Plus, with a cooking time of just 15 minutes, this recipe proves that healthy, gluten-free eating doesn't have to be time-consuming or complicated.

Julia

Julia

Recipe Author: Gluten-Free & Specialty Diet Chef

Nutrition

30 minutes
None servings
385 calories
Fat 14.00g
Carbs 32.00g
Protein 35.00g

Ingredients

1.5 lbsboneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
3 mediumbell peppers, sliced into strips (use mix of colors)
1 largeyellow onion, sliced into strips
3 tbspolive oil, divided
2 wholelime, juiced
2 tspchili powder, gluten-free certified
1.5 tspcumin
1 tsppaprika
1 tspgarlic powder
1 tsponion powder
1 tspsalt
0.5 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
8 smallcorn tortillas, gluten-free
0.25 cupfresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
0.5 cupsour cream (optional)
0.5 cupguacamole (optional)
0.5 cupsalsa (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
measuring spoons
small mixing bowl
meat thermometer
serving platter
sharp knife
tongs or spatula
large cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan
medium mixing bowls
microwave

16:8 Diet

These fajitas are excellent for the 16:8 eating window, providing a complete, nutrient-dense meal with lean protein, vegetables, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates that deliver sustained energy and satiety to help meet daily nutritional needs within the compressed timeframe.

80/20 Diet

This recipe aligns with the 80/20 principle by featuring predominantly nutrient-dense whole foods (chicken, bell peppers, onions, olive oil, fresh toppings) that comprise well over 80% of the ingredients, with minimal processed components.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

These fajitas feature anti-inflammatory ingredients including olive oil, colorful bell peppers rich in antioxidants, fresh lime juice, and anti-inflammatory spices like cumin and garlic powder, while avoiding processed foods and refined ingredients.

Clean Eating

These fajitas exemplify clean eating with whole, minimally processed ingredients including fresh chicken breast, colorful bell peppers, onions, olive oil, and natural spices, with no refined sugars, artificial additives, or heavily processed components.

Diabetic Diet

This recipe is diabetic-friendly with controlled portions of complex carbohydrates from corn tortillas, abundant non-starchy vegetables (peppers and onions), lean protein from chicken breast, and healthy fats that together support stable blood sugar levels without refined sugars or high-glycemic ingredients.

Flexible Dieting

These fajitas fit flexible dieting principles with clearly measured ingredients providing balanced nutrition from whole foods—lean protein, vegetables, and corn tortillas—that can be easily tracked and adjusted to meet individual macronutrient targets.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is completely gluten-free, using certified gluten-free corn tortillas and spices while avoiding all wheat-based ingredients. All components are naturally gluten-free whole foods including chicken, vegetables, and traditional Mexican seasonings, making it safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Heart-Healthy Diet

These fajitas support heart health with lean protein from skinless chicken breast, heart-healthy olive oil, abundant vegetables rich in antioxidants and fiber, and minimal saturated fat, while avoiding processed meats and fried foods.

IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros)

This recipe works well for IIFYM with clearly portioned ingredients that provide balanced macronutrients from lean protein (chicken), complex carbohydrates (corn tortillas), and healthy fats (olive oil, avocado), making it easy to track and fit into personalized macro targets.

Intermittent Fasting

These fajitas are ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing nutrient-dense whole foods with lean protein from chicken breast, complex carbohydrates from corn tortillas, healthy fats from olive oil and avocado, and abundant vegetables to maximize nutritional value and satiety during limited eating periods.

Intuitive Eating

This recipe supports intuitive eating by offering a satisfying, flavorful meal with variety in colors, textures, and tastes, featuring whole foods that provide both nourishment and pleasure without restriction or guilt-based language.

Macro Diet

Perfect for macro tracking with well-defined portions of lean protein from chicken breast, controlled carbohydrates from corn tortillas, and healthy fats from olive oil and toppings, allowing precise calculation of macronutrient ratios to meet individual goals.

Mindful Eating

These vibrant fajitas are perfect for mindful eating with their engaging visual presentation, varied textures from sizzling vegetables and tender chicken, aromatic spices, and interactive assembly that encourages slow, conscious consumption and sensory appreciation.

Weight Watchers

This recipe aligns with Weight Watchers principles by emphasizing lean protein from skinless chicken breast, abundant non-starchy vegetables (peppers and onions), and minimal added fats, while using naturally gluten-free corn tortillas for a satisfying, portion-controlled meal.

Instructions

1

In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to create the fajita seasoning blend.

2 min
2

Place the sliced chicken strips in a medium bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the juice of 1 lime. Add half of the seasoning blend and toss to coat evenly. Let marinate while you prepare the vegetables.

3 min
3

In another bowl, toss the sliced bell peppers and onions with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the remaining half of the seasoning blend until well coated.

2 min
4

Heat a large cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat until very hot, about 3-4 minutes.

3 min
5
4 min

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the hot skillet. Add the seasoned chicken strips in a single layer and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes until the bottom is golden brown and slightly charred.

6
4 min

Flip the chicken strips and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until fully cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside on a plate.

7
6 min

Add the seasoned peppers and onions to the same hot skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp and have some charred edges.

8

Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the vegetables and toss everything together. Squeeze the juice of the remaining lime over the mixture and stir to combine.

1 min
9

While the chicken and vegetables are cooking, warm the corn tortillas by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving for 30-45 seconds, or by heating them individually in a dry skillet for 15-20 seconds per side.

2 min
10

Transfer the hot fajita mixture to a serving platter. Garnish with fresh cilantro if using. Serve immediately with warm corn tortillas and optional toppings like sour cream, guacamole, and salsa on the side.

1 min

Frequently Asked Questions