Name: Sizzling Skillet Chicken Fajitas
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 t. chili powder; 1 t. ground cumin; 1 t. smoked paprika; ½ t. onion powder; ½ t. garlic powder; ¼ t. cayenne pepper; ½ t. dried Mexican oregano; ½ t. salt; ¼ t. black pepper; 3 T. extra virgin olive oil; 1½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts; ¼ c. extra virgin olive oil, divided; 1 medium green bell pepper, sliced; 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced; 1 medium yellow bell pepper, sliced; 1 medium white onion, sliced; 2 large avocados, sliced; 2 large limes, cut into wedges; ½ c. fresh cilantro, chopped

A few years back, sizzling platters started to show up in restaurants across the UK. Maybe they were there before and I never noticed them! But the first time we tried one, we were amused to find it arrives on the table, actively sizzling – and rather hot! Now, with the availability of good quality cast iron cookware, you can also easily enjoy them at home and here’s a Sizzling Skillet Chicken Fajitas recipe to help you get started.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes recommend products from other sellers at no extra cost you. For more details see my disclosure policy and privacy policy.

What is sizzling chicken?

Sizzling chicken was first seen in TGI Friday’s and many of the recipes we now make are related to that original chicken and cheese dish. They serve theirs with mash potato and have onions, red and green bell pepper and lots of melted cheese involved.

At the heart is sizzling chicken or a chicken sizzler as you may see it named. This is a marinated piece of chicken breast that is crispy and tender and served with stir fry vegetables. It is served on a hot plate, often a cast iron one and this is what causes it to keep sizzling for a while after coming out of the oven.

Getting the right pan

Any large, well-seasoned skillet will do the job when it comes to making sizzling chicken, but a couple of styles are the best.

Top of the list is a dual handle pan. This can be used on the stove or in the oven and has a handle at either side rather than a single longer handle at one side. They come in a variety of sizes, just make sure you can fit it in your oven. Also make sure either they are pre-seasoned or are easy to season yourself and are suitable for whatever type of stove you have.

The other option is a single handle skillet but one that doesn’t have sides that are too deep. An ideal platter style is a 10 x 7 inch oval such as this one from Lodge which is designed as a fajitas set. It comes with a red wood base to stand it on when serving and even a cool chili-themed handle mitt to protect your hands.

What you need

Fajita Marinade Ingredients:

2 t. chili powder
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. smoked paprika
½ t. onion powder
½ t. garlic powder
¼ t. cayenne pepper
½ t. dried Mexican oregano
½ t. salt
¼ t. black pepper
3 T. extra virgin olive oil

Remaining Ingredients:

1½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
¼ c. extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 medium green bell pepper, sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
1 medium yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 medium white onion, sliced
2 large avocados, sliced
2 large limes, cut into wedges
½ c. fresh cilantro, chopped

How to make sizzling chicken fajitas

STEP 1: Add the marinade ingredients to a small glass bowl and stir together

STEP 2: Add the chicken breasts to a large glass bowl and pour over the marinade. Turn to ensure coated and leave for an hour at room temperature or overnight in the fridge

STEP 3: Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large cast iron skillet on medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 7-8 minutes then turn. Cook for another 6-8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly – a temperature probe can help to check this. Lift off the heat and keep warm

STEP 4: Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the rest of the oil to the skillet. Add the peppers and onion, stirring until crispy and browned, usually 6-7 minutes

STEP 5: To serve, cut the chicken into slices and spread across the cast iron fajita platters or serving plate then add the peppers and onions, sliced avocado, lime wedge and fresh cilantro

sizzling skillet chicken fajitas with avocado and lime

Recipe tips

If you want to serve it like the photos in a real restaurant style, heat the skillet serving platters in the oven while preparing the chicken and vegetables. Then once everything is cooked, moved it to the serving platters – that will keep everything sizzling!

You can slice the chicken before cooking but it does tend to go a bit dry when you do this. It takes a bit longer to cook as a whole breast, but the results will be juicier and better.

Yield: 4 portions