Looking for a quick, delicious, and easy dinner idea? This Chicken Fajita Rice recipe is the perfect solution! Packed with classic fajita flavors you love without the need for tortillas. Ideal for busy weeknights, this easy chicken and rice dinner comes together in under 30 minutes and is as fun to make as it is to eat!
Why We Love This Chicken Fajita Fried Rice Recipe
You know that delicious Mexican rice you get on the side when you’re out at a Mexican restaurant? This tastes just like that – but even better. We make chicken fajitas at home a lot. It’s a great way to get vegetables into your diet and if you make them at home, they’re pretty healthy for you too.
What I love about fajitas is that nice, charred flavor that’s on the onions and peppers from a really hot skillet or griddle. You can get that same effect at home by using a really hot pan and letting the vegetables char by not moving them around too much.
Then we added those peppers and onions to this fried rice recipe with chicken and salsa and avocados to get that same fajita effect right in a bowl of rice!
Ingredients To Make Chicken Fajita Rice:
Fried rice recipe can be really versatile. Leftovers are no match for any type of fried rice – just get them in there and fire up the wok. The basics that you’ll need to make this recipe are:
- White Rice: Leftover rice is perfect, or cook rice up and let it cool a bit so the grains separate.
- Cooked Chicken: Leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken works great
- Peppers: Any color will do, we like to use a mix of colors.
- Onions: Yellow or red, red will be a little sharper but get sweet when cooked
- Garlic: Fresh is best but you can also add garlic powder to make it easy.
- Salsa: Whatever kind of salsa you like, mild or spicy
- Cumin: We LOVE cumin, start with a little and add more if you like the flavor.
- Chili Powder: You can use mild or spicy, whatever you like.
How Do You Make This Chicken Fajita Fried Rice Recipe?
First place all your vegetables in a large skillet and let them cook for 7-8 minutes. You want your vegetables to get charred like this so they have that sizzling fajita taste.
We’re using a couple different colors of peppers, onions and garlic. Next stir in your shredded chicken, cooked rice and seasonings…and voila! You’re done.
This chicken fajita fried rice only takes minutes to make and it’s definitely become a family favorite dinner recipe at our house. There is no one that is only taking one helping of this rice, it’s literally gone in minutes.
Tips For Success
There are a few tips for making really delicious chicken and rice recipe at home. One is to make the rice ahead of time and let it cool in the refrigerator. The rice will become firmer this way and the grains will separate making for a more authentic fried rice, not mushy fired rice that no one wants.
Another great tip is to grab a couple of containers of rice from your local Chinese take out place and use that instead of making your own rice. Or you can use frozen rice that you can cook in the microwave in just a couple of minutes and you’re good to go.
Variations
Pretty much anything you’ve got in the fridge! That’s another reason why we love making fried rice, it’s so easy to dump everything into the wok and have it on the table in minutes.
Here’s some great swap out ideas:
- Make our Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken, have dinner and then use the leftover chicken to make this recipe.
- Use our homemade Spanish Rice and then skip the salsa.
- Leftover steak or any type of protein, ground pork, chicken or turkey.
- Add broccoli, cabbage or different kinds of vegetables instead of or in addition to the one we have in this recipe.
- Brown rice or cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
- Black beans for added protein, or leave the chicken out for a vegetarian dinner recipe.
Looking For More Rice Recipes?
- Hibachi Pork Fried Rice
- Steak Fajita Fried Rice
- Philly Cheesesteak Fried Rice
- Corned Beef & Cabbage Fried Rice (perfect for using up leftover corned beef!)
- Italian Fried Rice
- Fall Squash Fried Rice
- BBQ Pork Fried Rice
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Chicken Fajita Rice Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeLooking for a quick, delicious, and easy dinner idea? This Chicken Fajita Rice recipe is the perfect solution! Packed with classic fajita flavors you love without the need for tortillas. Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy chicken and rice dinner comes together in under 30 minutes and is as fun to make as it is to eat!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups diced bell peppers (any color)
- 1 cup diced red peppers
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
- 2 cups diced cooked chicken (a rotisserie chicken works great)
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 1 – 1 1/2 cups salsa (can also substitute tomato sauce for a milder flavor)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh limes (juice for garnish)
- Avocado (for garnish)
- Queso (drizzle on top for a cheesy finish!)
Instructions
- Add the tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the peppers and onions to the pan and cook for 7-8 minutes until softened and slightly charred. Stir in the garlic.
- Add the chicken to the pan and toss with the vegetables. Let the chicken cook for 2-3 minutes just to get some color on it, then season with the cumin, chili powder and salt.
- Add the rice and the salsa to the skillet and stir gently to combine. Taste for seasonings and adjust if needed.
- Serve with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and avocado if desired.
Recipe Notes
Additional toppings could include shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, sour cream and black beans.
Store: Let the rice cool down for 15 minutes before storing in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This will depend on how fresh your chicken was when you made the rice, so keep that in mind.
Reheat: Reheat leftover rice in the microwave until warmed through.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American / Tex-Mex
I have made this many times. One of my favorite recipes from Mantitlement for sure. It has been a hit every time when I’ve made it for carry ins at work or when I’ve made it for friends. Usually an argument with who gets the last helping. Definitely a must for a dinner rotation!
What a nice compliment, thank you so much Amanda!
Just made this and this recipe is amazing.
I didn’t change a thing.
I always read reviews and people are constantly changing things.
This recipe is perfect just the way it is.
I love it.
Thank you for this recipe made me soooo happy to find such an awesome recipe that I didn’t have to change.
Pinned.
Thank you for letting me know Terry, I’m so glad you liked it!
So delicious, thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Those seasonings sound good!
There sure are – thanks Megan!
great flavors going on here!
Thank you!
I just made a Chicken Faijta Quinoa Bowl–but I LOVE your take on rice bowl. My family would devour.
Oh that sounds good too – thanks Kristen!
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I am going to put this on my regular rotation. Thank you !
Thank you Lee! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Great idea!
Thank you! My boys love it, its an easy dish to make.