Pineapple Chipotle Chicken Fajita Bowls

Do you ever take a spring break, even though it’s not really built in to work-life? This last weekend we went climbing in New Mexico. I’ve been looking forward to the trip for weeks. Time in the desert is just the right kind of unplugging: no screens, no desk chairs. Just dust, dirt and the moon.

Last month, I started a Best Self Journal. Have you heard of it? It was recommended to me by co-workers as a journal that gets you into a journalling habit and also tracks you towards goals. The journal is a 13-week track, and one of my goals was to send three V6s outside. This trip was one of our first climbing trips this season, so was also a time for me to really dig my heels and focus. In the end, I did one V6 and even one V7 — exceeding my own expectations for the weekend! Maybe I needed a more aggressive goal since there are still 10 weeks left in my journal. Mostly, I think I just needed to believe I could do it.

This is where my mind has been: journalling, planning, climbing. Admittedly I’ve put less energy to cooking as of late, but that’s how life goes, ebbing and flowing. Between everything else going on, this chicken was a standout meal. The combination of pineapple and chipotle is sweet and spicy and grilling season is just starting to call (well-grilled chicken is SO juicy and satisfying).

Pineapple Chipotle Chicken Fajita Bowls

Published March 26, 2019 by Caitlin Sherwood

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Serves: 6   |    Active Time: 50 minutes

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Ingredients:

For marinade:

4 tablespoons adobo sauce from a from a can of chipotles in adobo 

2 tablespoons maple

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1teaspoon dried oregano 

2 tablespoons lime juice 

To serve: 

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts 

2 bell peppers, cut into strips 

3-4 slices of fresh pineapple

1 cup black beans (cooked)

1 cup corn (cooked)

1-2 cups rice (cooked)

Garnish: cilantro, sliced avocado, sliced jalapeño

Directions:

1. Marinate chicken: combine all ingredients for marinade in an air-tight container large enough to fit the chicken. Place chicken in marinade and turn to coat. Then, close container and marinate in refrigerator for 4-12 hours.
2. When ready to cook: light a grill with a medium-high flame, and allow grill to heat to 450-500°F. Place chicken on grill and cook, with grill lid closed, for 5 minutes without moving. Then, using tongs and/or a metal spatula, flip chicken. Brush chicken with remaining marinade. Cook on second side for 5 more minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Move chicken to a clean plate, and set aside.
3. Place pineapple and bell peppers on grill, turning after 3-4 minutes. Cook for 3-4 more minutes, and then remove from heat. Turn off grill.
4. In serving bowls, divide rice, corn, and beans. Add bell peppers and pineapple. Slice chicken and divide among bowls.
5. Garnish with cilantro, avocado, and sliced jalapeño to taste.

Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Update December 2018: This is one of the most popular recipes on Foraged Dish! I love it too. I updated it with new images, a video (!!) and made the instructions more concise. Enjoy!

Let's just cut to the chase: I'm a big fajita fan. What's not to love about have a sizzling hot skillet brought to your table?? 

This recipe is simple to whip together --30 minutes tops- but I'm going to bet high here and say it taste better than any Mexican restaurant. All you have to do is the toss the peppers and chicken in the spice mix, spread them out on a pan and throw them in the oven until their sizzling and the peppers are blackened on the edges. Bonus points for a squeeze for fresh lime juice at the end. 

Grab a helping hand and have them make the guac and the pico while you chop the peppers. As a little experiment, I made my pico de gallo with the tiniest cherry tomatoes I could find, and left them whole. All I can say is, you should try it too! Cherry tomatoes are sweeter than regular tomatoes, so each bite was like a bright explosion of yum. It also made for dripping-juicy fajitas, but I have no problem with that when it tastes so fresh.

You can serve these really however you want--I choose cabbage leaves as a paleo tortilla replacement, as they add a nice crunch, but if you really want to go big you could even make your own paleo tortillas. Heck, just use this filling as a salad topping and you'll still be all set! 

Now, enough talk... on to the recipe! 

Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Published September 16, 2015 by Caitlin Sherwood

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Serves: 4   |    Active Time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients:

3 bell peppers, mixed colors, sliced into strips

1 white or yellow onion, sliced into strips

1 pound chicken breast, sliced into 1/4-inch strips

1 tablespoon olive oil or melted coconut oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon coriander

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Juice from 1/2 a lime

To serve: tortillas, finely sliced cabbage or romaine, cilantro, pico de gallo, avocado, cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. On a large sheet pan, combine bell peppers, onion, and chicken. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with spices. Then toss everything to coat evenly.
3. Place in oven and roast for 15-20 minutes, until edges of peppers are turning brown.
4. Pull from oven, and sprinkle with lime juice.
5. Serve with tortillas, avocado, cheese, greens (such as cabbage or romaine), minced cilantro, etc.