Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
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Chicken Fajitas made in the slow cooker! This recipe is so easy and gives you a delicious meal that has almost zero prep! Dump everything into the crock pot and let it cook to perfection for the perfect go-to weeknight dinner.
Looking for the perfect side to serve with your fajitas? We suggest my easy skillet queso, guacamole, or blender salsa!
RECIPE FEATURES
- Dump and Cook Dinner: Minimal prep and easy cleanup!
- Freezer Friendly: You can prep all of the ingredients in advance and keep them stored in the freezer for an even quicker meal prep idea.
I LOVE EASY RECIPES, and this one is the easiest. All you have to do is collect your ingredients, toss them into the slow cooker, and let things cook for a few hours. The easiest weeknight dinner idea that is perfect to come home to after a busy day.
Slow cooking all day in the crockpot gives all of the ingredients time to blend together. That means you get bold flavor in every single bite. Picky eater approved, with the peppers served on the side, and this busy mom’s favorite.
CROCKPOT CHICKEN FAJITA INGREDIENTS
So, what exactly do you need to get this meal started? Turns out, not a lot. The ingredient list is minimal, and most items you could already have on hand! Here is what is called for and any substitution recommendations.
- Chicken: I like to stick with chicken breasts for this recipe. While thighs are loaded with flavor, and normally my go-to for grilled fajitas, chicken breast will hold up better with the slow cooking process.
- Peppers: Red and green peppers are what you will typically see in a fajita recipe, but you can really use any bell pepper variety to add more color and fun to the dish.
- Onion: You will fall in LOVE with how soft and delicious a slow cooked onion is. Yellow onion works best, but for a more bold flavor you can opt for a white onion.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic can take a recipe from good to great. If you haven’t already, think about investing in a good garlic press (affiliate).
- Taco or fajita seasoning: I buy a giant container of taco seasoning from Costco and we find that it follows a very similar flavor profile to fajita seasoning. Both will work in this recipe.
- Lime juice: A squeeze of lime will go a long way in adding a fresh citrus kick to the meal. Buy extra to serve on the side of your fajitas.
- Salsa: We really like to use green salsa in this recipe. Specifically, Trader Joe’s Hatch Chile Salsa, but any salsa will work great!
Use leftovers from this recipe to make a quick stuffed pepper dinner.
HOW TO MAKE FAJITAS IN A SLOW COOKER
- Mist the inside of your slow cooker (4.5 to 6 quart) with cooking spray.
- Place chicken breast onto the bottom of the insert.
- Top with fajita seasoning, lime juice, sliced onions and peppers.
- Toss to combine.
- Cook on low 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through a peppers are soft.
- Serve on tortillas with your favorite toppings.
FAJITA TOPPINGS
The toppings are the most fun part about this recipe! You can get really creative, or stick with the basics. Here is a quick peek at what we like to serve our fajitas with.
- Warm flour tortillas
- Salsa or pico
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce
- Mexican style rice
- Chips and salsa
- Guacamole
- Shredded cheese
- Queso
FREEZER FRIENDLY CHICKEN FAJITAS
This recipe makes an excellent freezer meal. We like to put all of the ingredients into a giant freezer bag BUT you can also separate it into smaller containers.
- Combine the chicken, oil, lime juice, and seasoning in a gallon size freezer bag. Gently toss to combine.
- Add sliced onion and peppers.
- Seal, removing as much air as possible, label and freeze.
When you are ready to cook, remove from the freezer and place in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
RECIPE TIPS
- Add the peppers and onions the last hour of cooking for a more crisp finish. Adding at the beginning gives you a softer pepper and onion.
- No fajita seasoning? No problem! Substitute with 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon each onion and garlic powder.
- I like to use Trader Joe’s Hatch Chile Salsa, but you can really use any salsa type!
More Chicken Recipes:
- Easy Chicken Stir Fry
- Ranch Chicken Stuffed Shells
- Copycat Malibu Chicken
- Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
- Baked Bruschetta Chicken
More Slow Cooker Recipes:
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
- Easy Taco Soup
- Loaded Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Stuffing
- Crock Pot Sweet Pork
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Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
- 1 green bell pepper (sliced)
- 1 yellow onion (sliced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon taco or fajita seasoning
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 cup salsa
Instructions
- 1. Place chicken breast into a slow cooker. Sprinkle with half of the fajita seasoning.
- 2. Top with sliced peppers, onion, and garlic. Sprinkle with remaining seasoning, lime juice, and salsa.
- 3. Toss to combine.
- 4. Cook on low 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through a peppers are soft.
- 5. Serve on tortillas.
How to freeze fajitas:
- Combine the chicken, oil, lime juice, and seasoning in a gallon size freezer bag. Gently toss to combine.
- Add sliced onion and peppers.
- Seal, removing as much air as possible, label and freeze.
Notes
- Add the peppers and onions the last hour of cooking for a more crisp finish. Adding at the beginning gives you a softer pepper and onion.
- No fajita seasoning? No problem! Substitute with 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon each onion and garlic powder.
- I like to use Trader Joe’s Hatch Chile Salsa, but you can really use any salsa type!
- We also add mushrooms to this recipe occasionally.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Can you substitute frozen chicken breasts or do they need to be thawed? If frozen, what cooking instructions would apply?
Hi Deborah, The USDA recommends thawing poultry before slow cooking to ensure it reaches a safe temperature quickly. However, many people successfully cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker by adjusting the cooking time. If using frozen chicken breasts, increase the cooking time to 6-7 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before serving. Cooking frozen chicken may release more liquid, making the fajitas a bit saucier. For best results, I recommend thaw the chicken overnight in the fridge before cooking, but if you’re short on time, the above adjustments should work!
Jessica, this was outstanding! Threw it together in minutes and enjoyed a scrumptious fajita for dinner. Thank you so much for sharing. I am definitely making up some frozen meal packs for when I have company. I used thighs instead and it took 4 hrs if anyone wants to know.
Pat, this makes my day! I’m so glad you loved it. Great idea to make frozen meal packs—future you is going to thank you! And thanks for sharing the cook time for thighs—super helpful. Hope your guests love it just as much!
Hi! If I’m making this as a freezer meal do I add the salsa in the bag to freeze? Or iis it better to put it in the crockpot separately when I’m ready to cook the meal?
You can do it either way. I put it in when freezing, but occasionally forget and add it when we’re ready to cook.
This smelled very good while cooking but on trying, it was watery and lacking taste. The peppers were quite soggy.
Hi Irene, Thanks for giving the recipe a try and sharing your feedback. If the fajitas turned out a bit watery, you could try cooking with the lid slightly off toward the end to help some of the moisture evaporate. For the peppers, adding them in a little later can keep them more crisp. I hope these tips help if you decide to make it again!