Chicken fajita meal prep done in 40 minutes
Chicken fajita meal prep done in 40 minutes is a medium Mexican recipe that serves 5. 560 calories per serving. Recipe by Chef Jack Ovens on YouTube.
Prep: 55 min | Cook: 18 min | Total: 1 hr 28 min
Cost: $17.12 total, $3.42 per serving
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Paprika (for fajita spice mix)
- 2 tsp Onion Powder (for fajita spice mix)
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder (for fajita spice mix)
- 2 tsp Ground Cumin (for fajita spice mix)
- 1 tsp Chili Powder (for fajita spice mix)
- 2 tsp Cornstarch (helps coat chicken and veggies)
- 1 tsp Sea Salt Flakes (for fajita spice mix and seasoning)
- 2 medium Yellow or Brown Onion (peeled, tip and root removed, thinly sliced)
- 1 medium Red Bell Pepper (seeded, sliced into strips)
- 1 medium Yellow Bell Pepper (seeded, sliced into strips)
- 1 kg Chicken Breast (butterflied and sliced into strips across the grain)
- 5 g Fresh Oregano (can substitute 1.5 tsp dried oregano)
- 0.25 large Red Onion (thinly sliced then diced for guacamole)
- 1 large Large Tomato (sliced then diced for guacamole)
- 1 whole Jalapeno (half used in guacamole, half in bean mix)
- 10 g Cilantro (Coriander) (roughly chopped; 5 g for guacamole, 5 g for bean mix)
- 1 large Lime (juice divided between guacamole and bean mix)
- 1 large Ripe Avocado (mashed chunky, pinch of sea salt added)
- 2 whole Garlic Cloves (grated into a paste for bean mix)
- 4 tbsp Olive Oil (extra‑virgin; 1 tbsp for beans, 1 tbsp for chicken/veg, 0.5 tsp for topping)
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin (for bean mix)
- 800 g Black Beans (canned, drained, rinsed (≈2 cans))
- 180 ml Chicken or Vegetable Stock (low‑sodium, adds depth to bean mix)
- 2.5 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil (0.5 tsp per container to prevent guacamole oxidation)
Instructions
Make Fajita Spice Mix
In a small bowl combine paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, chili powder, cornstarch, and sea salt flakes. Stir until evenly blended.
Time: PT5M
Slice Onions and Bell Peppers
Peel the onions, cut off tip and root, then slice each onion in half and thinly slice into half‑moon strips. Core and seed the bell peppers, then slice into even strips.
Time: PT10M
Season Vegetables
Place the sliced onions and peppers in a large bowl, add half of the fajita spice mix, and toss with clean hands until evenly coated. Cover and let rest for at least 10 minutes (or up to 24 h).
Time: PT5M
Prepare and Season Chicken
Butterfly the chicken breasts, slice them across the grain into thin strips. Place in a separate bowl, add the remaining fajita spice mix, fresh (or dried) oregano, and toss until fully coated. Cover and let rest for at least 10 minutes (or up to 24 h).
Time: PT10M
Make Chunky Guacamole (Optional)
Dice the red onion, tomato, and half of the jalapeño. Roughly chop cilantro. Juice half of the lime. In a bowl, mash the avocado with a pinch of sea salt, then fold in the diced vegetables, cilantro, remaining jalapeño, and lime juice. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Time: PT15M
Prep Black Bean Mix Ingredients
Grate the garlic cloves on a microplane to form a paste. Roughly chop the remaining cilantro. Set aside.
Time: PT5M
Cook Black Bean & Cilantro‑Lime Mix
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium‑high heat. Add garlic paste, the remaining half of the jalapeño, 1 tsp ground cumin, and a pinch of sea salt; sauté 45 seconds. Add the drained black beans and stock, stir, bring to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer 3 minutes. Lightly mash the beans with a potato masher, cook another minute, then stir in the remaining lime juice and chopped cilantro. Adjust seasoning and remove from heat.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: Medium‑high
Sauté Vegetables and Cook Chicken
In a large skillet over medium‑high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Add the marinated onion‑pepper mix and sauté 3 minutes until onions become translucent. Add the seasoned chicken strips, breaking them up as they cook. Continue to stir‑fry for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and lightly browned.
Time: PT13M
Temperature: Medium‑high
Portion and Finish
Divide the chicken‑vegetable fajita mix and the black bean cilantro‑lime mix into five 1‑liter containers, placing each component on opposite sides. Add a wedge of lime and a drizzle of 0.5 tsp extra‑virgin olive oil to the guacamole side. Seal containers tightly.
Time: PT5M
Store
Refrigerate containers for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Time: PT0M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 560
- Protein
- 59 g
- Carbohydrates
- 48 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fiber
- 13 g
Dietary info: Gluten-Free, High-Protein, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free
Last updated: April 15, 2026








