Fajita Vegetables Recipe without a packet!
These Fajita Veggies have the restaurant flavor you love, made at home with real spices, herbs and lime, and nothing else (no seasoning packet needed)!
Fajita Veggies are a nostalgic classic.
If you also came of age in the 1980’s and 90’s, maybe you can relate: fajitas were (are!) THE BEST!
When I was a kid, and we went to a restaurant that served chicken or shrimp fajitas, I was definitely ordering them.
The excitement of them coming to the table in a sizzling skillet couldn’t be beat! Even now, a homemade fajita bar is one of my favorite ways to throw a party.
My family also made fajitas at home quite a bit when I was growing up. And, as was typical for the time, we used a packet of “Fajita Seasoning Mix” to flavor our meal.
It tasted great, but upon closer inspection recently, I’ve realized the packet contained sketchy ingredients like “corn syrup solids” and “caramel color.”
You know what? I’ll pass. The good news is that now that I’m a confident cook with a well-stocked spice drawer, I don’t need the packet. These homemade fajita veggies have all the flavor you need with no weird additives that you don’t.
Why you will love this Fajita Vegetables Recipe
- You can control what’s in them, and we’re using real, whole ingredients here.
- They come together in just about 20 minutes, all in one pan.
- Use them to add vegetables to a variety of different meals, including taco bowls, burgers, pizzas and more.
What are fajita veggies?
Fajita veggies are a popular component of Tex Mex cuisine. They are typically a combination of various vegetables that are grilled or sauteed together with seasonings.
My preference for fajita veggies is simply bell peppers and onions.
I’ve seen quite a few recipes where people also include mushrooms. Maybe that is a regional preference, but in the Midwest, we don’t usually include mushrooms.
However, I do like to have a variety of colors of bell pepper. If I can find green, red, orange and yellow at the grocery store, I’ll buy one of each.
But, just like with my Instant Pot sweet and sour chicken, a combination of red and green would be perfectly fine.
As far as onion, I’ll use red, yellow or white – doesn’t matter much to me, it’s just whatever is in my fridge.
Please note: I have a complete recipe post for vegetable fajitas, which include these fajita veggies, a creamy chipotle sauce and a special bean mixture, but today’s post is simply about the vegetables only.
What vegetables go with Fajitas?
While I’ve stuck with basic bell peppers and onions in the recipe card below, there are lots of options!
- Bell peppers – red, yellow, orange and green are all good, in any combination.
- Onions – red, yellow or white onions all work well.
- Mushrooms – some people love mushrooms in their fajitas, so this comes down to personal preference.
- Zucchini or Squash – especially great in the summer when these veggies are in season.
- Jalapeños – for a spicy version of fajitas!
Make Fajitas Veggies with ingredients you already have!
Here’s where we get to take most of the flavors from that seasoning packet but make it at home in a much healthier way.
If you have a well-stocked spice cabinet, you’re good to go. The herbs and spices are cumin, chili powder and dried oregano.
We’re skipping the corn syrup additives or any sweetener at all, because we don’t need added sugar in this fajita veggies recipe (trust me, you won’t miss it).
Instead of “lime juice solids,” we’re going to use fresh lime juice. And then there’s salt and pepper, because there’s always salt and pepper.
How to season Fajita Veggies
To season fajita veggies, you can use a combination of dried herbs and spices, as well as fresh garlic, to enhance their flavor. You can try this simple combination:
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- fresh garlic
- chili powder
- dried oregano
- ground cumin
- kosher salt
- ground black pepper
After you’ve cooked the fajita vegetables until they are tender, sprinkle the veggies with the seasonings and toss them well to make sure everything is evenly coated. Cook for 1 minute to bring out the flavors from the spices.
How to make fajita veggies
- HEAT. Heat some oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- COOK. Add the bell peppers and onion and cook about 12 to 15 minutes or until the veggie are tender and browned in some spots, but not mushy.
- ADD. Stir in the herbs and spices and cook another minute.
- STIR. Add the lime juice and stir everything up, then cook one more minute.
Home Chef Tips for this Fajita Veggies Recipe
- Use a cast iron skillet if at all possible (also perfect for blistered tomatoes and my shishito peppers recipe). The hot, even heat the skillet maintains really allows the vegetables to char in some spots, which is where a lot of that classic fajita flavor comes from.
- DON’T STIR TOO OFTEN. You want to stir occasionally so that you expose all of the vegetables to the same amount of heat, but if you stir TOO often, you’ll prevent anything from really browning, and you’ll basically just steam everything. Aim for 3 to 4 mintues between stirs.
Other ways to use Fajita Vegetables
Besides the vegetarian fajitas recipe I mention above, there are so many ways to use Fajita Vegetables. Some ideas include:
- Tuck them into lamb tacos or use them to make nachos.
- Add them to the top of Sonoran hot dogs.
- Chop them up and add them to a chicken pizza.
- Stir them into taco macaroni.
- Make taco bowls or chicken burrito bowls with fajita veggies, Spanish rice, and lots of of toppings.
- Use them as the veggie component for breakfast muffins.
Storing and Reheating Fajitas Veggies
To store leftover fajita veggies, allow them to cool and then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat fajita vegetables, you have quite a few options:
- STOVETOP: Heat a teaspoon of vegetable oil or olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add veggies and cook, stirring frequently, until heated through.
- MICROWAVE: Place fajita veggies in a microwave-safe dish, and cook on high, stirring every minute, until veggies are heated through.
- OVEN: Spread veggies in an even layer on rimmed baking pan and bake at 350 degrees F until warmed through.
Can Fajita Veggies be frozen?
Yes, this fajita veggies recipe can be frozen for longer-term storage, although their texture may not be quite as good as when they were originally made.
To freeze, allow them to cool completely and then transfer them to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months.
To reheat, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat using one of the methods outlined above.
Fajita Veggie FAQs
A fajita traditional consists of grilled or sautéed meat (like chicken, beef or shrimp) along with mixed vegetables. It’s usually served in a warm tortilla with toppings and garnishes like salsa, sour cream, cheese and guacamole.
Generally, fajitas are made with a variety of bell peppers for visual appeal. Use a combination of colors, like red, green and yellow for the most eye-catching dish. Or, choose one color for your fajita veggies based on your flavor preferences. It’s up to you!
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Fajitas Veggies
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 bell peppers red, green, yellow, orange or a combination, sliced
- 1 large onion red, yellow or white, sliced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Juice of 1 lime
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat in large cast iron skillet or other heavy skillet. Add bell peppers and onion and cook 12 to 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender but not mushy and well browned in some spots, stirring occasionally (but not too frequently).
- Stir in garlic, chili powder, oregano, cumin and salt and pepper. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Stir in lime juice. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use a cast iron skillet if at all possible (also perfect for blistered tomatoes and my shishito peppers recipe). The hot, even heat the skillet maintains really allows the vegetables to char in some spots, which is where a lot of that classic fajita flavor comes from.
- DON’T STIR TOO OFTEN. You want to stir occasionally so that you expose all of the vegetables to the same amount of heat, but if you stir TOO often, you’ll prevent anything from really browning, and you’ll basically just steam everything. Aim for 3 to 4 mintues between stirs.
Delicious! But next time I’m going to add some beans and avocado. The trick of not stirring the vegetables was great.
I’m glad you liked it, Don. Avocado is always a good choice!
One day I’ll just have to make fajitas. Don’t know why I’ve resisted it for so long, because I do enjoy eating them. The only restaurant I’ve ever had them in, that I know of, is in San Antonio, TX, and they use only bell peppers and onions. I’m pretty sure I’d find the same thing here on the border with Mexico. In my opinion, your choice of veggies means you are making “real” fajitas. 🙂