Making delicious meals shouldn’t be a hassle, especially on busy weeknights. These crockpot chicken fajitas are the perfect solution, offering incredible flavor with minimal effort. Your slow cooker does all the hard work, transforming simple ingredients into a tender, juicy fajita filling. Get ready to enjoy a fantastic meal that’s both easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
This recipe truly embodies simplicity and flavor, making it a new family favorite. Here’s why you’ll love preparing these slow cooker chicken fajitas:
- Minimal Prep, Maximum Flavor: Just chop, dump, and let your slow cooker do the rest for incredible taste.
- Tender, Juicy Chicken Every Time: The slow cooking process ensures moist, perfectly cooked chicken.
- Customizable with Favorite Toppings: Everyone can build their ideal fajita with a variety of fresh additions.
- One-Pot Meal Simplicity: Enjoy easy cleanup with everything cooking together in a single pot.
- Great for Meal Prep: Prepare a big batch for quick lunches or dinners throughout the week.
Ingredients
Gather these simple ingredients to create your flavorful crockpot chicken fajitas:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 3 bell peppers (preferably 1 red, 1 yellow and 1 green) cored and sliced
- 1 large yellow onion, halved and sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 3/4 tsp ground coriander*
- 1 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp pepper
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 12 6-inch flour tortillas
- Cilantro, sour cream, salsa, guacamole or sliced avocados, shredded Mexican cheese (optional)
Notes & Substitutions
You have flexibility with many of these ingredients. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs also work wonderfully if you prefer dark meat; they stay incredibly moist. For the bell peppers, feel free to use any color combination you like, though a mix adds visual appeal. A red onion can substitute for the yellow onion, offering a slightly sharper flavor. If petite diced tomatoes with green chilies aren’t available, a regular can of petite diced tomatoes works, or even fire-roasted for more depth. If you don’t have ground coriander, you can use a pinch of dried oregano instead. Honey adds a subtle sweetness to balance the spices; it is optional, but it truly rounds out the flavors.
Equipment
You won’t need much special equipment for this recipe.
- A 6-quart slow cooker or larger is ideal for holding all the ingredients.
- You’ll also need a sharp knife and cutting board for prepping vegetables.
- A small bowl for mixing spices and a fork for shredding chicken are also helpful.
How to Make Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
Making these crockpot chicken fajitas is incredibly straightforward. Just follow these steps for a delicious, fuss-free meal.
- Pour half of the canned tomatoes (including liquid) into the bottom of your slow cooker. Spread them into an even layer. Top this with half of the sliced bell peppers and half of the sliced onions. Sprinkle the minced garlic evenly over the vegetables.
- Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts directly on top of the vegetable layer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper. This creates your flavorful fajita seasoning. Evenly sprinkle half of this seasoning mixture over the chicken breasts.
- Carefully flip the chicken breasts, then sprinkle the remaining half of the seasoning over the other side.
- Top the seasoned chicken with the remaining half of the canned tomatoes. Then, layer in the remaining sliced bell peppers and onions.
- Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on HIGH heat for about 2 to 3 hours, or on LOW heat for 4 to 6 hours. Cook until the chicken has cooked through completely and the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker. You can either cut them into strips or shred them using two forks.
- Ladle out about 1 cup of the excess broth from the slow cooker (this will be mostly tomato liquid) and discard it. This helps prevent watery fajitas.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh lime juice and honey. Add this mixture to the slow cooker along with the prepared chicken. Season with additional salt to taste if desired. You can also stir in about 1/4 cup of fresh chopped cilantro here for an extra burst of flavor, if you like.
- Gently toss all the ingredients together in the slow cooker until everything is well combined and coated.
- Serve your warm crockpot chicken fajitas filling in warmed flour tortillas. Offer a variety of your favorite optional toppings, such as sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or shredded cheese, allowing everyone to customize their fajitas.
Pro Tips for the Best Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
Achieve the most delicious results with these helpful tips for your slow cooker fajitas.
- Adjust Cooking Time: Always check chicken for doneness, but cook until just tender. Overcooking can make the chicken dry, even in a slow cooker.
- Control Liquid: Draining some liquid after cooking helps concentrate the flavors and prevents overly watery fajitas.
- Ensure Doneness: According to the USDA, chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
- Enhance Flavor: A squeeze of fresh lime juice and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro at the end brightens the entire dish.
- Balance Flavors: The honey adds a touch of sweetness that perfectly balances the savory spices and tart lime.
Serving Suggestions, Storage, & Variations
These versatile crockpot chicken fajitas offer many delicious options beyond the traditional.
Serve your tender chicken and peppers in warm flour tortillas for a classic experience. For a lighter meal, create rice or quinoa bowls, piling the fajita mixture over your favorite grain. Additional topping ideas include pickled jalapeños, hot sauce, a sprinkle of cotija cheese, or even grilled corn salsa.
For storage, transfer any leftover fajita meat and vegetables to an airtight container. Refrigerate it for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze the cooled mixture for up to 2-3 months in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Feel free to adjust the spice level by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the seasoning mix. For other protein options, consider using sliced sirloin steak or even firm tofu for a vegetarian alternative with similar seasoning.
Nutrition Information
This recipe provides a balanced and flavorful meal. The estimated nutritional values for a single serving of crockpot chicken fajitas are provided below. Please remember that these values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and brands used. Optional toppings like sour cream, cheese, or guacamole will add to these nutritional figures.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 432 kcal |
| Calories from Fat | 72 |
| Fat | 8g |
| Saturated Fat | 1g |
| Cholesterol | 96mg |
| Sodium | 1007mg |
| Potassium | 1082mg |
| Carbohydrates | 48g |
| Fiber | 5g |
| Sugar | 13g |
| Protein | 34g |
| Vitamin A | 3380IU |
| Vitamin C | 125.2mg |
| Calcium | 123mg |
| Iron | 4.5mg |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use frozen chicken?
Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts directly in the slow cooker. Add an extra hour or two to the cooking time to ensure they cook through properly.
How do I prevent watery fajitas?
To avoid watery crockpot chicken fajitas, be sure to drain about a cup of the excess liquid from the slow cooker after cooking. This concentrates the flavors and thickens the sauce slightly.
Can this recipe be made spicier?
Absolutely! To add more heat, include a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes with the seasoning mix. You can also add a few diced jalapeños or serrano peppers to the slow cooker.
Is it suitable for meal prepping?
This recipe is excellent for meal prepping. Cook a large batch and divide it into individual portions for quick and easy lunches or dinners throughout the week.
What sides pair well with fajitas?
Beyond tortillas, rice, or quinoa, you can serve these fajitas with a simple green salad, black beans, or a fresh corn and avocado salad.
Conclusion
These crockpot chicken fajitas truly simplify weeknight dinners without sacrificing flavor. With minimal prep and the magic of your slow cooker, you can achieve tender, zesty chicken and vegetables every time. We encourage you to try this incredibly easy and delicious recipe for yourself. We’d love to hear how it turns out and what your favorite toppings are!

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
Equipment
- Slow cooker
- Mixing bowl
- Small bowl
Ingredients
Fajita Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 can petite diced tomatoes with green chilies (14.5 oz)
- 3 bell peppers (preferrably 1 red, 1 yellow and 1 green) cored and sliced
- 1 large yellow onion halved and sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 3/4 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp pepper
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 12 6-inch flour tortillas
- Cilantro, sour cream, salsa, guacamole or sliced avocados, shredded Mexican cheese (optional)
Instructions
Instructions
- Layer half of the canned tomatoes, sliced bell peppers, and onions in the slow cooker, then sprinkle with minced garlic and top with chicken breasts.
- In a bowl, whisk together chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle half the seasoning over the chicken, flip, and season the other side. Top with the remaining tomatoes, peppers, and onions.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
- Remove the chicken and shred or cut it into strips. Ladle out and discard about 1 cup of the liquid from the slow cooker.
- Whisk together lime juice and honey in a small bowl, then add it to the slow cooker with the chicken. Gently toss everything together and serve warm in tortillas with your choice of optional toppings.
