We love mild chicken fajitas for kids. We set all the prepped ingredients out and let the kids do the rest themselves.
If you want an easy fajita dinner that you can get cooked and on the table in a matter of minutes - and that the kids will actually eat - then this is the recipe for you.
My kids love getting involved in the kitchen and as they get older, dinner times get easier.
Pan-frying the filling in this easy, kid-friendly fajita recipe keeps the peppers with a little crunch while making sure the texture of the chicken is juicy and tender.
I've used garlic granules and smoked paprika to add that lovely, Mexican-inspired flavour without being too spicy, while the hint of reduced-salt soy sauce can be left out for small children, but gives the dish a great savoury finish.
We love mild chicken fajitas for kids. We set all the prepped ingredients out and let the kids do the rest themselves so everyone gets the right amount of what they enjoy.
Ingredients
- 220 g (8 oz) good quality chicken diced
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (canola oil)
- 1 red bell pepper cut into strips
- 1 yellow pepper cut into strips
- 2 tsp garlic granules
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp reduced salt soy sauce (leave out entirely for small children)
- 8 flour tortillas
- 100 g (½+⅓ cup) grated/shredded cheddar cheese
- 100 g (1⅓ cup) lettuce shredded
- 100 g (½ cup) fresh cherry tomatoes halved
Instructions
Heat the oil in a large frying pan on a high heat.
Add the chicken breast to the pan, frying for 3-4 minutes.
Add the peppers, frying for another couple of minutes.
Add the garlic granules and smoked paprika.
Add the soy sauce, if using.
Fry for a further 5-10 minutes, ensuring all of the chicken is fully cooked through.
Tip the fajita mix into a large serving bowl.
Microwave the tortilla wraps on a plate for 30-60 seconds according to the pack instructions. This isn't essential, but it warms and softens the tortillas and tends to make them taste better.
Lay the table with the chicken mix, tortillas, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce.
Allow everyone to enjoy putting it all together themselves and eating!
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Can I use other meats?
Absolutely! You don't need to use chicken in this fajitas for kids recipe if you don't want to. Beef or pork would work especially well, just always make sure to fully cook the meat all the way through so that it is safe for children to eat.
If you're vegetarian or vegan, a meat substitute would be very tasty. I'd recommend giving vegan Quorn pieces, smoked tofu or sliced seitan a try.
What else can I add to my fajitas for kids?
Peppers are great in fajitas as they add a slight sweetness, but onion (red or brown) is a great addition to the frying pan, adding extra texture and flavour. Depending on your family preferences, courgette and aubergine can also work!
For extra toppings, a few wedges of lime to squeeze over the fajitas are fantastic to add extra freshness and zing. Likewise, fresh chopped coriander, creamy avocado slices, cool sour cream, or smooth plain yogurt are all tasty additions.
If someone in your family likes more spice, then thinly cut chilli slices are a must for the table!
Which spices can I use for fajitas?
I've used garlic granules, smoked paprika and soy sauce because they're great ingredients to have on hand in the cupboard can be easily added during cooking.
For more adventurous palates, try chilli powder, ground cumin, ground coriander or even dried oregano - all are wonderful.
Why are my fajitas watery?
Some cuts of chicken can be more watery than others, especially if they're of poor quality. That's why I recommend good quality chicken which tends to have great quality meat that hasn't been inflated with extra water.
If you do find your fajita mix is watery, it's easy to cook off any excess liquid. A frying pan with a large surface area should help a lot as an overcrowded pan will boil more than fry and cook away the liquid more slowly.
Why are my fajitas for kids dry, chewy or tough?
If the chicken in your mild fajita as chewy, this is usually a result of over cooking, or cooking on too high a heat.
Pay careful attention, keep the heat to medium and stop frying as soon as the chicken is safely cooked through.
Can I cook fajitas in the oven?
Cooking this chicken filling on a sheet pan in the oven rather than frying will work for this fajitas for kids recipe, yes.
Simply spread the chicken, peppers, spices and soy sauce and oil on a large tray, mix together, then bake in the oven at 200C (180C fan) until the chicken is safely cooked through and golden. It should take around 20-25 minutes but you'll need to keep an eye on it.
What cheese goes well with fajitas?
As most of us tend to have cheddar ready and waiting in the refrigerator, that's the cheese I tend to go for in the recipe and it works well.
Shredded mozzarella also works well, as does manchego, but feel free to experiment!
What kind of oil should I use for cooking fajitas?
My preference for this recipe is to use plain olive oil, but vegetable oil will be fine too
Any oil that doesn't have a strong flavour that will overpower the dish and has a high smoking point (so that it doesn't burn during cooking) should work fine.
Can you freeze fajitas?
You can freeze the fajita for kids mix once cooked and cooled in a ziplock bag (try to get as much air out as you can). It should then keep for up to three months.
To reheat, place in a covered, microwave-safe bowl in the microwave on medium stirring once every 60 seconds until you are sure the chicken is safely cooked all the way through. How long you'll need to reheat depends on how much mix you froze.
Alternatively, place the cooked and frozen fajita for kids mix in a saucepan with a lid along with a couple of tablespoons of water and cook on a low heat, stirring occasionally so it doesn't stick. Again, you must be absolutely sure that all of your chicken is fully cooked through and piping hot before serving.
You can also freeze the mix uncooked, just combine the chicken, peppers, spices and soy sauce in a bowl, mix together and place in a ziplock bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge (do not leave out on the counter) and one fully thawed, you're ready to cook.
I wouldn't recommend freezing a finished, wrapped fajita as the salad will not reheat well and could harbour an unsafe amount of bacteria.
Can I reheat these fajitas for kids?
As long as you've refrigerated your leftover fajita mix within an hour of cooking then you can reheat the chicken and veg in the oven or on the stove the next day.
I wouldn't recommend trying to reheat a fully prepared and wrapped one.
Can these mild chicken fajitas for kids be made ahead of time?
You can make prepare the peppers and spices a day before and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge or ziplock bag.
Cook the chicken on the day you intend to eat, then add the peppers, spices and soy sauce (if using) you prepared earlier.
Can I eat fajitas while pregnant?
These fajitas should safe to eat while pregnant as long as handled and cooked safely.
Make sure the chicken has been cooked through safely, and always consult your doctor or health professional for advice.
Print this mild fajitas for kids recipe
Mild Chicken Fajitas for Kids
Ingredients
- 220 g (8 oz) good quality chicken diced
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (canola oil)
- 1 red bell pepper cut into strips
- 1 yellow pepper cut into strips
- 2 tsp garlic granules
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp reduced salt soy sauce (leave out entirely for small children)
- 8 flour tortillas
- 100 g (½+⅓ cup) grated/shredded cheddar cheese
- 100 g (1⅓ cup) lettuce shredded
- 100 g (½ cup) fresh cherry tomatoes halved
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan on a high heat.
- Add the chicken breast to the pan, frying for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the peppers, frying for another couple of minutes.
- Add the garlic granules and smoked paprika.
- Add the soy sauce, if using.
- Fry for a further 5-10 minutes, ensuring all of the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Tip the fajita mix into a large serving bowl.
- Microwave the tortilla wraps on a plate for 30-60 seconds according to the pack instructions. This isn't essential, but it warms and softens the tortillas and tends to make them taste better.
- Lay the table with the chicken mix, tortillas, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce.
- Allow everyone to enjoy putting it all together themselves and eating!
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letscurry says
Dear Emily,
Those fajitas look so tempting and do-able. My daughter loves chicken fajitas and I always struggle with getting the chicken cooked to the right temperature keeping it crunchy and yet soft. Your recipe has given me the confidence to try this out.
Thank you!
Emily Leary says
Yay! Let me know how it goes.
Susan Mann says
These look great x
HELEN says
yum! my kids love fajitas....and also making their own fishfinger or falafel wraps - we like to make a cone shape with the wrap & pop it in a sundae dish which makes filling & holding easy too!
Emily Leary says
That's a great idea, Helen!
olivia kirby says
Melody is 2 and at the moment she just likes putting the sprinkles and sauce on her ice cream!!
My 10 yr old would like this. He has his own cook book and does bits and bobs from that but they are often a drawn out (and expensive!) affair! I'll suggest this to him, he likes to cook for his 8 yr old cousin.
Emily Leary says
Sounds great - cooking with kids is so much fun!