Chicken Fajita Bowls – Eating Bird Food

These chicken fajita quinoa bowls come together in about 30 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner. They feature spiced-up chicken, sautéed peppers and a creamy avocado goat cheese sauce all served over a bed of quinoa.

These chicken fajita bowls are perfect. You’re getting plenty of veggies, carbs from the quinoa, protein from the chicken and healthy fat from the avocado goat cheese sauce.

Plus, you can’t go wrong with fajitas in bowl form – they’re seriously one of my favorites to order whenever we’re at a Mexican restaurant.

Also, can we talk about this avocado goat cheese sauce? I got the idea from tacos in a meal kit delivery service that we love and it’s like a tangy sour cream, but with the flavor of goat cheese. I’m obsessed with how creamy it is.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Loaded with protein thanks to the chicken and quinoa.
• Jam-packed with flavor!
• Completely customizable. Feel free to make this recipe your own.
• Easy to make and perfect for a quick weeknight meal.

Ingredients Needed

• quinoa – a nutrient-dense grain that serves as the base for this recipe. It is high in protein and fiber, making it a great addition to any healthy meal. I used white quinoa, but feel free to use whatever variety of quinoa you have on hand… red, black or tri-colored quinoa will all work!
• chicken – can’t have chicken fajita bowls without the chicken! I prefer to use chicken breasts for this recipe, but you could also use chicken thighs.
• fajita veggies – for the fajita veggies we’re using red and yellow bell peppers, garlic and onion. Feel free to use whatever color bell peppers you have on hand.
• avocado – used to make the creamy sauce that tops this bowl. It adds healthy fats and a creamy texture to the bowl.
• goat cheese – adds a tangy flavor to the avocado sauce, which complements the other flavors in this chicken fajita bowl.
• lime juice – used to add a citrusy flavor to the chicken and avocado sauce.
• olive oil – for cooking the fajita veggies and chicken. It adds healthy fats to the bowl and helps to keep the ingredients from sticking to the pan. You could also use avocado oil if you have that instead.
• seasonings – chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, ground pepper and salt.
• toppings – romaine lettuce, cilantro, pico de gallo (or salsa) and hot sauce (optional).

How to Make

Make avocado goat cheese sauce: Add avocado, goat cheese, lime juice and sea salt to a blender and blend until smooth. Add to a bowl and place in the fridge until ready to serve.

Cook quinoa: Rinse and drain quinoa. Place water, salt and quinoa into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 15 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let pot sit, covered for 2-3 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with a fork.

Sauté veggies: While quinoa is cooking, heat a large skillet with 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, red and yellow bell pepper, salt and chili powder. Sauté until veggies are tender, but still crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer veggies to a plate.

Cook chicken: Using the same skillet, add chicken, lime juice, oil and seasonings (chili powder, garlic powder, cumin paprika, salt and pepper) and cook over medium-high heat for about 6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and internal temperature reads 165°F. Remove from heat and set aside.

Assemble bowls: Once everything is cooked and dressing is prepped, make bowls by adding a base of quinoa, 1/4 of the chicken and 1/4 of the bell peppers. Add chopped romaine, pico de gallo or salsa, freshly chopped cilantro and a dollop of avocado sauce for serving. Add a little hot sauce (if using) and dig in!

Customize Your Bowl

One of the best things about this chicken fajita bowl is how customizable it is. You can switch up the ingredients to suit your taste or dietary preferences. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Vegetarian: Swap the chicken with roasted sweet potato, black beans, tofu or tempeh.
• Swap the quinoa: If you’re not a fan of quinoa, you can use white rice, brown rice, farro, cauliflower rice or another grain of your choice.
• Different veggies: Want to add more veggies or swap the peppers out? Go for it! Some good options are zucchini, mushrooms and corn.
• Toppings: Use your favorite toppings here! Some ideas include sliced avocado, shredded Mexican cheese, sliced jalapeño and/or sour cream/Greek yogurt.
• Serve w/ tortillas: This bowl would go great served alongside some warm tortillas! Use flour or corn tortillas.

Have fun with it and make it your own!

How to Prep in Advance

If you’re short on time during the week, you can easily prep this chicken fajita bowl in advance to make mealtime a breeze. Here are some tips:

• Cook the quinoa: You can cook the quinoa up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
• Prepare the fajita veggies: Cut the bell peppers and onions ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Or you can cook the veggies 1-3 days prior for quick assembly on the night of.
• Cook chicken: Cook the chicken 1-3 days prior and store in an airtight container in the fridge for quick assembly on the night of.
• Make the avocado sauce: The avocado sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Since the sauce is made with avocado it might start to brown a little, but just mix it up before serving!

How to Store Leftovers

These chicken fajita bowls are great because they store so well! I recommend storing each component in a separate container. Everything should last 4-5 days in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to enjoy, heat up the warm components over the stovetop or in the microwave and assemble your bowl!

More Mexican-Inspired Meals

Be sure to check out all of the dinner recipes as the full collection of healthy Mexican recipes on EBF!