A handful of years ago, my husband and I lived in Arizona and we dined out often. See, we were newlyweds then and were living it up before we decided to start a family. One of our favorite places was a restaurant called Sam's Cafe (since converted to Canyon Cafe). They had the most amazing chips and salsa and their fajitas were out of this world. We couldn't quite put our finger on what made the fajitas so good, but we thought about them (.... in actuality we PINED for them) ever since moving away. Finally, Mr. V. decided to take matters into his own hands and figure out how we could replicate them. After several tries, he finally realized what made the fajitas unique - it was the blend of savory and SWEET! With just a few tweaks to an ordinary packet of Old El Paso Fajita Seasoning Mix we now make seriously delicious fajitas.
Here's what you'll need:
2 Chicken breasts - I butterfly them and cut them in half so we end up with 4 pieces)
1 Red bell pepper
1 Large sweet onion
3+ Limes
Cilantro
1 Packet of Old El Paso Fajita Seasoning Mix
Light brown sugar (or use dark - whatever you've got)
Beer (good beer that you'd actually want to drink - although this is totally optional)
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
Start by prepping your ingredients. This includes chopping your onion and bell pepper into long strips, chopping your cilantro, and cutting your limes in half for squeezing.
Marinate your chicken breasts in olive oil and salt and pepper (remember to get both sides). Aim for at least 30 minutes, but if you can marinate it for a few hours. Now, here is what makes all the difference - throw that chicken on the grill if you can. The flavors of the grilled chicken really add to this dish immensely. Grill them up, then let them rest a few minutes before cutting the chicken into longer strips. If you can't grill it, just cut your chicken breasts into strips and saute them in a bit of olive oil on the stovetop.
Once your chicken is sliced (or it's somewhat cooked in a large saute pan), add in your onion and bell pepper. You'll then cook that down for a few minutes until the onions are starting to get a tad translucent. Add in your fajita seasoning, water according to the packet directions, and about half a bottle of beer. Now, you'll add 5 tablespoons of brown sugar (use more or less depending on your preference) and squeeze the juice of 3 limes. Lastly, add your Cilantro and allow to simmer so the sauce thickens. This may take about 5-10 minutes.
Once the sauce is thick, serve on a tortilla with your favorite salsa and grated cheese. Or, you could even serve this over greens for an awesome salad.
It's a pretty quick and SUPER TASTY dish! I hope you'll make it soon!
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nicole dz says
Fajitas are one of my families go to meals. Always quick and easy to make. Love this sweet and savory recipe. I bet you can even put this in a lettuce wrap. YUMMY!
Ruth V. says
Oh, a lettuce wrap - that is a FAB idea! I will try that next time!
Lara Clinton says
I'll have to try this recipe out! I love making fajitas when people come over for dinner -- they're always a crowd pleaser. I usually use teriyaki sauce as an ingredient but this sounds so good too!
Ruth V. says
Yes! Fajitas are a crowd pleaser for sure since everyone can top them how they see fit. They are pretty easy to make too, so you aren't spending all of your time in the kitchen away from your guests.
DG Middendorf says
Yummy, thanks and I'm going to try this.
Carrie Demas says
YUMMO! These look delicious! I am definitely going to try this recipe! I'm also definitely going to try the restaurant out to! I live in AZ, so the first thing I did was google Canyon Café to see if it is still around...is this it:
Sam's Cafe
455 NORTH 3RD STREET, SUITE #114
PHOENIX, AZ 85004
PHONE (602) 252-3545
FAX (602) 252-0334
It says on their website that the one at the Biltmore closed. Thanks for posting! We are always looking for good restaurants...we don't think there are many really good ones here...too many chains! Our favorite is Rancho de Tia Rosa in North Mesa....the yummiest we've found! We take all of our out of town guests there! 🙂 ~ Carrie Demas
Ruth V. says
Yes! That's the one! I think it's sort of a small chain?
It's SO good! We visit every time we travel back to Arizona.
Alison Gibb says
I have never made fajitos but now I am going to try. This seems like a great recipe and I thank you for that.
loriag says
We use Old El Paso all the time, it is fabulous to make fajitas!
Chantelle Walker says
Oh my goodness that looks so yummy! Drooling good lol thanks for the recipe! bookmarked to my must try 😉
tiffany f says
These look super delicious!! I would leave out the cilantro though, I am not a huge fan of it. I have been craving for a good Mexican night, adding all the ingredients to my shopping list now. Thanks for sharing!!
Michelle Salais says
I love fajitas! One of my favorite mexican dishes! I like that you put brown sugar and beer in it. Very creative.
ANN*H says
Now these we would like . I am going to have to make them for us or for our cookout. I like the sweetness taste of it. thanks for the recipe