I could so very easily become addicted to these grilled tequila-lime chicken fajitas!
I think I’m addicted to Mexican food. I mean really. I think I am almost as passionate about making Mexican food as I am Italian food. Perhaps David should call me “The Blonde Mexican” instead of “The Blonde Italian“. I’m not quite sure what it is, but I know I cannot seem to get enough, perhaps it is from the hugely bold flavors that most of the Spanish dishes have.
The other day, David and I collaborated to make these grilled tequila-lime chicken fajitas. I kept seeing recipes marinating chicken with tequila and lime juice. I decided to come up with my own marinade. The grilled-tequila lime chicken fajitas start with juicy chicken breasts marinated in a bath of tequila and white vinegar with garlic jalapenos and cumin, then grilled slowly over indirect heat. The grilled chicken breasts are sliced and placed inside a toasted tortilla, topped with poblano chili peppers, onions, sour cream, and avocado slices.
Here are step-by-step directions on how we made the grilled tequila-lime chicken fajitas:
Add chicken breasts to a gallon size zip top bag. In a medium bowl, combine marinade ingredients with a whisk. Pour into the bag with the chicken and seal, removing as much air from the bag as possible. Gently massage the chicken with your hands and flip bag back and forth to fully coat the chicken. Place the bag inside a bowl; refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Every so often, flip the bag over a few times to keep the chicken coated and moist, while marinating.
Slice onions and place them in the center of large sheet heavy-duty foil. Add butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper and then fold to make a packet.
Place chicken on the counter to come to room temp while the grill is heating. Heat grill with coals and brush the rack with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking. Remove meat from marinade and place the chicken on the grill; discard the leftover marinade. Cook the chicken 8 to 10 minutes on the first side. Turn and cook an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Turn chicken, as needed to keep from burning, until chicken is cooked through and tender, about 20 minutes.
Place onion packet on the grill. Cook entire time chicken is on the grill.
Brush poblano peppers with oil and place on the grill with the chicken. Roast the poblanos over the flame, turning them every 2 to 3 minutes for a total of 6 to 9 minutes. Remove the poblanos from the grill; place them into a bowl. Seal the bowl with plastic wrap to sweat.
Remove the chicken and onion packet from the grill. Let the chicken stand for 5 minutes before slicing.
While chicken is resting, remove the skins from the peppers remove seeds and slice into ¼–inch strips. Mix the peppers and onions from the foil packet in a bowl.
Slice the chicken against the grain into strips. Serve on a warm toasted tortilla, topped with the peppers and onions, and any toppings you choose.
Serve the grilled tequila-lime chicken fajitas with your favorite Mexican beer or Dangerously Good Margaritas!
Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 large onion sliced lengthwise (root to tip) into ¼-inch strips
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 small poblano chili peppers
- extra-virgin olive oil for brushing peppers
Marinade
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 jalapeño chili pepper seeded and minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 lime juiced
- ¼ cup tequila
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Fajitas
- 6 6-inch flour or corn tortillas
Toppings Suggestions: lime wedges, salsa, avocado, sour cream, olives, scallions, cilantro, refried beans, etc.
Instructions
- Add chicken breasts to a gallon size zip top bag. In a medium bowl, combine marinade ingredients with a whisk. Pour into the bag with the chicken and seal, removing as much air from the bag as possible. Gently massage the chicken with your hands and flip bag back and forth to fully coat the chicken. Place the bag inside a bowl; refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Every so often, flip the bag over a few times to keep the chicken coated and moist, while marinating.
- Slice onions and place them in the center of large sheet heavy-duty foil. Add butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper and then fold to make a packet.
- Place chicken on the counter to come to room temp while the grill is heating. Heat grill with coals and brush the rack with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking. Remove meat from marinade and place the chicken on the grill; discard the leftover marinade. Cook the chicken 8 to 10 minutes on the first side. Turn and cook an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Turn chicken, as needed to keep from burning, until chicken is cooked through and tender, about 20 minutes.
- Place onion packet on the grill. Cook entire time chicken is on the grill.
- Brush poblano peppers with oil and place on the grill with the chicken. Roast the poblanos over the flame, turning them every 2 to 3 minutes for a total of 6 to 9 minutes. Remove the poblanos from the grill; place them into a bowl. Seal the bowl with plastic wrap to sweat.
- Remove the chicken and onion packet from the grill. Let the chicken stand for 5 minutes before slicing.
- While chicken is resting, remove the skins from the peppers remove seeds and slice into ¼-inch strips. Mix the peppers and onions from the foil packet in a bowl.
- Slice the chicken against the grain into strips. Serve on a warm toasted tortilla, topped with the peppers and onions, and any toppings you choose.
Liz says
Omg it looks extra delicious!
Debbie Spivey says
Thanks, Liz. It was really good! We will be doing this again soon. 🙂