Sheet pan Fajitas

When I sit down to create my weekly meal plan on Sundays, I always have my calendar open as well. The craziness of my day dictates how much time and effort and I am going to want to put into making dinner that night. However, this doesn’t mean that even on busy days I don’t want to have a nice dinner on the table. Some days I have time to prep ingredients, marinate meats, or take on some of the recipes that have a few more steps. But some days are long. Moms and Dads know that after a long day, you’ve gotten the kids fed, bathed and in bed, and the last thing you want to do is zest, chop, bread, stir and flip. On these nights, dishes like sheet pan fajitas are the perfect answer. Just a few ingredients, just a few steps, just a few dishes and you have yourself, and your family, a delicious meal.

Take 1 large onion and 2 bell peppers (of any color) and slice them into strips. Also take the chicken and slice it into similar length strips, this way they all cook in the same amount of time. Put the veggies and chicken into a bowl and add the olive oil to coat.

In a small bowl, combine all the spices. Doesn’t it look like a pretty spice flower? I love learning about new spices and trying different combinations. The more you cook, the more you find opportunities to experiment with spices and how the addition of one spice can change the flavor of a dish and create a whole new taste experience. This is really what I love about cooking and exactly what I don’t like about baking. I admit it, I hate baking. For some reason, whenever I think I am following a baking recipe exactly, it never comes out. It actually stresses me out! But with cooking, you are free to add a little here or change a little there – you are free to experiment and tweak any recipe to suit your tastebuds. It’s a creative outlet and what makes cooking so exciting for me.

Once the spices are mixed together, add two tablespoons of spice mixture to the bowl and mix together. Pour the veggies and chicken onto a pre-sprayed baking sheet. Try to spread it all out into a single layer so the veggies and chicken cook evenly and get brown. Place the baking dish in the oven and allow to bake for 15-20 minutes.

With about 5 minutes left in the cooking time, take the flour tortillas, wrap them in tin foil and place them in the oven alongside the baking sheet.

Now these may be delicious fajitas on their own, but nothing ups the ante of a fajita like homemade guacamole. And actually, guacamole is a great dish to try your hand at customizing and experimenting. I kept this version fairly simple with a little added spice, but really you can go crazy! You can add feta cheese for a little salty bite, or sun-dried tomatoes for a chewiness…the sky is the limit!

To make the guacamole, start with the key ingredient – avocado. Quick tip – cross cut the avocado while still inside the peel and then when you scoop it out, it comes out in nice little cubes, making it easier to mash. After scooping out the avocado, finely dice some red onion, jalapeno, and tomato and add to the bowl. Next up is one of the most divisive ingredients out there — cilantro. You either love it or hate it, there is no in between. One of my best friends falls squarely into the “hates it” category — says it tastes like soap. So know your audience and add cilantro at your discretion. My husband and I happen to love cilantro so I may even be a little heavy handed with it, but you should add it to taste. Next up, add some lime juice, a few dashes of Tabasco (as you can tell, I love heat) and salt and pepper to taste. Now take a fork and mash. Next big question – chunky or smooth? I think this falls along the same line as how you feel about peanut butter or mashed potatoes. For me, it’s always chunky. I like a little bite or crunch, so I just mash it enough to incorporate everything but leave larger chunks of avocado. If you prefer it smooth, then just keep on mashing!

Now you have all the pieces ready, it is time to assemble. Grab the tortilla, slather it with avocado, add your peppers, onions and chicken, some cheese if you wish, some extra dashes of Tabasco (bring on the heat)…build your dream fajita. Wrap it up and enjoy!