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This idea may be one of my most creative recipes yet. These Inside Out Chicken Fajitas were awesome. We were having friends over where the wife is an amazing cook. I had to do something interesting and tasty. They are Israeli so I had thought about Chicken Shawarma which I love and love to make. I thought of falafel too. But decided there is no way I could make it as well as the memory she would have of her mom making these recipes.
Inside Out Chicken Fajitas
Inside Out Chicken Fajitas
So I wanted to come up with something spicy. They definitely like spicy food. You all know I love my Mexican food and have a cabinet full of Mexican ground chili spices. I need to go rogue with my fajitas and throw on a number of spices. Normally, I find them a little bland. Whenever I am out at a restaurant, I like but do not love chicken fajitas. I never order them. I like there texture but how can I kick up the flavors. So what can i create to make these interesting visually and taste wise?
How about I put all the fillings inside the chicken? This was such a good idea. This idea of Inside Out Chicken Fajitas enabled me to spice up the onions and peppers with great spices and fill the stuffed chicken with plenty of cheese. The other thing it also allowed me to do was spice the exterior of the chicken roulade with my current favorite Mexican coffee rub. The chicken was cooked in the oven to ensure it was cooked all the way through. But I finished it in the cast iron skillet with some stock which created a broth, a sauce to top the chicken with upon serving.
The vegetable cast of characters followed by sautéeing and spicing.
Ingredients
Onions & Peppers and Spices
Roasted Onions & Peppers in Pan
Creating the stuffing layers of the chicken from pounding the chicken, adding the vegetables and the cheese.
Pounded Chicken
1st Cheese Layer
Onions & Peppers Topped
2nd Cheese Layer
The chicken tied up and placed in the skillet.
Wrapped Chicken Added to Skillet
The Inside Out Chicken Fajitas plated.
Inside Out Chicken Fajitas
- 3 chicken breasts, cut horizontally
- 12 slices pepperjack cheese
- 6 slices smoked gouda
- 3 green bell peppers, sliced
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 1 Spanish onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 3 tablespoons Adobo seasoning
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 2 tablespoons New Mexico ground chili powder
- 1 - 2 tablespoons Sunny Oaxaca (ancho coffee rub)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup chicken stock
- Heat a skillet on medium heat and add the oil.
- Add in the peppers and onions and half the spices and saute until soft - approximately 5 minutes.
- Slice the chicken horizontally and pound it to about 1/4" of thickness.
- Spice both sides with the Adobo seasoning, salt and chili powder.
- Begin adding the stuffing with the first slices of pepperjack and the smoked gouda.
- Next, top with the sauteed vegetables.
- Finish with the last of the pepperjack cheese.
- Either tie or using toothpicks close the chicken breasts sealing in the cheese and vegetables.
- Add the Sunny Oaxaca all over the stuff chicken breasts.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter to a cast iron skillet and heat on medium high heat.
- Add in the stuffed chicken breasts and sear on both sides.
- Add in the chicken stock and place in a 325 degree oven for 12 - 15 minutes.
- Let rest for a couple minutes before serving.
- Cut the string off and remove any toothpicks.
- Serve and enjoy!
This is such a creative recipe! Who doesn’t like fajitas? Such a great idea – thanks for sharing:D
Thx so much Brianne.
This is great! We all need a little spice in our life! I bet this recipe was a hit!
Thx Mica. It was so good.
I LOVE this recipe! Such an awesome idea and that chicken looks so juicy and succulent. YUM!
Oh yum these sound incredible. Also, Mexican coffee rub?? How do we not have this in our pantry already haha. Your spice collection sounds amazing!
Thx Laura. Good spices to go to are so needed.
Brilliant idea!! The guests must have been impressed!
Thx Vicky. It was a big hit!
I have to get that Oaxaca Adobo seasoning you keep talking about….. this is the second recipe this week I want to make of yours! So packed full of flavor!! Yum!
See if you can find it Michele. You will love it.
Love how you stuffed this chicken!!
Thx Tara. It took a fair bit of work.
What a great idea! This looks so savory and quite delicious, pinned!
Thx for sharing.
These fajitas looks delicious! It is on my list of things to make this weekend!
I am so pleased. Thx Sam.
This looks great with all the veggies!
Thx Florian.
What a fun twist on fajitas, I’ll definitely be trying this!
I am so glad Kelly.
Such a fun recipe!! I love what you’ve done stuffing all that goodness into the chicken breast!
Thx so much Angela.
Staring at my boring pasta lunch dish and wishing I was 1) your friend and 2) lived near you so I can come for lunch.
I would be happy with both #1 & 2 so we could share our recipes.
Great idea! I absolutely love fajitas, this is a great alternative with the same flavors!
Thx a lot Kim.