If you love fajitas, you’ll fall for this Chicken Fajita Sandwich — easy, cheesy and full of flavor!
This sandwich is essentially a fajita turned into a grilled cheese: crisp, smoky chicken with charred peppers and onions, all hugged by melty cheese. It’s simple to make and perfect for lunch or dinner. Here are a few tips and the full recipe to get you started.
Fajita Chicken
The chicken is the star, so treat it well:
- Bring to room temperature: Frying chicken straight from the fridge can make it chewy. Let it sit briefly so it cooks evenly.
- Butterfly the breasts: Slice each breast horizontally to make four thinner, even pieces. They cook faster and more evenly.
- Season well: Use store-bought fajita seasoning or make your own (see notes below).
- Let it rest: Rest the cooked chicken before slicing to retain juices.
For authentic fajita flavor, cook the chicken over high heat so the outside chars lightly — that smoky crust makes a big difference.
Fajita Veg
Use a mix of sliced peppers (red, yellow, green) and a red onion. There should be enough oil and fond left in the pan from the chicken to fry the veg. As the vegetables release moisture, they’ll deglaze the pan and pick up all the browned flavor stuck to the bottom.
Chicken Fajita Sandwich
Now build the sandwich like a grilled cheese using the chicken and veg as the filling, with plenty of cheese for gooey goodness.
Best bread
Oval-shaped slices work best to contain the filling — a white bloomer, Italian-style loaf, or sourdough are ideal.
Best cheese
Monterey Jack and a Mexican cheese blend are my top picks. A strong cheddar will also work well.
Serving
Slice the sandwiches in half and serve with sour cream and/or salsa for dipping. For crunch, Flamin’ Hot or Nacho Cheese Doritos are fun options. To balance or complement spice, serve with sweet potato wedges or spicy potato wedges.
How to make a Chicken Fajita Sandwich (Full Recipe)
Chicken Fajita Grilled Cheese Sandwich
If you like a good fajita you’re gonna fall in love with this Chicken Fajita Sandwich. It’s easy, cheesy and bursting with flavour!
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American, Mexican, Tex Mex
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Calories per serving: 666 kcal
Author: Chris
Cost per serving: £2 / $2.50
Equipment
- Large frying pan
- Spatula/turner
- Sharp knife & chopping board
- Paper towels (optional)
Ingredients
- 8 medium slices of bread (oval-shaped if possible)
- 2 x 200–250g (7–9 oz) chicken breasts, brought close to room temp
- 2 tbsp + 1 tsp fajita seasoning (see notes)
- 6 square slices Monterey Jack or Cheddar
- 1 cup / 100 g Mexican cheese blend, shredded (or extra Monterey Jack/Cheddar)
- 3 peppers (red, yellow, green), sliced
- 1 medium red onion, sliced
- Butter, as needed
- Olive oil, as needed
- Salsa and/or sour cream, to serve
Instructions
- Prep chicken: Butterfly the chicken breasts to make four even pieces. Coat with 2 tbsp fajita seasoning.
- Fry chicken: Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken until lightly charred and cooked through. Rest, then slice into thin strips when ready.
- Cook veg: Add a little more oil if needed. Fry the sliced peppers and onion until they begin to soften, then sprinkle in 1 tsp fajita seasoning and continue cooking until softened and slightly charred. Remove and set aside.
- Assemble sandwiches: Butter one side of each bread slice. Place two butter-side-down slices in the pan (heat off and pan slightly cooled). Top each with 1½ slices of cheese, then peppers/onion, then one sliced chicken breast per sandwich. Sprinkle more cheese and top with the remaining bread, butter-side-up.
- Fry: Turn the heat to medium and cook both sides until golden and the cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining sandwiches. Slice in half and serve with sour cream or salsa.
Quick Demo
Notes
Fajita seasoning (homemade): Makes about 3 tbsp. Use 2 tbsp + 1 tsp for this recipe.
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2–1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
If using store-bought seasoning, check salt levels and adjust accordingly.
Bread: Oval-shaped slices work better than square slices. Italian-style, white bloomer, or sourdough are good choices.
Calories: Estimated per sandwich assuming 1 tbsp olive oil and 4 tbsp butter used in total.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 666 kcal
Fat: 37.85 g • Protein: 47.61 g • Carbs: 32.32 g
Tried this recipe? Share and tag @somethingaboutsandwiches if you post it on social media.
If you like this sandwich, you might also enjoy the Cajun Chicken Sandwich.
More spicy grilled cheese ideas:
Spicy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
- Chipotle Chicken Grilled Cheese
- Chili Cheese Dog Grilled Cheese
If you loved this Chicken Fajita Sandwich recipe, pin it for later and leave a comment if you’ve tried it or have a question!