Inspired by True Food Kitchen, this edamame guacamole is truly something special! You’d never guess there’s (fiber- and protein-rich!) edamame hidden in this creamy and classic condiment.
To get the texture just right, we threw it in the fo…
Inspired by True Food Kitchen, this edamame guacamole is truly something special! You’d never guess there’s (fiber- and protein-rich!) edamame hidden in this creamy andclassic condiment.
To get the texture just right, we threw it in the food processor for an extra smooth and satisfying result! Just 7 ingredients and 25 minutes required for this delicious, nutrient-packed dip.
Look out tacos and enchiladas, there’s a new condiment in town! This avocado crema is SO delicious and endlessly versatile! We’ve been enjoying it for years and decided it needed its own dedicated space on the blog. With a few tweaks to maximize flavor…
Look out tacos and enchiladas, there’s a new condiment in town! This avocado crema is SO delicious and endlessly versatile! We’ve been enjoying it for years and decided it needed its own dedicated space on the blog. With a few tweaks to maximize flavor and ensure success every time, it’s here!
This crema is bright, fresh, perfectly rich and creamy, and plant-based, too! Bonus points?
Avocados are in my top 5 foods of all-time. They make everything better. I love adding them to salads, sandwiches, tacos, and more! And of course, I love guacamole and avocado toast. Avocados are the BEST! I also love using avocados to make this simple…
Avocados are in my top 5 foods of all-time. They make everything better. I love adding them to salads, sandwiches, tacos, and more! And of course, I love guacamole and avocado toast. Avocados are the BEST! I also love using avocados to make this simple Avocado Sauce. The sauce is creamy, smooth, and made with…
Chips and guac are my weakness. Like, just give me that as a meal because I don’t want anything else. 😅 But guacamole at restaurants is expensive and buying a container of pre-made guacamole at the store is usually not very delish. So when that guac craving hits, I’ve got to whip up a batch myself. Homemade guacamole only takes a few minutes to make and the fresh flavor is so good. Plus, I love using it to top just about everything else I eat, so it never goes to waste.
What’s in Guacamole?
Guacamole is a Mexican dip or condiment made with mashed avocados. In its most simple form, it just has mashed avocado and salt, but many recipes include additional ingredients. I love the traditional combo of lime to brighten the creamy mixture, cilantro for freshness, jalapeño for a spicy kick, and a little tomato and onion for color and texture.
What Else Can I Add to Guacamole?
There are so many fun ingredients that you can add into guacamole. If you want to get a little funky with your guac, here are a few ideas:
IF you happen to have leftovers, here’s how you can store them without the guacamole turning brown. Guacamole turns brown when exposed to oxygen, similar to apples or bananas. So, to prevent this simply eliminate the exposure to oxygen. Transfer your guacamole to an air-tight food storage container, then place an extra layer of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole, making sure there are no air bubbles trapped under the plastic. Seal the container and refrigerate for 4-5 days.
How to Use Guacamole
If you do happen to have som guac left over, here are some ways that I love to use it:
The fresh flavor of homemade guacamole can't be beat! This simple avocado dip is creamy, zesty, and so deliciously fresh.
Course Appetizer, condiment, Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Total Cost $6.70 recipe / $0.67 serving
Prep Time 15minutes
Total Time 15minutes
Servings 10¼ cup each
Calories 101kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes
Ingredients
1fresh lime (2 Tbsp juice)$0.89
2Roma tomatoes$0.44
1jalapeño$0.09
1/4red onion$0.11
2Tbspchopped fresh cilantro$0.15
3mediumavocados (or 4 small)$5.00
1/2tspsalt$0.02
Instructions
Prepare the guacamole add-ins first. Juice the lime. Finely dice the tomatoes, jalapeño (remove seeds), and red onion. Roughly chop the cilantro.
Remove the peels and pits from the avocados. Place the avocados in a bowl, then mash them with a fork.
Add the diced tomato, onion, and jalapeño to the mashed avocados, along with the chopped cilantro, about 1 Tbsp of lime juice and ¼ tsp salt.
Stir the ingredients together, then taste the guacamole. Add more lime and salt to your liking. I usually end up adding about 2 Tbsp lime juice and ½ tsp salt total. Serve and enjoy!
For this simple version of guacamole you’ll need 3-4 avocados (mine were small, so I used four), 2 Roma tomatoes, 1 jalapeño, 1 lime, ¼ red onion, ½ tsp salt, and a couple tablespoons of chopped cilantro.
Prep all the add-ins first. Finely dice the tomatoes, red onion, and jalapeño. Roughly chop the cilantro, and juice the lime.
Remove the peels and pits from the avocados, then place them in a bowl.
Mash the avocados. Leave them a little chunky or mash them completely smooth. It’s up to you. I like them a little chunky.
To the mashed avocado add the diced tomato, diced red onion, diced jalapeño, chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Start with about 1 Tbsp lime juice and ¼ tsp salt, then add more after tasting.
Mix everything together well, then give it a taste and adjust the salt and lime to your liking. I usually end up using about 2 Tbsp lime juice and ½ tsp salt total.
To store your leftover guacamole without it turning brown, make sure to add a layer of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole. Press out as many of the air bubbles as possible to prevent browning. Seal the container closed and keep for 4-5 days, refrigerated.
We love making nachos (chicken, veggie, black bean) for game day, snack time, dinner time, and sometimes even breakfast time. That’s right, Breakfast Nachos are SO good! Why not start your days with one of the best creations of all time? These ar…
We love making nachos (chicken, veggie, black bean) for game day, snack time, dinner time, and sometimes even breakfast time. That’s right, Breakfast Nachos are SO good! Why not start your days with one of the best creations of all time? These aren’t just any breakfast nachos, these are the ultimate breakfast nachos. I am…
This Tex-Mex queso blanco (white cheese dip) recipe is easy to make in about 20 minutes, perfectly melty and scoop-able, and irresistibly delicious. Meet my all-time favorite queso recipe. ♡ Anyone who has followed this blog for awhile knows that excellent chips, salsa and queso are some of my favorite things in the world. And […]
This Tex-Mex queso blanco (white cheese dip) recipe is easy to make in about 20 minutes, perfectly melty and scoop-able, and irresistibly delicious.
Meet my all-time favorite queso recipe. ♡
Anyone who has followed this blog for awhile knows that excellent chips, salsa and queso are some of my favorite things in the world. And after having made homemade cheese dip about a million different ways over the years, this Tex-Mex queso blanco recipe continues to be the unbeatable gold standard in my book.
It’s inspired by the famous espinaca con queso at Jose Pepper’s, which I was completely obsessed with back when we lived in Kansas City. And true to its name, it’s loaded up with lots of fresh spinach, as well as diced onion, jalapeño, garlic, tomatoes, chiles and cilantro for lots of zesty flavor. It’s also made with my preferred blend of Monterrey Jack and white American cheeses, which I’m going to insist that you use if you want a genuinely melty, creamy, scoop-able cheese dip. (I’ve tested at least a dozen varieties of Mexican and American cheeses when making queso over the years, and have found this combination is key for achieving a melty vs gritty texture.) And it is absolutely, irresistibly, can’t-stop-going-in-for-another-dip delicious.
I’m also a big fan of this queso recipe because it be ready go in about 15 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for easy entertaining. And if you happen to have any leftovers, it even reheats well the next day.
Alright, fellow cheese lovers, let’s make some restaurant-style queso together!
This cucumber salsa is cool and zesty, pairing this crunchy veggie with jalapeño, cilantro and lime. Ideal for chips, tacos, and more!
Here’s a unique salsa variation everyone should try: Cucumber Salsa! Using this green vegetable instead of tomato is a bit off the beaten path. But turns out, cucumber is just the veggie for pairing with jalapeño, cilantro and lime! It adds a cooling essence and a hydrating crunch to each bite. Zingy and zesty, it’s ideal for dipping chips or showering over tacos. Or, sprinkle it over grilled salmon for a summery meal. Anything goes here!
Ingredients in cucumber salsa
All you need are a handful of ingredients to make a killer cucumber salsa! Like with any salsa, the time is in the chopping. It takes about 15 minutes to chop all the ingredients: but the payoff is immense! Take one bite, and the zingy, crunchy cool flavor will sweep you off your feet. Here’s what you’ll need:
English cucumber (or standard cucumber; see below!)
Red bell pepper
Red onion
Jalapeño peppers
Cilantro
Cumin
Lime juice
Kosher salt
English cucumber vs standard cucumber
This cucumber salsa is best with an English cucumber, but you can use a standard cucumber if that’s what you have on hand! What’s the difference and why is it better in this salsa?
English cucumbers are long and straight, with a thin skin with ridges. The seeds are very small and the flavor is sweeter than a standard cucumber. Because of the thin skin and small seeds, it doesn’t need to be peeled or seeded before eating! The flesh has a bright green color which looks beautiful in recipes. Because the thin skin is so fragile, it’s sold with a plastic covering in the grocery store.
Standard slicing cucumbers are shorter, with thick, dark green skin and very large seeds. The thick skin and seeds can be bitter, so they’re often removed when cooking. You can use it here, but you’ll need to peel and seed it first. The flavor is not quite the same as the English cucumber, but it’s still tasty!
How long does cucumber salsa last?
Homemade cucumber salsa lasts 4 days refrigerated. While it’s best when it’s fresh, it lasts well and the flavor intensifies over time.
Ways to use cucumber salsa
This cucumber salsa is quite versatile: it’s great on its own as a dip, but it’s even more fun combined into a meal! Here are a few ways to serve it:
Chop the English cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño peppers, and cilantro as noted above.
Place the vegetables in a medium bowl and mix with the cumin, lime juice, and kosher salt. Taste and adjust flavors as desired. Serve immediately with chips, tacos or grilled fish. Stores refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Stuffed mushrooms are one of my favorite appetizers, but I also love making a meal out of them. I make Lasagna Stuffed Mushrooms and Enchilada Stuffed Mushrooms all of the time and now I have a new favorite, Fajita Stuffed Mushrooms. Fajitas are a clas…
Stuffed mushrooms are one of my favorite appetizers, but I also love making a meal out of them. I make Lasagna Stuffed Mushrooms and Enchilada Stuffed Mushrooms all of the time and now I have a new favorite, Fajita Stuffed Mushrooms. Fajitas are a classic Mexican meal and this recipe is a fun twist on…
These Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas have been a Budget Bytes staple recipe since I first posted them eight years ago! I love fajitas, but they require a super hot griddle to get that nice smoky flavor, which also means a lot of smoky smell in my house and standing over a super hot stove. Not my favorite way to spend my evening. So I make baked fajitas instead. Is it exactly the same? No, BUT it’s almost completely hands-off (yay) and you get some nice caramelization on the edges of the peppers and onions, which gives you a similar char effect. I’ll save the real deal fajitas for when I’m at a restaurant and not doing the cooking. 😄
Originally posted 2-18-13, updated 3-12-21
What Kind of Sheet Pan to Use
You definitely want the largest sheet pan (or baking dish) you can find for this recipe. It’s imperative that the chicken and vegetables are not too crowded on the baking sheet otherwise the steam will get trapped as they bake and you won’t get that nice caramelization that only happens in a dry heat environment. I’m using a 13×16 inch baking sheet here and in the original version of this recipe I used a 13×15 inch glass baking dish.
Make it Fit Your Budget
Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are usually significantly more expensive than green bell peppers, but you can use any mix that fits your budget. Despite using a couple of more expensive colored peppers, I used more vegetables than meat to keep costs low. The meat to veggie ratio ended up being perfect once everything had been cooked down. If you want to make these Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas vegetarian, try this Chipotle Portobello Oven Fajita recipe.
Make Your Own Fajita Seasoning or Buy Pre-Made
The ingredient list below might look long, but most of that is the fajita seasoning mix. So if you’re looking for a short cut or your kitchen spice cabinet is not well-stocked, you can simply use a packet of store-bought fajita seasoning.
Toppings for Chicken Fajitas
I like to keep my chicken fajitas really simple with just a squeeze of lime, maybe some fresh cilantro, and a small dollop of sour cream, but there are so many other things you could use to top your chicken fajitas. Try these toppings
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Mix all of the spices for the fajita seasoning in a small bowl and set aside (chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt).
Cut the onion and bell peppers into 1/4-inch wide strips. Slice the chicken breast into thin strips. Add the chicken and vegetables to a large baking sheet or casserole dish.
Drizzle the cooking oil over the chicken and vegetables, then sprinkle the fajita seasoning mix over top. Use your hands to toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and seasoning. Spread the chicken and vegetables out over the baking sheet evenly.
Bake the chicken and vegetables in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Squeeze the juice from half of the lime over top of the meat and vegetables after they come out of the oven.
To serve, scoop a small amount of meat and vegetables into the center of each tortilla. Top with a few sprigs of cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and an extra squeeze of lime if desired.
How to Make Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas – Step By Step Photos:
Begin by preheating the oven to 400ºF. In a small bowl, stir together 1 Tbsp chili powder (this is a mild blend, not hot red chiles), 1/2 Tbsp paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/8 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp sugar. The sugar helps the vegetables caramelize and gives the dish a very subtle sweetness.
Slice three bell peppers and two small onions (or one large onion) into thin, 1/4-inch wide strips. Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are usually more expensive than green, so use a mix of peppers that fits your budget.
Slice 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast into thin strips as well. Place the sliced bell peppers, onion, and chicken on a large sheet pan (13×16-inch). You want to avoid piling the ingredients in so deep that they begin to stew in their juices in the oven, instead of browning, so you’ll need the largest dish available. You can also use an extra large casserole dish, if you don’t have a large sheet pan.
Drizzle 2 Tbsp cooking oil over the meat and vegetables, followed by the fajita spice mix, then toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and spices.
Now that everything is coated in oil and spices, it’s ready to go into the oven.
Roast the chicken and vegetables for 35-40 minutes at 400ºF, stirring once halfway through, or until the fajita veggies have softened slightly and are a bit brown on the edges.
Squeeze the fresh lime juice over the chicken and fajita veggies.
Serve hot with tortillas, extra lime wedges, sour cream, cilantro, or whatever other fajita toppings you like!
This delicious new recipe was a reader request, and since we love Instant Pot meals, it needed to happen! Our inspired version of this traditional Mexican dish is easy to prepare and nutrient-packed — but with all the classic flavors you know and love….
This delicious new recipe was a reader request, and since we love Instant Pot meals, it needed to happen! Our inspired version of this traditional Mexican dish is easy to prepare and nutrient-packed — but with all the classic flavors you know and love. It’s smoky, spicy, perfectly brothy, and undeniably comforting!
With just 1 pot required, this soup comes together in no time but is incredibly flavorful, not to mention satisfying and nourishing!