Category: Tex-Mex

skillet turkey chili

Right around the time quarantine cookies and tacos became a habit this spring, I also realized that that none of my existing chili recipes exactly fit the bill of what I wanted for dinner — namely, to focus on ground turkey, have a minim…

Right around the time quarantine cookies and tacos became a habit this spring, I also realized that that none of my existing chili recipes exactly fit the bill of what I wanted for dinner — namely, to focus on ground turkey, have a minimized ingredient list, and not take terribly long because it turns out that even with all day, every day at home, I just don’t have enough time to plan ahead for dinner and please don’t try to use reason or psychology to suggest there are other forces at play, okay?

what you'll need (cornbread optional, but not for us)

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Lime Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas with Quick Guac.

Sheet pan chicken fajitas are the most perfect weeknight meal.  Everything on one pan, perfectly charred and flavorful and shoved in warm tortillas with lots of lime! And cheese! And GUAC! If this isn’t the definition of my ideal meal I don’t know what is. We loooove fajitas in this house. They are a great […]

The post Lime Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas with Quick Guac. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Sheet pan chicken fajitas are the most perfect weeknight meal. 

sheet pan chicken fajitas

Everything on one pan, perfectly charred and flavorful and shoved in warm tortillas with lots of lime! And cheese! And GUAC!

If this isn’t the definition of my ideal meal I don’t know what is.

sheet pan chicken fajitas on tortillas with sour cream

We loooove fajitas in this house. They are a great meal to prep ahead of time (I often marinate both the meat and peppers a day or so ahead!), easy to throw together and usually provide us with a good amount of leftovers. We’re obsessed!

And that’s just the “regular” old fajitas – these sheet pan ones are even simpler!

sliced peppers and onions

As we enter the season of squash, where basically everything I want to eat tastes like a mixture of pumpkin and brown butter and sage, it’s so nice to occasionally have a dinner that doesn’t have those flavors. During this season I always find that having tacos or some sort of pasta tastes incredible, but the other things I’m making are so buttery and spiced. 

This totally makes up for that!

fajita marinade

Now, I do have a nacho sheet pan chicken – which is incredible. I use peppers in that too, and you can shred it and put it in tortillas, or just eat it as is.

However, I decided to share these fajitas with you too because so many of you want to make my shrimp version with chicken! 

pouring fajita marinade on peppers and onions

Yes… 

This is basically the chicken version of my lime sheet pan shrimp fajitas that we all flip over. Lime loaded, if you will. A favorite weeknight meal. One that truly everybody loves.

sheet pan chicken fajitas with cilantro

To make them come together in the best way possible, I cook the peppers and onions first, allowing them to get super caramely and roasty. Then, I push them to the side and add the chicken pieces. And we roast it all together so it’s done to perfection. 

This method is IDEAL for sheet pan meals. I’ve always struggled with them because items on the sheet pan rarely require the same cook time. 

This solves that! 

sheet pan chicken fajitas

My (and Eddie’s!) favorite fajita toppings? A simple sprinkle of fresh cilantro and crumbled cotija cheese. Cotija is just the best – it’s probably one of my favorite cheeses of all time. It adds SO much to a dish. 

Most of the time, I’ll add a few avocado slices or guacamole too. Eddie isn’t it to it, but the kids adore guac, so we almost always have it on hand.

My quick guacamole recipe here is one I throw together constantly. Bare bones, but tastes incredible. Skip the fancy add-ins for this guac and throw it on top of your fajitas.

sheet pan chicken fajitas on a tortilla

Finally, a drizzle of sour cream or even mayo for that creamy favorite. A big spritz of lime.

Lots of chip.

And a margarita please!

sheet pan chicken fajitas

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

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Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

These sheet pan chicken fajitas are the easiest weeknight meal! Loaded with lots of lime flavor and super easy to throw together.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author How Sweet Eats

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime zest
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 bell peppers, red, orange, yellow
  • 1 sweet onion
  • 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
  • lime wedges, for serving
  • warm tortillas, for serving
  • cotija cheese, for serving
  • sour cream, for serving

quick guacamole

  • 2 avocados
  • 1 to 2 limes, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons diced onion
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Note: if desired, you can marinate the peppers and chicken 24 hours ahead of time in separate bags or dishes.
  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Prep a baking sheet (line with foil or spray with nonstick spray!) to use for the recipe.
  • In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, zest, honey, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper and garlic.
  • Place the peppers and onions on the baking sheet. Add half of the marinade and toss them well, until they’re all covered. Stick the sheet in the oven and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing once or twice during cook time.
  • In the meantime, place the chicken in a bowl and pour the remaining marinade over top. Let sit until the peppers are roasted.
  • Once the peppers are finished, toss them a few times and scoop them over to one side of the pan. Place the chicken on the sheet in a single layer. Roast the chicken for 15 more minutes or until and internet temp reads 165 degrees F.
  • Once the chicken is done, assemble your fajitas! Start with peppers and onions, add on the chicken. Spritz with lime, sprinkle with cotija cheese and top with sour cream, guacamole and fresh cilantro if you wish.

quick guacamole

  • Mash everything together in a bowl until combined!

sheet pan chicken fajitas

Definite crowd pleaser for sure.

The post Lime Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas with Quick Guac. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

simple cauliflower tacos

Last week I told you about our favorite quarantine cookies. This is our quarantine taco, another simple discovery from our early Inside Days this spring that ticked a miraculous number of boxes at once. Like, “How do we turn this massiv…

Last week I told you about our favorite quarantine cookies. This is our quarantine taco, another simple discovery from our early Inside Days this spring that ticked a miraculous number of boxes at once. Like, “How do we turn this massive head of cauliflower into dinner because it’s too big for our overstuffed fridge?” and “without having to go to the store and buy anything extra?” It used so many ingredients that had become staples — canned beans, cotija (great fridge shelf life), red onions, tortillas, and a small luxury of an avocado delivery service we discovered right when we needed it most. Plus, it managed to work for the whole family, including our pickiest, who we discovered liked roasted cauliflower and also pickled onions, we suspect because they’re pink.

what you'll need
roasted until almost charred

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Texas Caviar (Cowboy Caviar)

This Texas caviar (Cowboy caviar) will have everyone crowded around the bowl! It’s full of big, zesty flavor and perfect for parties and cookouts. Here’s a tasty dip with a party vibe: Texas caviar! Cowboy caviar, as it’s also known, was invented in Texas and has now spread all over the US. This combo of black eyed peas, veggies and a vinaigrette dressing is equal parts zesty and comforting: and you can use it as a dip or healthy side dish. Our favorite recipe has loads of colorful veggies, cilantro and jalapenos, and a simple zingy dressing with the perfect flavor. Even better: this party dip happens to be vegan, full of plant-based protein. Here’s how to make it! Ingredients in Texas caviar, aka Cowboy Caviar Just like a good potato salad, everyone has their own spin on the ingredients in Texas caviar. The common denominator: you absolutely must use black eyed peas! From there, there are all sorts of variations on the vegetables and dressing. Here are the essential fresh ingredients you need for the salad: Black eyed peas, canned or cooked (see below) Black beans, canned or cooked Corn Red bell pepper Cherry tomatoes Green onions Jalapeno Cilantro […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This Texas caviar (Cowboy caviar) will have everyone crowded around the bowl! It’s full of big, zesty flavor and perfect for parties and cookouts.

Texas Caviar aka Cowboy caviar

Here’s a tasty dip with a party vibe: Texas caviar! Cowboy caviar, as it’s also known, was invented in Texas and has now spread all over the US. This combo of black eyed peas, veggies and a vinaigrette dressing is equal parts zesty and comforting: and you can use it as a dip or healthy side dish. Our favorite recipe has loads of colorful veggies, cilantro and jalapenos, and a simple zingy dressing with the perfect flavor. Even better: this party dip happens to be vegan, full of plant-based protein. Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients in Texas caviar, aka Cowboy Caviar

Just like a good potato salad, everyone has their own spin on the ingredients in Texas caviar. The common denominator: you absolutely must use black eyed peas! From there, there are all sorts of variations on the vegetables and dressing. Here are the essential fresh ingredients you need for the salad:

  • Black eyed peas, canned or cooked (see below)
  • Black beans, canned or cooked
  • Corn
  • Red bell pepper
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Green onions
  • Jalapeno
  • Cilantro
Texas caviar

Texas caviar dressing

Now, let’s talk Cowboy caviar dressing. A common variation of this recipe uses store-bought Italian dressing. But of course you must make homemade! The dressing is simple to whip up using just a few ingredients you’ll likely already have in your pantry and spice drawer. Here’s what’s in this Texas caviar dressing:

  • Lime juice
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Sugar
  • Spices: Garlic powder, cumin, and oregano
  • Olive oil

How to make Texas caviar: simply chop all the veggies, then whisk up the dressing and stir it together. Easy as that! Jump to the recipe below for the specifics.

Cowboy caviar

Why is it called Cowboy caviar?

Some people call this dip Cowboy caviar, which is a nickname for Texas caviar. Texas caviar is named for its birthplace: Texas! It was created around 1940 by a woman named Helen Corbitt. She first served it on New Year’s Eve at a country club (perhaps because black eyed peas are known as a lucky New Year’s Eve food). When she later served it at a Texas hotel, it was dubbed “Texas caviar” as a play on the real caviar, a fancy appetizer made with fish roe. The name stuck!

What are black eyed peas, anyway?

Black eye peas are not really not peas at all. They’re beans! Black eyed peas are part of the legume family with black beans and chickpeas. While they’re often eaten in the American South, are eaten all over the world.

One of the most popular black eyed peas recipes in the US is as a lucky New Year’s Day tradition: Hoppin’ John, a dish with rice and pork. But there are so many other ways to serve them, like Texas caviar! A few of our other favorites as black eyed pea salad or as a side dish.

Black eyed peas recipe

Canned vs cooked black eyed peas

For Texas caviar, we like using canned black eyed peas because they’re quick and easy! They also have a beautifully soft texture. But some stores don’t carry them (at least here in Indiana!). So you also can cook your black eyed peas from dry. Here’s what to do:

  • Place 1/2 pound dried black eyed peas in a large pot with 2 cups vegetable broth, 2 cups water and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt. (You can also cook the entire pound and double these ingredients! Then you’ll have leftovers.)
  • Cook 40 to 50 minutes until they’re tender but still hold together. Then drain.

How to serve Texas caviar

There are lots of ways to serve Texas caviar or Cowboy caviar, but the most popular is with chips! Here are a few more ideas to get your wheels turning:

Texas caviar aka Cowboy caviar

This Texas caviar recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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Texas Caviar

Texas Caviar (Cowboy Caviar)

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This Texas caviar (Cowboy caviar) will have everyone crowded around the bowl! It’s full of big, zesty flavor and perfect for parties and cookouts.

Ingredients

For the vegetables

  • 2 15-ounce cans black eyed peas (or 3 cups cooked)
  • 15-ounce can black beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
  • 1 15-ounce can corn (or 1 1/2 cups frozen and thawed)
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 3 green onions
  • 1 medium jalapeno, seeded (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

For the dressing

  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse the beans and corn.
  2. Dice the bell pepper. Chop the cherry tomatoes. Thinly slice the green onions. Seed and dice the jalapeno pepper. Chop the cilantro.
  3. Add all the vegetables and beans to a bowl. Mix with the kosher salt.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, and cumin. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and mix to combine.
  5. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until serving. Serve with chips for dipping.
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Raw
  • Cuisine: Tex Mex

Keywords: Texas caviar, Cowboy caviar

More dip recipes

This Texas caviar is a perfect party dip! Here are a few more dip recipes you might enjoy:

  • Spinach Artichoke Dip Irresistibly creamy and tangy! Everyone will park themselves in front of the bowl, then ask you for the recipe.
  • Simple Guacamole Perfect flavor! Creamy, savory and perfectly balanced, you’ll hear a chorus of “Wow’s” every time you serve it.
  • Dill Pickle Dip Perfect for parties! Creamy and tangy, it’s like biting into a dill pickle spear.
  • Peanut Butter Dip Wow, do people love this one! This healthy dip is just 4 ingredients and tastes like frosting! Perfect for dipping apples, pretzels or fruit.

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes