Spiced and grilled fajita-style chicken, peppers, and onions meet a bolillo and become a perfect outdoor grilling food, topped with guacamole and paired with spicy baked black beans and fun, summertime drink.
Dinner has taken on a new feel around here, and not just because the patio is finished and we have a real table to eat outside on (though that doesn’t hurt by any means). No, instead, the days have been hectic and rushed, running from one place to another, back and forth and back and forth again. There is a tendency to want to give up by the time dinner rolls around, but instead of giving up and giving in, we’ve been making dinner more important than ever, and I am so thankful for it.
Sitting down together, even over a plate of leftovers hastily thrown together from the very back of the refrigerator, have been still, perfect moments for the family this summer. When we’re all seemingly busy and being pulled in different ways, it’s good to take the opportunity to sit down and enjoy being together.
By all means, you can eat outside without the grilling, but there’s something about a hot grill and the sizzling meat and vegetables cooking that tells everyone it’s time for dinner without you needing to utter a single word.
Bun, spiced chicken, fajita-style vegetables, check.
Green goodness. Lots of it.
The soda for the meal: Joia All Natural Blackberry, Pomegranate, & Ginger. It’s the ideal complement to the meal, especially if you enjoy dousing your sandwich with hot sauce.
Paired with Bush’s Black Bean Fiesta Grillin’ Beans, which have their own bit of kick and pieces of corn and peppers.
Together it makes a quick and easy meal, grilled and good for a family dinner or having guests over at the last minute to celebrate…the weather. You don’t need a reason to invite the neighbors or your family over. Just tell them to show up. I have been, and the rewards have been great.
This post is sponsored by Bush’s. They make a great line of beans that is helpful for making those busy summer meal sides simple. The recipe was developed in partnership with my husband, Ole. I took the pictures. Then I wrote a bunch of thoughts and words down that came from me, myself, and I. They are my own. You’re welcome.
1 lime, juiced
Fajita Spice Mix, below
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
2 cups guacamole
6 bolillos
butter
Fixings: hot sauce, lettuce, tomatoes
Use a sharp knife to fillet each chicken breast into two thin pieces, and place them in a zipper bag with the lime juice and half of the spice blend. Allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes, but longer times will give better results.
Light the grill and bring it up to a medium high heat. Place the pan of peppers and onions and the chicken on the (clean and well oiled) grill. Grill the chicken for 3 minutes. Flip and continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes. Stir the peppers and onions at the same time.
Remove the chicken to a foil lined plate and cover. Remove the onions and peppers and set aside. Keep the grill going. Butter the bolillos and toast over the grill. Don’t go too far, though. They will take a few minutes to brown, but only a few more to burn.
Once the buns are toasted to your liking it is time to construct the sandwich. Place the chicken on the toasted bun, top with peppers and onions, and finish with a generous smear of guacamole. Additional fixings like lettuce, tomatoes, and hot sauce are optional.
Fajita Spice Mix
1/3 cup oil
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon paprika (for more kick, use hot paprika)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Mix all spice blend items together. Use as directed above.
Makes 6 Chicken Fajita Sandwiches
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Spicy black beans are the perfect side to almost any dish in the summer! Can’t wait to try these sandwiches too – I’ve never made my own Fajita Spice mix before. Thanks for the great recipe (as usual!).
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Mmm, sounds delicious! I love having these homemade spice blends on hand to keep grilling out from getting boring.
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We love all those Bush’s grillin’ beans in this house. They go great with tacos, sandwiches, and for sure – a rack of ribs. Your photos of this sandwich made my mouth water, Shaina.. and I literally just ate!
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I just picked up a few cans of ith Bush’s Grillin’ Beans the other day. I definitely need to seek out the black bean variety. Your sandwich creation is just stunning and I certainly can’t wait to try your fajita spice mix!
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That is one of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever seen. Thanks for the inspiration!
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This looks SO good!
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YES to lots of green goodness – in fact, a meal of guacamole and grillin’ beans might be all I can muster for dinner tonight, so thanks for the idea!
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I will be right OVER!
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That layer of guacamole is serious.
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These sound perfect for my grill. I have a chicken breast just waiting to be used in the freezer. And, since I’ve wanted to experiment with a sub roll recipe, the timing is great.
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That is a great sandwich and there’s nothing easier than Bush’s grilling beans!
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At 9 am this morning, that chicken sandwich is making me drool! Gorgeous, Shaina!
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Oe…Looks good! Have to make it on one of those long summer nights when we’re eating on our balcony!
Vanja (my husband) loves a very similar sandwich that I make for him… he is actually a sandwich king (as well as the uber carnivore) and loves all sorts of my creative concoctions, but this is a personal favourite of his.
Interesting that you are now getting paid to write by product promoters. Brilliant for a stay at home mom who is doing what she loves, anyway – yet opens an entirely new can of worms… as you believe in cooking your own food for your family, and make almost everything from scratch for health and economical reasons. I can see a lot of hard decisions regarding what to promote, what not to, etc., ahead of you. It is not easy. I have said no to everything of this nature to avoid such decisions as my children are grown and I was teaching full time. But, as I have just retired, these are decisions I am also reconsidering. Not easy.
Loved the photos, too – as always!
Valerie
PS – of course “my” sandwich is only similar to your – and I WILL definitely be trying out this recipe idea right away!
Valeire
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Looks delicious!
such a hearty sandwich! I love the fajita spice mix you have it with it too
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I agree that there’s nothing like firing up the grill to get everyone ready for dinner. These sandwiches look amazing, and I love that you served them with those fiesta beans!
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This looks fabulous! Summer is a crazy time to try to get dinner on the table, but I agree that it is totally worth it.
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These sandwiches look fantastic – something my kids would love!
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I made this sandwich tonight for my family and I really loved it! Besides it having so much flavor and being so moist, it was so easy. It was a nice Sunday dinner. All of the flavors just went together so well. My kids liked it too Thank you for my delicious dinner.
I wanna drop by for summertime dinner on you new patio…
“I own these. They are my own.” ?
I’m imagining you writing this at some awful early hour of the morning. Was that the case?
I made these for my family tonight and I have to say these are GREAT. The spices for the chicken,avocado,grilled peppers & onions, and even the bolillo bread were perfect. Bravo.
Oh my. This looks delicious!! And your guacamole looks sublime…would you share a recipe?
I love the idea of the fajita spice mix on a grilled chicken breast! We are always looking for ways to make chicken breasts more interesting around here
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I love trying new recipes. I’ve tried many, many recipes and most are one and done. Not because the recipes weren’t good, they just didn’t have that something special. I have made these twice now and these will be a staple at my house! I did something a little differnt tonight, I found a recipe for an orange-chipotle mayonnaise, I added the red peppers & onion, and avocado. So, so good. I can’t wait to have my parents over for a BBQ lunch. These will be a hit.
This looks like a wonderful blend of flavors, and that soda sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing.
This looks amazing! That is a great sandwich and there’s nothing easier than Bush’s grilling beans!