How long should fajita chicken marinate

Two to eight hours. The acid in the lime works fast, and past eight hours the surface of the meat can turn mealy.

Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs

Yes, but breasts dry out faster. If you use them, lean toward the shorter end of the marinade time and do not overcook.

How much chicken fits in one bag

Three to four pounds lays out flat in the XXL bag, enough for 8 to 10 people, which a smaller bag cannot do without overcrowding.

Is the bag too big for everyday meals

For batch cooking the size is the benefit. On smaller nights the same bag still lays flat in the fridge for a single dinner's marinade, so it is not wasted space.

Big-Batch Fajita Chicken

Name: Big-Batch Fajita Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 8-10 servings
Ingredients: 3 to 4 pounds chicken thighs; 1/3 cup lime juice; 1/3 cup oil; 6 garlic cloves; 1 tablespoon cumin; Chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper

Home / Silicone Bag Recipes / Big-Batch Fajita Chicken

Brine & Marinate

Big-Batch Fajita Chicken

Cooking fajitas for a crowd means marinating 3 to 4 pounds of chicken at once, and that much meat needs room to spread out and coat evenly. The XXL Blue bag holds the whole batch flat so the lime, cumin, and garlic reach every piece instead of clumping in a pile. People worry the bag is too big, but for feeding a group it is exactly the size you want. The tinted Blue silicone shrugs off turmeric and chili stains from the marinade.

Marinate2-8 h

Active15 min

Serves8-10

Bag1 gallon

What you need

3 to 4 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/3 cup lime juice (about 4 limes)
1/3 cup oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon oregano
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Sliced peppers and onions, to cook alongside
1 XXL Silicone Food Storage Bag (Blue)

Directions

Whisk the lime juice, oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper into a marinade.
Add the chicken thighs to the Blue bag and pour the marinade over them.
Press out the air and seal. Massage the bag so every piece is coated, then lay it flat so the chicken spreads in a single layer.
Marinate in the fridge 2 to 8 hours, flipping the bag once.
Cook hot and fast on a grill, cast-iron skillet, or sheet pan until the chicken reaches 165°F, then slice into strips.
Char the peppers and onions in the same pan and pile everything into warm tortillas.

Tips and notes

Thighs stay juicier than breasts for a crowd and forgive a few extra minutes on the heat.
Two hours gives good flavor; eight is the max before the lime starts to make the surface mealy.
Lay the bag flat so the meat marinates in one layer and cooks evenly.
Slice the chicken across the grain for tender strips.

Get the XXL Silicone Bag

The Blue XXL bag holds 3 to 4 pounds of chicken in one flat layer, so a crowd-sized batch coats evenly instead of clumping. The tinted silicone hides chili and turmeric stains from the marinade.

See the Blue Bag

Albino Monkey XXL Silicone Food Storage Bag (Blue)

Common questions

How long should fajita chicken marinate: Two to eight hours. The acid in the lime works fast, and past eight hours the surface of the meat can turn mealy.
Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs: Yes, but breasts dry out faster. If you use them, lean toward the shorter end of the marinade time and do not overcook.
How much chicken fits in one bag: Three to four pounds lays out flat in the XXL bag, enough for 8 to 10 people, which a smaller bag cannot do without overcrowding.
Is the bag too big for everyday meals: For batch cooking the size is the benefit. On smaller nights the same bag still lays flat in the fridge for a single dinner's marinade, so it is not wasted space.