Mexican-style food is meant to be fun, sociable and easy to pull together — and this super quick smoky BBQ fajitas recipe ticks all three boxes. It’s speedy enough for a busy weeknight, but it turns dinner into a bit of an event, with everyone gathered round the table building their own tortilla from a spread of tasty fillings.
It’s also a great one for getting kids involved in the kitchen. There’s no fiddly technique here — just browning some meat, warming the tortillas, and letting everyone pile on their favourite toppings.
This recipe uses a smoky BBQ seasoning mix and soft flour tortillas, similar to the kind found in ready-made fajita kits — handy if you want to keep things simple, or easy to recreate from scratch if you’d rather make your own spice blend.
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 500g minced beef or diced chicken
- Smoky BBQ seasoning mix (if you don’t have a ready-made one, make your own with 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 clove garlic and 1 tsp ground ginger)
- A packet of soft flour tortillas
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
- Salsa
- Grated cheese
Method
1. In a hot pan, add a splash of oil and start browning off your minced beef or chicken. Drain off any excess liquid, sprinkle in the seasoning mix, then add 50ml cold water.
2. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and leave uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Take the tortillas out of their packaging and separate them. To heat in a microwave: place on a microwaveable plate and heat on full power for 30 seconds. To heat in the oven: preheat to 165°C (165°C fan) / Gas mark 3, wrap the tortillas in foil, place on a baking tray, and heat for 7–9 minutes.
4. Now it’s time to get the kids involved. Fill the tortillas with the meaty filling, then let everyone top theirs with freshly diced tomatoes, chopped lettuce, salsa and grated cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes — simply swap the beef or chicken for a plant-based mince alternative, or use a mix of beans and sautéed peppers as your filling. The seasoning and toppings work just as well.
Can I prepare any of this in advance?
You can chop the salad toppings (tomatoes, lettuce) ahead of time and store them in the fridge. The meat filling is quick enough to cook fresh, but leftovers reheat well the next day too.
What can I use if I don’t have smoky BBQ seasoning?
A simple homemade blend of cayenne pepper, garlic and ground ginger gives a similar warm, smoky flavour if you don’t have a ready-made mix to hand.
Are soft tortillas necessary, or can I use hard taco shells?
Soft tortillas are traditional for fajitas and easier for younger kids to fold and hold, but hard shells work fine too if that’s what you have.
You Might Also Like
If your family enjoyed these fajitas, try our Sizzling Chicken Fajitas for another quick weeknight option, or whip up a batch of homemade Guacamole to go alongside your next Mexican-inspired dinner.
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