Food

Veggie Fajitas Recipe: How to Make Vegetarian Fajitas

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Apr 20, 2022 • 3 min read

Sizzling veggie fajitas are a fail-safe crowd-pleaser—easy enough to whip up on an average weeknight and dynamic enough for a weekend dinner party.

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What Are Veggie Fajitas?

Veggie fajitas are a classic Tex-Mex dish of assorted grilled or seared vegetables, served with warm tortillas and various accompaniments. Traditional fajita ingredients include onions and mild peppers like poblano peppers and bell peppers.

Unlike steak or chicken fajitas, veggie fajitas don’t require a long marination time and may feature combinations of vegetables and legumes like beans or chickpeas for extra protein.

4 Ways to Enjoy Veggie Fajitas

There’s no wrong way to enjoy veggie fajitas. Here are a few ideas:

  1. 1. With classic condiments: Fajitas are the ideal vehicle for all the usual toppings. Try everything from guacamole to fresh salsa, sour cream, or Mexican crema, and crumbles of queso fresco or cotija cheese.
  2. 2. With protein-packed add-ins: Add extra protein with seasoned black beans or pinto beans. Serve the beans “dry” (drained of their liquid) and sautéed with spices or stewed, like Mexican frijoles charros.
  3. 3. With complementary side dishes: Serve fajitas with a green salad. Or, try a simple combination of sliced cucumbers and tomatoes (dressed with a zesty cilantro-lime dressing for bright contrast), Spanish rice, or chips and queso.
  4. 4. With eggs: Combine any leftover filling with scrambled eggs for breakfast tacos or burritos. Serve with hot sauce on the side.

3 Tips for Making Veggie Fajitas

Vegetarian fajitas are an excuse to make anything in your crisper drawer sing. Here’s how to take homemade fajitas to the next level:

  1. 1. Use fresh tortillas. Homemade flour tortillas will take your fajitas to the next level. If you’re using store-bought flour tortillas, warm them on a griddle or over the flame of a gas burner. Keep the tortillas warm by wrapping them in a clean kitchen towel. Learn how to make your own at home with this homemade flour tortilla recipe; use this corn tortilla recipe for a gluten-free alternative.
  2. 2. Include a variety of options. Start with the basics—onions and peppers—then mix and match to preference with thick slices of meaty portobello mushrooms, tender ribbons of grilled zucchini, or roasted sweet potato wedges. If you have time, slow-roast a celery root—its savory sweetness is a perfect pairing for smoky, spicy flavors.
  3. 3. Bring assembly to the dining table. Rather than assembling the fajitas in the kitchen, set out a toppings bar with the grilled vegetables, salsa, and cilantro so that everyone can build their own.

Easy Veggie Fajitas Recipe

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makes

4–6 fajitas

prep time

15 min

total time

30 min

cook time

15 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    In a large bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of the salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, a ½ teaspoon of the black pepper, and chili powder.

  2. 2

    Add the mushrooms and the smashed garlic cloves to the fajita seasoning and toss to coat.

  3. 3

    Heat a large cast-iron skillet or a well-oiled grill pan over medium-high heat.

  4. 4

    Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and swirl (or brush) to coat.

  5. 5

    Add the sliced onion and peppers, and season with a ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper.

  6. 6

    Toss to combine, then cook the vegetables, undisturbed, until charred and tender, about 5 minutes.

  7. 7

    Transfer the charred onion and peppers to a plate or bowl, and set it aside.

  8. 8

    Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to the skillet and sear the seasoned mushrooms and garlic, working in batches as needed, until golden brown and crisp around the edges, about 7 minutes.

  9. 9

    Return the onions and peppers to the skillet and quickly toss to combine.

  10. 10

    When the onions and peppers are warm, remove the pan from the heat and squeeze fresh lime juice over the vegetables.

  11. 11

    Serve immediately with warm tortillas, chopped cilantro, and salsa.

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