Fajita Bar Ideas: The Weeknight Meal Solution

Yoooo, moms are BUSY. Between school drop off and pick up and after school practices, establishing a healthy dinner routine has become a struggle for me this year. And yet, I know how important meaningful meals are for strong family bonds and keeping kids connected so, no matter if its take-out or an easy weeknight dinner solution like this one, we sit down at the dinner table together every single night. This easy Fajita Bar came from the desire to keep our family dinner tradition alive: quick and wholesome family meals that feed family legacy and hungry bellies.

The Fajita Bar: Easy And Delicious

These fajita bar ideas are not just easy to pull together, but so super delicious. Not only am I Latina, but I was raised in SoCal where Mexican food is always a good idea. And I will always have a taste for these Mexican fajitas, especially when it’s a quick fix meal! With just a few fajita bar menu ideas, your family can customize their fajita recipe to whatever their hearts desire.

Chicken and Steak Fajitas: The Easy Way

Mexican fajitas require a long list of essentials but the recipe doesn’t have to be complicated. Easy fajitas are the name of the game when you’ve got a busy day and a hungry family to feed, which is why testing out various fajita marinade recipes is a good idea. This fajita marinade recipe is a favorite, but I also keep a bottle of pre-made marinade carne asada marinade at home too. Or you can also check out our homemade chicken fajita seasoning blend, add lime juice, soy sauce, and olive oil, and do it yourself!

Below is a list of fajitas entree essentials for your Fajita Bar night. Slice fajita ingredients lengthwise and marinate in a plastic bag for a few hours before grilling the fajitas to perfection. Then plate in separate sections, like a fajita tray. I like my chicken fajitas using dark, thigh meat, but you can use chicken breast as well. Flank steak makes a great beef fajita.

• Chicken Fajitas
• Steak/ Beef Fajitas
• Pork Fajitas
• Traditional Fajitas Vegetables: onions, bell peppers, and onion
• Vegetarian Fajitas: try a meatless fajitas recipes by subbing the meats with portobello mushrooms or refried beans

Related: Authentic Chile Toreados Recipe

Sides for Fajitas

If you ask my kids, the best part of this weeknight meal is all the sides for fajitas. They have so much fun customizing all the fajita toppings and who can blame them, look at all this deliciousness! This is a great opportunity to clear out the pantry and refrigerator shelves. Of course, the main

Here are a few of the other fixings I like to include in our Fajita Bar…

• Salsa: traditional Mexican salsa or chunkier pico de gallo is always a win, but you can also try my favorite Avocado Mango Salsa
• Chiles: If you haven’t tried the authentic Mexican recipe of Chiles Toreados, you need to give it a try! Simple chiles roasted to perfection makes for a delicious fajitas topping.
• Avocado: mashed into guacamole or sliced right from the skin, avocado is always a good idea!
• Key Limes: Because they’re adorable and my kids love them. Regular limes work fine, too.
• Cilantro: For garnish and use. Some people hate it, but we love it.
• Rice: traditional Mexican rice is a great side for fajitas dinner
• Beans: I had leftover Cuban frijoles negros and included it in tonight’s Fajita Bar…. yum!
• Tortillas: A combination of flour and corn tortillas are a must in our home. I use corn tortillas for the kids and I. But Daddy D uses a whole wheat flour tortilla instead. Warm them slightly before serving.

Our Weeknight Fajitas Menu

I love offering my kids food that speaks to their heritage and food culture. Cuban food and Mexican food have differences, but I love me some Mexican cuisine! I also love that, when I serve my family a traditional Mexican Fajita Bar, I can infuse a part of my Latino culture to them.

For this simple meal, we’re using words like carne, pico de gallo, frijoles negros or pollo asado, instead of the regular pizza and casserole (which we also love…. doesn’t a Fajitas Casserole sound amazing right now?).

Food culture is a large part of our family legacy – the types of food we eat every day create the opportunity to talk about values, language and even how food is sourced. I love that simple meals, like this Fajita Bar, accomplishes all that – even on a regular, old Tuesday.