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This sweet and savory fajita marinade recipe has a citrus twist and the perfect amount of spice, perfect for your favorite protein!
Don’t forget the Homemade Flour Tortillas to pile on all of that Chicken Fajitas or steak Fajitas goodness!
We Love a sauce with a kick!
Sizzling Fajitas is an extremely popular dinner at Mexican restaurants and always turns heads. However, I like to make my own with this bright fajita marinade recipe that packs a punch!
Pour this marinade over your favorite protein for a flavorful Mexican dinner at home and you will instantly fall in love yourselves!
Why we love it:
- The flavor! It has a citrus twist, a bit of spice, and the cilantro and garlic add a touch of freshness.
- Pick your protein. Of course, you can use this marinade on any of your favorite proteins: Chicken, steak, pork, or even tofu. Just add Flour Tortillas and pick your Mexican side dishes!
- For now and later. With just a handful of ingredients, this marinade whips up in minutes. It also freezes well to save for later!
Fajita Marinade Ingredients
- lime juice
- water
- olive oil
- minced garlic
- soy sauce
- salt
- liquid smoke
- cayenne pepper
- black pepper
- cilantro
Chicken breasts, chicken thighs, skirt steak, and/or flank steak are our favorite meats to cook up.
Minutes to Make!
- COMBINE. Add the ingredients to a bowl, whisk together, and refrigerate until ready to use.
- MARINATE. Use this as a steak fajita marinade, chicken fajita marinade. Choose your favorite protein and marinate for at least two hours, or up to overnight.
Bake, cook or grill your meat to your likeness.
Marinating Tips
- Tenderize the meat. Use a fork to poke holes in the meat, allowing the marinade to soak into the meat allowing the best tenderization.
- Cover completely. Use a Ziploc bag and flip the meat throughout the marinating to ensure it is coated evenly. Using about ½ cup marinade for every 2 pounds of meat is a great ratio to use.
- Give it time. The longer the meat marinades the more flavorful it will be. Allow for a minimum of 20 minutes, but ideally, it should sit for 6-8 hours. Do not exceed 24 hours or the muscle fibers will begin to break down.
- Always marinate in the fridge or freezer. Let the meat stand at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before cooking.
- Add flavor with our Fajita Seasoning, It includes spices like cumin and chili powder, it packs an extra punch!
- Serving suggestions. Cook strips of onions and bell peppers in a cast-iron skillet with your marinated protein of choice.
- Serve in flour or corn tortillas and include toppings: Homemade Salsa, diced avocado, cheese, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, and Guacamole. Pair with a side of Canned Refried Beans, black beans, or Homemade Spanish Rice.
Storage Info
Always discard used marinade.
- STORE. Pour fresh fajita marinade into an airtight container or jar and refrigerate for up to a week.
- FREEZE. Pour it into a freezer ziploc and freeze for up to 1 month.
For More Recipes:
Chicken Fajitas
30 mins
Fajita Recipe
2 hrs 35 mins
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
55 mins
Flour Tortilla Recipe
45 mins
Fajita Marinade
Ingredients
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients and refrigerate until ready to use. Marinate chicken, pork, or beef in the marinade for at least two hours, or up to overnight.
Notes
- Our favorite meat to use includes boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, skirt steak, and flank steak. Using about ½ cup of marinade for every 1 pound of meat is a great ratio to use.
- Ideally, the meat should sit for 6-8 hours in the fridge. Let the meat stand at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before cooking.
- Add flavor with our Fajita Seasoning. It includes spices like cumin and chili powder, which pack an extra punch!
- Serve in flour or corn tortillas and include toppings: Homemade Salsa, diced avocado, cheese, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, and Guacamole.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh my, this marinade was everything that I wanted and more! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!
Fajitas are a family favorite at our house, and we all thought this marinade had amazing flavor. I especially love that it can be used on different types of meat!
Thank you for a recipe without brown sugar. I also add tequila for an extra kick.
You’re welcome! Sounds exciting! Thanks for sharing what you did.
Absolutely delicious! I will definitely make this one again. So much better than a packet!!
Great combination of flavors. I’ve never used liquid smoke before and it really adds a lot to the different layers of flavor.
This has all the flavors and is so easy to throw together. Fajitas are a regular around here!
I love anything I can do myself. This marinade is quick and easy. A great way to add flavor to any meat.
This marinade is the absolute best! So much flavor and it soaks in nicely to the meat! Will be using this again real soon!
Such an easy & tasty marinade!! I will be adding this every time I make fajitas. It adds so much flavor!