Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (2024)

This steak fajita chili recipe is brimming over with chunks of fork tender beef and fajita style vegetables in a rich, spicy chili base. The whole recipe is made on the stove top to coax out the flavors that only one pot mealsmade in layers can deliver.

There is nothing quite like the look or feel of fresh fajitas sizzling on a platter in a Mexican restaurant. Today’s recipe for steak fajita chili brings the taste of fajitas to the stove top in the form of another Mexican favorite – spicy chili con carne.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (1)

The cold weather always gives me a yen for chili. And since my daughter is arriving this week for a visit and her favorite meal is Mexican fajitas, I decided to mix the two dishes in one as a treat for her.

I love to put together meals that cook entirely in one pot. They are loaded with flavor and clean up could not be easier. (See my tips for one pot cooking here.)

For another twist on fajitas, be sure to check out my oven baked chicken fajitas. They have all the flavor but without the sizzle platter!

Making a pot of Steak Fajita Chili

The base of this delicious chili comes from the best ingredients of Mexican fajitas – colorful sweet peppers, jalapeño peppers, red onions, garlic and sirloin steak.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (2)

Start by heating the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium high heat and cooking the steak pieces until they are browned on all sides. Once they are nicely browned, remove them to a plate and keep warm.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (3)

Add the diced sweet peppers, jalapeño, onions and garlic to the pot, being sure to scrape up the bottom crusty bits which will help to flavor the sauce. Cook until the vegetables are starting to get tender, about 4 minutes.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (4)

Now it’s time to add the chili fillings. I used black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato juice and some chili powder, cumin and fresh oregano as well as sea salt and cracked black pepper. Give everything a good stir to mix it all up well.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (5)

Return the browned sirloin steak cubes to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer for at least 30 minutes. The more you cook the chili, the thicker it will get and the better the flavor will become. (I love the flavor of chili the next day!)Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (6)

You kitchen will smell amazing right about now. I love the look on my husband’s face when he walks in the door, takes a whiff and says “we’re having chili tonight!” with a big grin.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (7)

Serving this delicious gluten free Mexican recipe

It’s time to get creative when we serve this chili. I want to deliver the taste of both fajitas and chili to the toppings as well as to the recipe itself.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (8)

Spoon the chili into bowls and add your favorite toppings. I like to use a variety of toppings for this tasty Mexican recipe.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (9)

You can use your favorite toppings but some of mine are those that are often uses with both fajitas or chili recipes:

  • Avocado, diced
  • Tomato, diced
  • Lime wedges for juicing
  • Blue Tortilla chips for dipping
  • Fresh Cilantro, chopped for garnish
  • Sour cream or Greek Yogurt for garnish
  • Mexican cheese – just because!
  • Sliced sweet peppers

Tasting a bowl of this Steak Fajita chili.

Every mouthful of this delicious chile is just bursting with Mexican flavor. The beef is fork tender and the sauce and beans give everything a delicious hearty flavor.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (10)

This chili also makes a great topping for hot dogs to turn them into the best tasting chili dogs. Or think outside the box and turn normal baked potatoes into a meal by itself by spooning the chili over them.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (11)

This steak fajita chili has all of the flavors of a sizzle platter of fajitas heaped with your favorite toppings for a great chili experience. It has become one of our favorite chile recipes.Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (12)

The next time the cold winter weather rears its ugly head, warm up with a big bowl of this delicious steak fajita chili. You won’t know which Mexican meal you are having and you won’t care one darn bit. Warm up!Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (13)I also like to serve this chili with crusty bread. The sauce is so amazing, it’s nice to have something to soak up every last drop! This recipe serves four hearty bowls of chili, each with about 555 calories (chili only – toppings are extra.)

If you love Mexican recipes, be sure to check out my spicy Mexican rice and sour cream chicken enchiladas. They are super tasty!

Yield: 4

Steak Fajita Chili

Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (14)

This steak fajita chili has all of the flavors of a platter of fajitas but is served in a bowl with toppings for a great chili experience.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time40 minutes

Total Time50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 16 oz steak, cut into bite sized pieces. (use a good cut like sirloin or rib eye for the most tender chili)
  • 2 tbsp extra Olive oil
  • 1 yellow peppers, diced
  • 1 red peppers, diced
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, diced
  • 2 14 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 14 oz cans of diced tomatoes
  • 1 11.5 can of tomato juice
  • 2 tbsp Mexican chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano
  • Sea Salt & cracked black Pepper, to taste
  • Toppings -use your favorite toppings. Some of mine are:
  • Avocado, diced
  • Tomato, diced
  • Lime wedges for juicing
  • Tortilla chips for dipping
  • Fresh Cilantro, chopped
  • Greek Yogurt or Sour cream
  • Mexican cheese

Instructions

Add the oil to a large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Cook the steak pieces until they are nicely browned on all sides - about 6 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

Add the sweet peppers, jalapenos and ontons to the pot, scraping up the bottom crusty bits. Cook until the vegetables are starting to get tender, about 4 minutes.

Stir in the black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato juice, spices and herbs. Stir the reserved steak back to the pot, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until the chili starts to thicken. The longer you cook the chili, the more it will thicken.

Spoon the chili into bowls and top with your favorite toppings. It also makes a great topping for hot dogs or baked potatoes.

Notes

The calorie counts are for the chili only. Toppings are extra.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 555.7Total Fat: 20.2gSaturated Fat: 7.0gUnsaturated Fat: 2.5gCholesterol: 76.0mgSodium: 458.2mgCarbohydrates: 55.3gFiber: 17.2gSugar: 11.0gProtein: 39.5g

Steak Fajita Chili Recipe - (One Pot Gluten Free) Spicy Mexican Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Mexican chili made of? ›

Its base usually consists of beans, tomatoes, chili peppers or powder, and meat. Chili is short for chili con carne, which translates to "chili pepper with meat."

How many calories are in the steak fajitas at chili's? ›

Chili's Grilled Steak Fajitas (1 Serving) contains 25g total carbs, 22g net carbs, 35g fat, 61g protein, and 650 calories.

What is the origin of the chilli dish? ›

Food historians speculate that chili originated in Texas-Mexico border towns and spread north. In the 1880s San Antonio's downtown was famous for Hispanic outdoor vendors called "chili queens." At Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition Texas-style chili was popular, and at St.

What is the history of chili con carne? ›

Created in San Antonio, Texas, at the beginning of the 19th century, it was initially just a simple stew with chili peppers sold by chili queens who were, in fact, women who cooked huge quantities of chili at home before going to the public market to sell individual portions at a lower cost.

What is the most popular chili in Mexico? ›

In Mexican cuisine, Serrano chiles are second in popularity only to the Jalapeño pepper. Serranos can be eaten raw in sauces and dips, pickled, or cooked.

Which Mexican chili is spicy? ›

The hottest Mexican chile pepper is the Habanero Chile; it is a heat grenade that packs up to 325,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) inside its tiny little body. For perspective, a Chipotle Morita—which is a dried jalapeño—measures at 10,000 SHU, so a Habanero is more than 30 times hotter than a Chipotle.

How many carbs are in steak fajitas without tortillas? ›

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant Steak Fajita without Tortillas, Single (1 order) contains 89g total carbs, 66g net carbs, 47g fat, 66g protein, and 980 calories.

Are restaurant fajitas healthy? ›

Fajitas: Fajitas come with sautéed veggies and meat which you can portion into your choice of shell. Keep this dish on the lighter side by avoiding the sour cream and refried beans that come on the side. They are high in calories and unhealthy fats.

How many carbs in chili steak fajitas without tortillas? ›

670 Calories
Fat42 g
Carbs21 g
Fiber3 g
Protein55 g

Did Mexicans invent chili? ›

Unlike some other Texas foods, such as barbecued brisket, chili largely originated with working-class Tejana and Mexican women. The "chili queens" of San Antonio, Texas were particularly famous in previous decades for selling their inexpensive chili-flavored beef stew in their casual "chili joints".

What is chili with beans called? ›

Chili with beans could be called chili frijoles or chili con carne con frijoles. I've not seen any other name than “chili with beans.”

Does Mexican chili have beans? ›

"In Mexico, chili is made from vegetables, including various chili peppers, and seasonings. Chili con carne (with meat) has meat added, and chili beans have beans. We in the U.S. have generalized chili to mean almost anything with chili powder in it.

Is chili a Mexican thing? ›

But a mere 150 miles north, it was a different story. They were right—sort of. Chili is not Mexican, but its history is complicated. Chili is Texas Mexican, one of the country's oldest regional cuisines.

Do Mexicans eat chilli con carne? ›

Chilli con carne is a stew with beef, beans and chilli. The name is Spanish and literally means "chilli peppers with meat", but it was originally an American Tex-Mex dish, not a Mexican dish as is often thought.

Why is chili important in Mexican culture? ›

Importance of chile in Mexican gastronomy

The delicious chile was a product of great importance among Mesoamerican culture because, just after corn, it became the food base for millions of people and their diets. Additionally, this product was also used by many communities who based their diet on hunting and gathering.

Does Mexican chili have meat? ›

Traditional chili con carne includes several staple ingredients, such as tomatoes, beans, chili peppers and meat. Variations on this dish abound, as regions and families developed the original recipe.

What does Mexican chili powder have in it? ›

Texans like to lay claim to the invention of chili powder, but Mexicans have been using it for generations. Chili powder is a blend of flavors. It starts with dried chili peppers that are toasted, ground and then mixed with herbs and spices, including cumin, oregano, garlic and salt.

Do Mexicans put cheese on chilli? ›

The Mexican equivalent of Chilli con Carne is Frijoles Charros. It's more of a soup based Chilli. But they sometimes add pastor meat to it along with onions and cilantro and Manchego cheese.

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