Katie’s Sheet Pan Fajitas

Do you make resolutions for the new year? I have some goals, but do I categorize them as New Year’s resolutions? No really. When I do, I always fail. It’s a trend that I see repeating in my life.

I recently read an article discussing New Year’s resolutions. As it turns out, a lot of people make them! Only 22% keep them through January and February, but that number falls significantly afterward. Only 1% made it a year.

My list of things to focus on always begins with diet, exercise, and decluttering my house. Like the resolution setters of the survey, I do good for a few months. Old habits slowly creep back into my lifestyle, and I end up right back where I was.

What’s the answer? As I researched this topic, I found that a diary is an excellent way to keep yourself on track. If you slip up, you can look back to see any triggers you can identify.

Another suggestion was to set goals or resolutions together. Having friends working through the same issues can help you stay on track.

A third idea was to break your larger goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This could make it easier to stay motivated and progress over time rather than overwhelmed by large goals that seem impossible to achieve.

Eating healthy is a matter of planning on my part. I usually do okay if I take the time to make a menu. It’s those meals that I have no plan for when my choices do not work in my favor. So, my number one goal is to make a menu every week.

Katie’s fajitas are so easy, healthy, and fast that they may often find their way onto my menu. This Tex-Mex meal was on the table with just a few ingredients in very little time. I liked adding the freshness of lime juice and serving it with fresh cilantro, homemade salsa, and guacamole.

This could be served with flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or rice. If you have a goal of healthy meals, rice cauliflower would be a great option.

I’ve picked up my dairy and plan to start small. And I will keep the word “resolution” out of my vocabulary this year. Happy New Year, Y’all!

Katie's Sheet Pan Fajitas

Course Main Course
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken cut into thin slices
  • 1 (1-oz. pkt.) Kinder's Fajita Blend seasoning or 1/4 cup taco seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1/2 large red onion sliced thin
  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and sliced thin
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and sliced thin
  • 1-2 small zucchini seeds removed and cut to match the size of bell peppers
  • salsa, guacamole, avocados, cheese, pico de gallo, tortillas, rice or riced cauliflower options for serving

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, which the taco seasoning, oil and lime juice together. Add chicken cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for one hour.
  • Remove chicken from refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray two large sheet pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • At the end of one of the sheet pans, add the vegetables. Add chicken to the other end and to the second pan. Do not overcrowd the pan!
  • Bake until the chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender crisp.
  • Serve as desired with tortillas or in a bowl.

Beef and Veggie No Nachos PLUS Keto Taco Seasoning Mix

 

beef and veggie no nachos

Mexican night is something I can always throw together. I keep all of the ingredients on hand and when I fail to plan dinner I can still have something on the table in very little time.

Sugar has thrown a wrench in many of my old recipes though.  Mexican night being one of them.  I always kept the little packets of taco seasoning in the cabinet as a standby. That is completely out now. It has sugar, and although it is a small amount, it is out!

I have made a homemade taco seasoning mix that is better than anything bought! I have added it to beef and chicken with great results.  I plan on using it in all of my recipes that have taco seasoning added, starting with a Mexican Chicken Soup tonight,

I recently made these tasty nachos using my new taco seasoning and they were delicious and filling. The nutrition content does not take into account for your toppings. Please add your shredded cheese, sour cream, and healthy avocado when figuring your macros.

Keto Taco Seasoning

A wonderful homemade sugar free taco seasoning!
Cuisine Mexican
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c. chipotle chili powder or regular chili powder
  • 1/4 c. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. smoked paprika
  • 1 Tbsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 Tbsp. Swerve granulated
  • 2 tsp. Dutch cocoa powder

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium size bowl and whisk to combine.  Store in an airtight container.  

Notes

1 serving = 1 tablespoon
Use 1 tablespoon per pound of meat.
Net Carbs = 1 g.
Fat = 1 g.
Protein = 1 g.
Calories = 13

 

Beef and Veggie No Nachos

Course Keto, Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword ground beef, zucchini, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, mushrooms
Servings 4
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 tbsp. taco seasoning
  • 1/4 c. water
  • 2 c. diced zucchini
  • 1 c. whole mushrooms
  • 1 c. diced green bell pepper
  • 1 c. diced red bell pepper
  • 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425℉.
  • Brown meat.  Add taco seasoning and water and stir to combine.  Boil for a few minutes, remove from heat and set aside.
  • Place diced vegetables on a large baking sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Toss to coat.
  • Place in preheated oven and roast, flipping the vegetables occasionally, until tender/crisp or desired doneness. 
  • Remove from oven.
  • To assemble:  Place 1/4 of the vegetables on a plate.  Top with 1/4 of the meat mixture.  Top with cheese, sour cream, and avocado.  
  • Serve.

Notes

Net Carbs = 6
Fat = 17
Protein = 34
Calories = 317

Keto Taco Soup

I will be the first to admit that I am always the last to jump on any bandwagon. I usually err on the side of caution. Ask anyone that knows me well, I am skeptical about a lot of stuff! I don’t buy into infomercials, and before I believe anything on the world wide web I will verify, verify, verify!

Better late than never on this bandwagon though. It appears that Chipotle Rotel came out about a year ago. Who knew? This stuff is the bomb! I love the smoky taste of chipotle peppers anyway and adding them to Rotel was a brilliant idea. I say give the genius that came up with this idea a promotion!

I recently told you all about attempting a healthier lifestyle. More explanation on that will be posted next week after it appears in my newspaper article.

With the temperatures being in the low 90’s and Starbucks having pumpkin spice again, it totally has me in the mood for all things fall. That always means soup time for me!

I recently experimented a little with low carb taco soup. Using my cousin Nancy’s taco soup recipe loosely as a guide, I made this fabulous soup! Wes is free with his opinions, and he loved it.  In fact, he said it was the best soup he’s ever had.  That is like a “stop the presses” compliment from him!  The chipotle Rotel shines in this soup.   My family loved this soup so much that no one complained when we had leftovers!

If you are not worried about the carbs, you can always add a can of rinsed and drained black beans and even a can of drained hominy or corn.

Keto Taco Soup

Course Soup
Servings 8
Author Amye Melton

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. ground chuck
  • 2 tsp. minced garlic
  • 2 (8-oz.) cream cheese
  • 1 (32-oz.) container beef bone broth
  • 2 (10-oz.) cans Chipotle Rotel
  • 2 tbsp. taco seasoning
  • 2 tbsp. dry Ranch dressing mix
  • 1 tbsp. chili powder
  • salt, to taste

Instructions

  • Brown beef, during the last minute of cooking add the garlic and sauté.  
  • Drain and pour beef mixture into a slow-cooker.
  • Add the cream, beef bone broth, Rotel, taco seasoning, Ranch seasoning, chili powder and salt.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally.  

Notes

10 servings
Net Carbs = 6 g
Fat = 38 g
Protein = 87 g
Calories = 735

Slow-Cooked Chicken Tacos with Chipotle Aioli

Slow-Cooked Chicken Tacos

Have you ever had to cook two meals? Do you cook something that others will eat, then cook something healthy for yourself? I spent years doing that occasionally. I say “occasionally,” because it never lasted long. Preparing two meals because the kids or the hubs will not eat the low-fat, low-carb, low-calorie option was for the birds!

I have passed that stage in life. Greg is open to new tastes and flavors these days, Savannah doesn’t live at home, and Wes is so busy with school and coaching that he’s seldom home for dinner. However, if I were cooking something that everyone would enjoy these Slow-Cooked Chicken Tacos would be perfect.

Pop the chicken in the slow-cooker in the morning, and it’s ready at dinner. Use beef or pork if you prefer. Shrimp or fish also work well. Skip the slow-cooker, prepare as you chose then top with the Mango Jicama mixture and Chipotle Sauce.

 

Slow-Cooked Chicken Tacos with Chipotle Aioli
 
Author:
Serves: 8
 
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 tbsp. reduced-sodium taco seasoning
  • 1-10-oz. can Rotel tomatoes
  • 1 c. shredded romaine lettuce
  • 1 c. chopped mango
  • ⅔ c. thin bite-size strips peeled jicama
  • ½ c. light mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp. lime juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ to 1 tsp. finely chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
  • 8 - 6" flour tortillas, warmed
  • Fresh cilantro
Instructions
  1. Place chicken in slow-cooker. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and pour in the can of Rotel tomatoes. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours on low. Remove meat, reserving cooking liquid. Shred meat using two forks. Toss meat with enough cooking liquid to moisten.
  2. In a medium bowl combine lettuce, mango, and jicama, set aside.
  3. To make the chipotle aioli combine mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic and chipotle pepper with adobo sauce.
  4. To serve, add shredded meat to a tortilla, top with lettuce mango/lettuce mixture and chipotle aioli. Serve with cilantro and lime slices.
Notes
6" flour tortillas = 3 points each
1 tbsp. chipotle aioli = 2 points
All other ingredients = 0 points
Assembled as listed one taco = 5 points


Serves 4 to 8, depending on the points you have to use. I served these tacos with Lightened-Up Cowboy Beans. I will share this recipe soon.

You will have enough meat for leftovers. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.