Beef or Chicken Fajitas Marinade - Pappasito's Marinade Recipe

For years I have been going to Pappasito's Cantina, their Fajita's to me are the best!  You may have another favorite restaurant for fajitas but for over 25 years this is my favorite for Fajita's and I'll have to say I don't get anything else when I am there.  Well once I did years ago and I was so disappointment that I didn't get Fajita's that I didn't enjoy it as much.

I have a friend who was a Manager back in the 90's  at Pappasito's and she gave me the recipe for the meat marinade.  Since then I have seen others have different versions but my friend always said equal parts of Pineapple Juice, Soy Sauce and then double the Water.  So that is what I do and have for years.

One Year when my Brother n Law Joe turned 40 yrs old (over 20 yrs ago), my sister bought a large trash can full of chips (you had to return the trash can), it was lined with a bag but I'll never forget that!  It also came with their delicious hot sauce.  I asked recently if they still do that and the waiter said yes so maybe? 

When you go to Pappasito's and you get the Chicken Fajitas it automatically comes with their famous garlic butter.  If you just get beef it doesn't come with the butter but you can ask for it, they will bring you out some for free.

Their tortillas are made their right on the spot, you can watch them being made.  They are oh so good!

I'll post the Garlic Butter Recipe in a different post but I'll link it here below, once you make the butter it can be stored in your freezer for 6 months to a year.  I use plastic wrap to roll up individual servings then place all those in a zip lock bag so you just have to pull out what you need as you need it.

One order of fajitas will honestly feed 3-4 people at Pappasito's.  Years ago they had a single order and my friends and I would share like 3-4 of us at times but I guess so many people shared because the portions are so generous they upped the prices an tell how many it can feed.  Also because their chips are so good and the tortillas those fill you up too which makes it even easier to share.

I marinate the chicken breast for at least 4 hours but often over night. You don't really want to marinate it much longer because of the soy sauce makes the chicken kinda dark the longer you marinade it, still good but I like to marinade it about 6-12 hour. 

 I also grill the chicken breast whole then when it's done let it sit for 5-10 minutes so that the juices redistribute before I cut it.  

                           If you are blessed to have an HEB by you the tortillas are from there!

Recipe for Marinade

1 cup of Pineapple Juice

1 cup of Soy Sauce

2 cups of Water

Mix together then pour over raw chicken or beef.

I keep the extra marinade in jar for another time in my refrigerator, keeps for 6 months at least.

Let the meat marinade for at least 2 hours but 4 hours is better then I often marinade it over night.  With the soy sauce you probably don't want to marinade it anymore than over night. 

Heat up your grill then place the chicken breast or beef on the grill.  I like to turn my meat the first 10 minutes back and forth

so that it doesn't stick to the grill.  Then after about 10 minutes I let it stay on each sides for another 10 -15 minutes total of 20-30 minutes depending on how high I have the heat.  You can feel when the chicken is done because the meat starts to get firm by touch with a pair of tongs.  Beef takes less time and so many like their beef cooked differently,  cook your beef to your liking.

Cut up some Green Peppers and Onions then sauté in a pan till tender.  

I like to heat my tortillas in a skillet then add the meat, peppers, onion and the butter!  Guacamole and cheese  are of course great on it too. oh and sour cream, I just happen to not like sour cream so I forget about it!

I buy these large bags at HEB, they are for Marinating but great also for other things.

                      Getting almost done at this point I believe they have 10-15 minutes