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Healthy Fajita Recipe: Surf ‘n’ Turf Fajita Traybake

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Pip Payne
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The ultimate fakeaway upgrade – steak and king prawns, smoky spices, and everything on one tray.

10 mins

20 mins

350 kcals

serves 4

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Photo credit: Chris Terry

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BY PIP PAYNE

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Healthy Fajita Recipe: Surf ‘n’ Turf Fajita Traybake

If you’re looking for a healthy fajita recipe that still feels like a total treat, this surf ‘n’ turf fajita traybake is exactly what you need. I’ll be honest – I don’t make this one every week. It’s the kind of meal I save for when I want something a bit special: a Friday night that deserves more than the usual rotation, or when friends are coming round and I want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.

The combination of steak and king prawns might sound indulgent, and honestly? It is. But it’s also under 400 calories a serving, with an impressive 39g of protein – which makes it a very satisfying meal. I always say that when you’re eating with fewer calories, you really want every bite to count. And this one absolutely delivers.

The beauty of the traybake method is that it does most of the work for you. The peppers and onions roast down in a homemade fajita spice mix while the steak rests beautifully, then the prawns go in for just the last five minutes. The whole thing is on the table in 30 minutes, with barely any washing up. If you love the idea of easy fajitas, you might also want to check out my chicken fajita traybake – a long-time reader favourite and one of the most-made recipes on the blog.

IN THIS POST

What is surf ‘n’ turf?

Surf ‘n’ turf simply means a dish that combines seafood (“surf”) with meat (“turf”) – most often prawns or lobster paired with steak. It’s a classic combination that you’d usually only find on a restaurant menu, but here we’re making it a relaxed, weeknight-friendly fakeaway. In the US, this kind of dish is often made with shrimp instead of prawns, and the recipe works just as well either way. The key is buying a good cut of steak – sirloin or ribeye will give you tender, melt-in-the-mouth results that make the whole dish amazing.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It feels indulgent but it’s genuinely slimming friendly. Just 350 kcals per serving and 39g of protein makes this very filling and satisfying. Low calorie fajitas have never tasted so special.
  • One tray, minimal washing up. Everything – the steak, the peppers, the onions, the prawns – is cooked on a single baking sheet. A weeknight win.
  • It’s ready in 30 minutes. Ten minutes to prep, twenty minutes to cook. Faster than a takeaway delivery.
  • A homemade fajita spice mix. No packet mixes with hidden sugars here – just smoked paprika, oregano, garlic granules and a pinch of chilli, all blended together in seconds.
  • Great for impressing guests. This is the kind of dish that looks and tastes like you’ve made a real effort, without the stress. Everyone thinks you’ve gone all-out.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Swap the steak for chicken thigh fillets if you prefer. They’ll need slightly longer in the oven – around 25 minutes at 200°C – and you won’t need the resting step, so just add the prawns with 5 minutes to go.
  • Make it vegetarian by skipping the steak and prawns entirely and replacing them with halloumi slices and a drained tin of black beans stirred in with the peppers. It still works beautifully with the spice mix.
  • No king prawns? Raw, peeled tiger prawns or even cooked cold-water prawns work fine – just reduce the final oven time to 3 minutes if using cooked prawns, as they only need warming through.
  • Bulk it out with beans. A tin of drained pinto beans or black beans stirred in with the prawns adds extra fibre and makes it go further for a hungry family.
  • Dial up or down the heat. The chilli flakes as written give a gentle warmth. Double them for a proper kick, or leave them out entirely for a milder version that kids will enjoy.

Serving Suggestions

  • Wrap it up. Serve in warm tortilla wraps with shredded lettuce, a spoonful of refried beans, and a squeeze of lime. Add a dollop of salsa for extra flavour – my dark and smoky chipotle salsa is perfect alongside it.
  • Keep it low carb. Serve the fajita mix over large lettuce leaves or in a bowl on its own. With 14g of carbs per serving, it’s naturally very manageable.
  • Go full fakeaway spread. Add some crispy honey soy chicken or another dish from the Fakeaways chapter for a proper sharing feast.
  • Add sides. A simple green salad, some guacamole or a bowl of extra lime wedges and coriander on the table lets everyone customise their plate.

Storing and Reheating

  • Fridge: Cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. The peppers and onions keep really well, though the prawns are best eaten on the day.
  • Freezer: The steak and pepper mix freezes well for up to 3 months – I’d recommend freezing before adding the prawns, and adding fresh prawns when you reheat. Cool fully before freezing.
  • Reheating: Reheat thoroughly in a hot oven (200°C fan) for 10–12 minutes until piping hot, or in a frying pan over a medium-high heat for 5–6 minutes.

How does Surf ‘n’ Turf Fajita Traybake work on Slimming World?

The prawns, steak and vegetables are all Free Foods on the plan. The potential swips come from the tortillas that you may use to serve these, although there are many options on the plan which are Healthy Extra B choices- check in group or on the app to find out which ones.

Surf ‘n’ Turf Fajita Traybake and GLP-1 medications

If you’re taking a GLP-1 medication such as Mounjaro, Wegovy or Ozempic, this recipe is a really good one to have on hand. Here’s why:

High protein content. With 39g of protein per serving, this dish supports muscle preservation — something that becomes especially important when eating less food overall on a GLP-1 medication.

Works brilliantly in smaller portions. The fajita mix is just as delicious served as a lighter bowl with some lettuce and lime, rather than in wraps, which makes it easy to adjust to your appetite on any given day.

Easy to batch and freeze. On low-appetite days, it’s invaluable to have a portion of something nutritious and high-protein ready in the freezer. I’d suggest freezing the steak and pepper mixture (before adding the prawns), then adding fresh cooked prawns when you reheat.

Gentle on digestion. The soft, roasted peppers and well-rested steak are easy to eat and tend to sit well even when nausea is a factor.

As always, for personalised dietary advice while taking GLP-1 medication, please speak with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian.

More fakeaway recipes to try

If you’ve loved surf’n’turf fajita traybake recipe, here are a few more from the site that I think you’d enjoy:

Frequently asked questions about Healthy Fajita Recipe: Surf ‘n’ Turf Fajita Traybake

How many calories are in a fajita?

This surf ‘n’ turf fajita traybake comes in at 350 kcals per serving (based on a quarter of the recipe, without wraps or sides). A standard tortilla wrap adds roughly 130–160 kcals, so a complete fajita wrap would be around 480–510 kcals – still a very manageable, high-protein meal.

Are fajitas healthy?

They absolutely can be! The key is how you make them. This recipe is built around lean steak, king prawns, and lots of roasted vegetables, with a homemade spice mix containing no added sugar. At 350 kcals and 39g of protein per serving, it ticks all the boxes for a slimming-friendly, balanced meal. Low calorie fajitas are very achievable when you focus on protein and vegetables first.

Can you make fajitas in the oven?

Yes – and honestly, I think the traybake method is one of the best ways to make them. The peppers and onions roast down and slightly caramelise in the oven, which develops a depth of flavour you just don’t get from a frying pan. It’s also completely hands-off once everything’s in the oven, which means you can go and get the wraps and toppings ready while it cooks.

What cut of steak is best for fajitas?

Sirloin or ribeye are my top choices here. Both are relatively tender cuts that cook quickly and have great flavour. The key is not to overcook them – the recipe gives a medium-rare result, which means the meat stays juicy. Always let the steak rest before slicing, which allows the juices to redistribute and gives you that melt-in-the-mouth texture.

How do you make low calorie fajitas?

Start with a homemade spice mix (no added sugar), use lean steak and prawns rather than processed fajita chicken strips, fill your tray with lots of peppers and onions (which are naturally low in calories and high in fibre), and serve in lettuce cups or with a single wrap rather than multiple tortillas. This recipe is a great template for a genuinely low calorie fajita meal.

What is a traybake?

A traybake is a UK cooking term for a recipe where all the ingredients are cooked together on a single baking sheet or roasting tin in the oven. It’s hands-off, easy to scale up, and produces brilliant results because the dry heat of the oven concentrates the flavours beautifully. In the US, the equivalent term is “sheet pan” cooking.

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Healthy Fajita Recipe: Surf ‘n’ Turf Fajita Traybake


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  • Author: Pip Payne
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Diet: Freezer friendly, High protein, Low calorie, Slimming friendly

Description

The ultimate fakeaway upgrade – steak and king prawns, smoky spices, and everything on one tray.


Ingredients

Scale

For the traybake:

  • Spray oil
  • 2 sirloin or ribeye steaks (total weight 400–500g / 14oz–1lb 2oz)
  • 2 red onions, halved then finely sliced
  • 4 peppers (a mix of orange, red and yellow), deseeded and cut into strips
  • 150g (5½oz) cooked and peeled king prawns

For the fajita spice mix:

  • ½ tsp chilli flakes
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic granules
  • ½ tsp onion granules
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp salt

To serve:

  • Handful of coriander leaves
  • Lime wedges


Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan (400°F), Gas Mark 6.
  2. Spray a large baking sheet with a little oil and lay the steaks in the centre.
  3. Mix all the fajita spice mix ingredients together in a large bowl.
  4. Arrange the sliced onions and peppers around the steaks, then sprinkle the spice mix over everything. Spray the top lightly with oil, then place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.
  5. Remove the tray from the oven and lift the steaks onto a plate to rest. Add the king prawns to the baking tray, give everything a stir, then pop the tray back into the oven for 5 minutes.
  6. Use a sharp knife to finely slice the rested steaks. Remove the tray from the oven, then mix the sliced steak back into the fajita mix.
  7. Serve scattered with coriander leaves and with lime wedges on the side.

Notes

  • These cooking times give a medium-rare steak. The exact result will depend on the thickness of your steaks.
  • To bulk this out, stir in a drained 400g tin of black beans or pinto beans at the same time as the prawns.
  • Serve in warm tortilla wraps with shredded lettuce, refried beans, salsa and lime — or keep it low carb in lettuce cups.
  • GLP-1 tip: For a lower-carb, easier-to-eat serving, skip the wraps and serve over a simple green salad with extra lime. The high protein content (39g per serving) makes this particularly supportive if you’re eating smaller portions.
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Traybake
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 11
  • Sodium: 1.9
  • Fat: 14
  • Saturated Fat: 5.7
  • Carbohydrates: 14
  • Fiber: 4.9
  • Protein: 39
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About the author

This recipe comes from my third cookbook, In Minutes. I’m the creator of The Slimming Foodie and a Sunday Times bestselling food author, and I’ve spent over a decade developing recipes that prove healthy eating never has to be boring or bland.

Across my six cookbooks and here on theslimmingfoodie.com, my focus has always been on helping people cook food they genuinely love – without the faff or complicated ingredients. Every recipe I share is tested in my own kitchen and cooked for my own family, exactly as it should be.

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