Thanks to its robust, grill-able texture, halloumi cheese is so much fun to cook with and makes the best vegetarian fajita filling! In this recipe, halloumi is seasoned and roasted in the oven with veggies to make easy vegetarian sheet pan fajitas. No one will miss the meat… halloumi fajitas will be your new favorite!
Please note this recipe was updated in December 2021 with new photos, a video and an alternative method. If you are a returning visitor wondering if you’re in the right place – yes you are! The Roasted Halloumi Fajitas recipe you love is still here.
I am a vegetarian who lives in London, so I eat a lot of halloumi. It’s a staple pub food ingredient in this country, and we can not get enough of it.
Halloumi is one of those magical cheeses that doesn’t melt. So it can be roasted, grilled, or fried to make all kinds of delicious concoctions.
And we vegetarians seem to have claimed ownership of this magical stuff. When halloumi options show up, they’re almost always vegetarian. Slabs of halloumi are frequently used as a veggie burger, beer battered halloumi stands in for vegetarian alternative to “fish and chips”, it even shows up in some vegetarian English breakfasts.
Since halloumi came around, vegetarian menu choices have been 10000% less dull, and meat eaters are always happy with it too.
So let’s make halloumi fajitas
Fajitas can be one of those meals where the vegetarians get everything but the meat. So there’s something missing, and that feels sad.
Well not today. Today we are replacing the meat with halloumi, and feeling more than satisfied with our situation.
And my goal here was also to create a really easy halloumi recipe for you, so I have gone for the sheet pan fajita method.
Why make sheet pan (baking tray) fajitas?
Typically fajitas are prepared on a sizzling hot grill, and you could certainly do this at home with a griddle or cast iron pan, but there is a learning curve with these types of pans and it requires a certain amount of attention. The sheet pan method, while certainly inauthentic, makes things a little more straightforward and foolproof.
It’s just as simple as putting all your toppings on a sheet pan (large baking tray) and roasting in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
You can either
a) put the vegetables and halloumi straight onto the tray, drizzle with oil and scatter with spices, mix it all up right on the pan, and then roast (2018 method)
or b) mix the spices with the vegetables and halloumi in a bowl, and then scatter them on the baking tray (2021 method)
Method A served me and lots of readers well for many years, and it makes this a true one dish recipe. Method B gives you more even distribution of the spices and makes sure none of it gets lost on the tray. It is up to you!
This is my favorite way to make homemade fajitas because you get some nice charred crispy bits that you wouldn’t get with a wok or frying pan. And so hands off! While everything is roasting, you have plenty of time to set the table, bring out some toppings and warm your tortillas. All in all, a low stress, low effort weeknight meal that everyone’s going to love.
How long to roast them for
You want to roast them for 20-25 minutes, until they’re cooked to your liking. The current images show them cooked for the full amount of time, for a super crispy result, which is my preference these days and seems to be most popular amongst Pinterest users who have shared their photos from this recipe.
Less time keeps the peppers a little more crunchy and the halloumi a little more soft (below the recipe card I have my old 2018 photos which were cooked for less time, scroll down and take a look if you want a visual comparison)
Some readers have tried a hybrid – putting the onions and peppers in for a longer time, up to 30 minutes, but adding the halloumi later. This makes sense if you want super caramelized vegetables without over-doing the halloumi.
No Halloumi in Sight?
If you can’t track down any halloumi but like this concept, here are some ideas.
- I’ve used paneer cheese in my fajitas before, and it has a great bite. Paneer is less salty so the result isn’t quite as rich, maybe up the seasonings a little if you’re concerned.
- You could also try making a tofu based vegan halloumi.
More Halloumi Recipes
Are you a fan of the squeaky cheese? Well, you should check out some of my other halloumi recipes!
Roasted Halloumi Fajitas
Ingredients
- 250 g (9 oz) halloumi cheese, sliced into strips
- 3 bell peppers, sliced into strips
- 1 large white onion, sliced into strips
- 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
Fajita Seasoning
- 2 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp of cumin
- 1 tsp garlic granules
To serve
- 8 flour tortillas
- Toppings of your choice: avocado, sour cream / yogurt, salsa
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 410F / 210C (190C fan) while you slice the halloumi, onion and peppers.
- Prepare the fajita seasoning by mixing everything together in a small bowl.
- Put the onions and peppers in a large bowl, then add 2 Tbsp of olive oil and most of the fajita seasoning. Toss to get everything coated nicely in the oil and seasonings. Scatter over the baking sheet. Then put the halloumi in the bowl with another 1 Tbsp of oil and the remaining seasoning, toss very gently to coat, and add it to the baking sheet too.
- (Alternatively you can just place the halloumi, onion and peppers directly onto the baking sheet, sprinkle the fajita seasoning and oil over the top, and use a spatula to get everything coated in the oil and seasonings – this may not give a perfectly even result, but it works fine and saves a bowl.)
- Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the halloumi is cooked to your liking. (You may need more or less time – every oven is different, so do check in often.)
Notes
The 2021 Update
This Halloumi Fajitas Recipe was originally published in 2018, then updated in 2021 with a few changes:
- Addition of a video and a wider selection of photos.
- New photos showing the fajitas cooked for the higher end of suggested cook time rather than the lower end, reflecting feedback from users who have made these fajitas.
- Updating the recipe method to suggest tossing the ingredients in a bowl before putting on the baking tray, to improve the reliability and replicability of the recipe.
LOVE this idea! Wish halloumi was more common around here. Would never have thought of using it in a Mexican dish!
LOVE this idea! Wish halloumi was more common around here. Would never have thought of using it in a Mexican dish!
LOVE this idea! Wish halloumi was more common around here. Would never have thought of using it in a Mexican dish!
What a great idea! Love sheet pan dinners and this one is spiced just right. Halloumi is one of my secret faves, too!
I just had halloumi for the first time at a Greek restaurant. They set it on fire and top with lemon juice. It was so good, that I’m now on a mission to eat it as much as possible! These vegetarian fajitas are top of my must-make list now!
This looks really delicious! What a great vegetarian fajita filling!
What a great idea! Love sheet pan dinners and this one is spiced just right. Halloumi is one of my secret faves, too!
What a great idea! Love sheet pan dinners and this one is spiced just right. Halloumi is one of my secret faves, too!
What a great idea! Love sheet pan dinners and this one is spiced just right. Halloumi is one of my secret faves, too!
I just had halloumi for the first time at a Greek restaurant. They set it on fire and top with lemon juice. It was so good, that I’m now on a mission to eat it as much as possible! These vegetarian fajitas are top of my must-make list now!
I just had halloumi for the first time at a Greek restaurant. They set it on fire and top with lemon juice. It was so good, that I’m now on a mission to eat it as much as possible! These vegetarian fajitas are top of my must-make list now!
I just had halloumi for the first time at a Greek restaurant. They set it on fire and top with lemon juice. It was so good, that I’m now on a mission to eat it as much as possible! These vegetarian fajitas are top of my must-make list now!
I’ve never heard of halloumi, but it sounds wonderful! I love fajitas, so I will have to try this receipe! Thanks for sharing!
LOVE this idea! Wish halloumi was more common around here. Would never have thought of using it in a Mexican dish!
Yum! These look amazing! I’m a big fan of the sheet pan method for fajitas, too. It’s really the only way I ever make them.
Yum! These look amazing! I’m a big fan of the sheet pan method for fajitas, too. It’s really the only way I ever make them.
Yum! These look amazing! I’m a big fan of the sheet pan method for fajitas, too. It’s really the only way I ever make them.
Yum! These look amazing! I’m a big fan of the sheet pan method for fajitas, too. It’s really the only way I ever make them.
Great recipe. I loved how crispy the halloumi and how quick and easy it was to make.
Thanks Rachel! So glad you liked it! 🙂
Great recipe. I loved how crispy the halloumi and how quick and easy it was to make.
Great recipe. I loved how crispy the halloumi and how quick and easy it was to make.
Great recipe. I loved how crispy the halloumi and how quick and easy it was to make.
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My friend Rachel told me about this fabulous recipe which has now become a firm favourite in our house. Being the only veggie I sometimes struggle to get my other half to eat what I am eating but he loves this, it’s so quick and easy to make.
My friend Rachel told me about this fabulous recipe which has now become a firm favourite in our house. Being the only veggie I sometimes struggle to get my other half to eat what I am eating but he loves this, it’s so quick and easy to make.
My friend Rachel told me about this fabulous recipe which has now become a firm favourite in our house. Being the only veggie I sometimes struggle to get my other half to eat what I am eating but he loves this, it’s so quick and easy to make.
Was really disappointed . Peppers were not cooked well and cheese started to melt so couldn’t even leave in longer than 20 min. Dish was a disaster. I would cook peppers and onion on their own and griddle the haloumi and then put it all together . Had friends for dinner and was so upset with how this dish turned out
Maxine, I am really sorry that this didn’t work out for you especially with guests over. How disappointing. Halloumi shouldn’t actually melt – it is not like normal cheese. So I am wondering if your halloumi wasn’t quite right or whether you mean that it started leaching liquid (which would also contribute to peppers undercooking). If it’s the latter, then it sounds like your oven temperature was lower than it needed to be. I test my recipes in a fan assisted oven – does yours have a fan?
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I cooked this dish this evening. I also added thickly sliced mushrooms. It was delicious! Thank you for posting such a fab recipe.
Oooh mushrooms would be a great addition! So happy you liked them!
We aren’t vegetarians so I added some sliced chicken as well. WOW the flavors are incredible! LOVE the halloumi! Thx
Made the halloumi fajitas last night….delicious! my o/h and I loved them…thank you Elaine : )
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Absolutely delish. Thank you
Excellent recipe, quick easy and really delicious. Will definitely make it again
Put the halloumi and veg in to the oven together at the right temperature and after 20 mins, the veg was done nicely but the halloumi was completely burnt.
Better to do the halloumi in a griddle or pan when the veg is ready – only takes a couple of minutes.
I am so sorry for this experience. It sounds like either your oven is hotter than mine, or your halloumi had a different composition / less moisture content. I hope you were able to salvage your dinner.
Amazing our new favourite dish. Can you recommend any side dishes to go with it please?
That’s lovely to hear! Refried beans would be a great side, or a taco salad?
Oh my god these were awwwwesome!! Added one tsp chili-lime seasoning but no other changes. As a low-carb vegetarian, I’ve found myself in a rut recently and would never have thought to make fajitas with halloumi. Excited to have found your blog and can’t wait to try your other recipes!
Easy, delicious meal. Put the peppers, onion & halloumi in a bowl, drizzled the oil over & then added the spice mix, then tossed them all together before putting on the baking tray. Will definitely make this again.
Looks like a nice tasty recipe. However is there a temperature error?
You have 450F = 210C?
I thought 450F was 230C… or 232.2 to be exact. Quite a bit hotter.
And 210C is 410F
I’m guessing you meant to say 410F which in my village is 210C.
Thanks,
John Coyne
You’re totally right, and I’ve fixed that, thank you so much!
Delicious! Even my 12 and 14 year olds agreed. Will make again for sure. Thanks for the tasty recipe!
As a mainstream carnivore, I often find myself disappointed by vegetarian dishes. ( I am trying to reduce the amount of meat that I eat), this was excellent. I made it tonight. I will definitely be doing this again. I would imagine that it would work well with tofu for a vegan version.
OMG these were sooooo good! As a family, we are trying to eat less meat and we LOVE Mexican food so when I came across this recipe, I knew we had to try it! It’s seriously amazing – No one even missed the meat! We’ve made sheetpan fajitas before but I would never have thought of halloumi cheese as a vegetarian option (We also added portabella mushrooms). The saltiness + texture with the roasted bits from baking on the sheetpan make it such a great addition! This is definitely going into our regular meal rotation!
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Good evening!
Found this recipe and I had to try it!! I LOVE Halloumi cheese!!!!!!!!
My two super picky eaters absolutely adored this dish!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!
Now… what can I do next to beat this one??! 😳
So happy to hear this! I have so many halloumi recipes – https://www.happyveggiekitchen.com/category/recipes/halloumi/
If you like using it in fusion cuisine like these fajitas, my halloumi pad thai or halloumi satay wraps might go down well! The halloumi bake with white beans is one of my most popular. You’ll find them all on that link 🙂
I’m renowned amongst my friends for my vege Mexican food… this recipe has actually taken my reputation to whole different level!! All of my friends eat meat, happily do vegetarian tho, some now request this for dinner, or go ” I hope we were having this”. . I KID U NOT! Make it, you’ll love it. Don’t cook the halloumi too much is the only thing I’d say. About 10 minutes, it keeps cooking. My first pictures review. Enjoy!!
This makes my day – thank you so much for sharing your feedback!
My family and I love this recipe! I have a third option. Place all the ingredients in a Ziploc bag and shake gently to coat evenly. Then put on the sheet pan. This reduces the need for the extra bowl. 😆
Great idea! 🙂
I wouldn’t use a ziplock bag, it makes unnecessary plastic waste! You can easily wash a bowl.
The recipe is really nice! I love a quick and tasty dinner 🙂
Good point – thank you for raising it! I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂