Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet

Everyone needs a back-pocket dinner. Something easy, fast, nutritious and satisfying can also be on the table in 30 minutes and requires minimal dishes. This chicken and sweet potato skillet hit all the marks. It’s a simple saute of onion, sweet potato, zucchini, red pepper and chicken with a subtle southwestern vibe thanks to the addition of black beans, cumin, chili powder and salsa. It would be a hash, but we add a little broth to help the sweet potatoes cook to softness. t has the same warming quality as a sweet potato black bean chili bowl. It makes for an easy weeknight dinner and a great option for meal-prepping if you’re looking to make healthy, well-balanced lunches ahead of time. Serve it with a dollop of sour cream and a little fresh cilantro for a pop of freshness.

Ingredients for Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet

• Olive oil: Browning the sweet potato and onion in a splash of oil helps establish a sweet and savory flavor profile.
• Sweet Potatoes: Two medium sweet potatoes or one large orange sweet potato diced into 1/2-inch cubes add lots of fiber and sweet flavor to this skillet meal. Peel them or don’t. It’s totally up to you.
• Onion: Starting this recipe off by sauteing some onion helps give the pan sauce a savory and sweet flavor.
• Garlic: A minced clove of garlic adds pleasant pungency to the dish, but it’s not enough to make it feel garlicky. You can increase this quantity, if you like.
• Chicken: Use cubed, cooked white or dark meat—whichever you like or have on hand. This recipe is also an excellent way to reinvent a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store or to repurpose leftover turkey from the holidays.
• Black beans: Adding a rinsed and drained can of black beans to this skillet meal adds loads of fiber and protein. You can substitute kidney beans, pinto beans or any other type of canned bean you like.
• Zucchini and red pepper: Diced vegetables add even more color and flavor to this skillet saute. You can use any color of bell pepper you like and substitute patty pan squash for the zucchini.
• Chicken broth and salsa: Adding a mixture of broth and jarred salsa to the pan incorporates enough moisture to help the potatoes soften and the chicken stay juicy as it cooks. Plus, the two simmer together to form a simple sauce.
• Spices: You only need two spices, ground cumin and chili powder, to give this skillet meal lots of flavor.
• Sour cream and minced fresh cilantro: We recommend finishing portions of this skillet meal off with a dollop of tangy sour cream and fresh cilantro. Cilantro’s leaves and tender stems have a peppery citrus flavor that, for some, is reminiscent of soap. Chopped fresh cilantro adds a welcome fresh flavor. If you’re not a fan, feel free to top with chopped scallion instead.

Directions 

Step 1: Saute the vegetables

Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet Variations

• Add corn: Add the kernels from an ear of fresh corn or two cups of frozen corn kernels along with the zucchini to add even more color and texture to this skillet meal. Because it already has a southwestern flavor vibe, the corn feels like a natural addition!
• Make it a hash: To make a slightly dryer version of this skillet meal, use the skillet to fill burritos or tacos instead, omit the chicken broth and cut the quantity of the salsa in half, adding just enough to help the sweet potatoes soften.
• Add some cheese: Top this skillet meal with grated cheddar, Monterey Jack, or shreds of queso Oaxaca as soon as it’s done cooking. The cheese will melt in the residual heat and the steam from the sauce.
• Amp up the chile flavor: Add a can of green chile along with the salsa. If you want more heat, add some minced jalapeño or serrano pepper, too.

How to Store Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet

To store leftover chicken sweet potato skillet, let it cool completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days.

Can you make chicken sweet potato skillet ahead of time?

Absolutely, it would make a great meal prep meal packed into individual portions as a make-ahead lunch.

How do you reheat chicken sweet potato skillet?

Reheat individual portions of this skillet meal i the microwave, covered, for minimal clean-up. You can also rewarm it in a skillet on the stovetop.

Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet Tips

Can I use canned chicken to make chicken sweet potato skillet? 

Definitely. Use chicken canned in water and drained well. Because this recipe calls for 2 cups of cooked chicken, you’ll want to use one to two 12.5-ounce cans, drained.

Can I use another type of potato to make chicken sweet potato skillet?

Sure. White potatoes or white sweet potatoes would be fine stand-ins for the orange sweet potatoes here. Because different potatoes have different moisture contents you’ll just want to be mindful that the cook times might need some small adjustments to ensure that a different type of potato is adequately softened.

What can you serve with chicken sweet potato skillet? 

Because this skillet meal is already pretty nutritionally balanced, the question of what to serve with it is really up to you! It would be delicious accompanied by tortilla chips and queso dip or, for a lighter option, a crunchy salad with cilantro lime vinaigrette.