Description
Mexican-inspired chicken and sweet potato skillet delivers hearty comfort on cold nights. Spicy seasonings and tender ingredients create a satisfying one-pan meal you can savor with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- ½ onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional, for spice)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup chicken broth or water
- 1 tbsp lime juice (optional, for brightness)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, drizzling olive oil to create a sizzling cooking surface for the protein and aromatic spices.
- Chicken Searing: Nestle chicken pieces into the hot skillet, coating with salt, pepper, paprika, and cumin, searing for 4 minutes to develop a golden-brown exterior while keeping the meat partially undercooked.
- Vegetable Foundation: Remove chicken and add another splash of olive oil, introducing sweet potato cubes and diced onions to caramelize and soften over 5-6 minutes, then incorporate minced garlic and chili powder.
- Moisture and Tenderization: Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, cover, and steam vegetables until fork-tender, creating a rich, flavorful base for the dish.
- Final Integration: Return seared chicken to the skillet, gently incorporating all components and cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes to ensure the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F/75°C.
- Finishing Touches: Elevate the dish’s brightness by squeezing fresh lime juice over the skillet’s contents and scattering fresh chopped parsley or cilantro for a vibrant, herbal complexity.
- Serving: Present the skillet immediately while ingredients remain piping hot, allowing the harmonious blend of flavors to shine.
Notes
- Check Chicken Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F/75°C, preventing foodborne illness while maintaining juicy texture.
- Optimize Sweet Potato Caramelization: Cut sweet potato cubes uniformly to promote even cooking and achieve golden-brown edges for enhanced flavor development.
- Manage Heat Levels: Maintain medium-high heat to create perfect sear on chicken and allow vegetables to caramelize without burning.
- Customize Spice Profile: Adjust spice blend according to dietary preferences by reducing chili powder for milder version or adding extra paprika for deeper warmth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg