Mexican Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet is a healthy dinner option that packs great flavor and can be ready in about 30 minutes.
Looking for more easy and delicious meals? Try our Baked Mexican Spaghetti or our Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas they are easy to whip up in no time. Try our Tequila Lime Chicken for another healthy option.
If you love strong, bold flavors, then this is the recipe for you.
Plus, not only is it delicious, but it kind of falls on the side of 'good for you.' Ok, it's the bomb-digity.
We're told we're supposed to eat the rainbow and I think this dish does a pretty could job of that. It's only missing purple but in the right light, those black beans have a purplish hue.
That works, right?
How to make Mexican Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet.
I know I usually tell you to prep everything before you begin cooking, but not this time.
Cooking sweet potatoes in a skillet.
Sweet potatoes are delicious but they tend to take a bit more time than your average tubber to cook.
Peel and dice up the sweet potato and get it boiling in the skillet. The smaller the dice, the faster it will cook.
It should take between 12-15 minutes of boiling in the seasoned broth for the sweet potatoes to become fork tender.
While the sweet spud is cooking, go about prepping everything else.
By the time you're done chopping, dicing, and measuring, the sweet potatoes should be done and ready to drain.
Assembling the Mexican chicken sweet potato skillet dinner.
Once drained, set the sweet potato aside. Get the skillet back on the burner.
It should dry almost instantaneously, but it if doesn't, give it a quick wipe with a paper or dish towel. Same if the orange ring the potatoes leave behind offends you, just give it a quick wipe.
Add the oil to the reheating skillet. Drop the chicken into the skillet. Don't stir, let it get a sear.
Sprinkle half of the spice blend over the chicken, then stir to cook. After a couple of minutes, add the onions.
Once the chicken has nearly cooked, stir in the each the following:
- cilantro; stir
- tomatoes; stir
- canned diced green chilies; stir
- rest of the spice blend; stir
Cook for a minute or two.
Stir in the salsa.
What's the best kind of salsa to cook with?
For a dish like this that is mostly dry ingredients, I like to use a salsa that has a bit more liquid in it than say a fresh pico de gallo.
Of course you can use whatever kind you like, but the extra liquid in salsa helps give the dish a bit of moisture.
Stir in the sweet potatoes and the black beans. Then mix in the cheese.
Cook everything for another couple of minutes, then it's done.
Garnish with fresh cilantro, queso fresco, and avocado (as shown in my ingredient picture, but I totally forgot to dice it up for serving...my bad)
What to serve with a Mexican inspired skillet dinner?
While I consider this a good-to-go meal, sometimes you want a bit more to go with it. No problem.
- Easy Skillet Nachos makes a great appetizer.
- So do Dutch Oven Jalapeño Poppers.
- Cast Iron Sweet Cornbread is a tasty bread option over tortillas.
- Skillet Caramel Brownies to complete the perfect meal.
Other Related One Pot Meal Recipes
If you tried this Creamed Corn Cornbread or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Get the Recipe
Mexican Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet
Equipment
- 12" Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 14 oz sweet potato (13-16 oz); peeled and cubed (3½-4 cups)
- 1¼ teaspoon salt divided
- 1¼ teaspoon ground pepper divided
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1½ lb chicken breasts cubed
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (Mexican if you can find it)
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic (3 teaspoon fresh, minced)
- ½ cup yellow onion diced
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped; divided
- 9 oz grape tomatoes halved
- 4 oz green chiles diced
- ½ cup salsa desired heat-level
- 15 oz black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 oz cheddar cheese (½ cup), grated; see notes
- 1½ teaspoon lime juice about ½ a lime
- 1 oz queso fresco crumbled
Instructions
- Add the broth to the skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place the sweet potatoes, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to the broth.
- Cook the sweet potatoes until tender, 12-15 minutes, based on cube size.
- While the sweet potatoes are cooking, prep the rest of the dish.
- Cube the chicken and place it in bowl; set aside.
- Combine the remaining salt and pepper with the cumin, chili powder, oregano, and garlic ina bowl; set aside.
- Halve the tomatoes, drain and rinse the beans, chop the onion and cilantro, juice the lime, measure the salsa, open the diced green chilies, and grate/crumble the cheeses.
- When the sweet potatoes are done, drain, and set them aside.
- Return the skillet to medium-high heat, add the olive oil.
- Once hot, add the chicken in an even layer; sear.
- Sprinkle half of the spice blend over the chicken, stir, coating the chicken fully.
- Sauté the chicken for about 3 minutes, then add the onions, mix well; cook for 2-3 minutes or until onions have begun to soften.
- Reduce heat to medium and stir in 2 tablespoon cilantro, tomatoes, green chilies, and the remaining spice blend; stir well.
- Stir in the salsa.
- Gently stir in the sweet potatoes and black beans.
- Stir in the cheese and lime juice.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing all the flavors to come together.
- Garnish with the remaining cilantro and the queso fresco.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Russet potatoes instead of sweet potatoes, same cooking directions.
- Cubed pieces of pork or beef instead of chicken.
- Pinto beans instead of black beans.
- Pepper jack, mozzarella, or Monterrey Jack instead of cheddar cheese.
- Any tomato diced will work or 15 oz. can.
- Any heat level (mild, medium, or hot) salsa will work.
Nutrition
Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Beth says
I'm a fan of Mexican food, so I was already sold on this. The sweet potato was an incredibly nice touch! It adds some wonderfully unexpected flavor.
Andrea says
You just upped the Mexican night dinner game with this one. It's easy to make with all the fabulous flavors my family loves.
Katherine says
This dish was super easy and full of big Mexican flavors. Loved it!
Paula says
This sweet potato skillet had such incredible flavor. A great way to serve up sweet potatoes year round too!
Shashi Charles says
Wow! This was so tasty and so filling! I licked the plate clean!!! Thank you for this recipe!
TAYLER ROSS says
I made this skillet for dinner last night and it was delicious! Full of flavor and easy to make!
Harriet Young says
Amazing Mexican flavours! It was so easy to put together too. Will definitely make again!