Sweet Potato Skillet with BBQ Chicken & Cheese (Printer-friendly)

Hearty one-pan meal with tender sweet potatoes, smoky BBQ chicken, and bubbly cheese

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 ounces)
02 - 1 cup BBQ sauce (gluten-free, if needed)

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 large sweet potatoes (approximately 1.3 pounds), peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
04 - 1 red onion, finely diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 2 green onions, sliced for garnish
07 - 1 jalapeño, sliced (optional, for garnish)
08 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

→ Dairy

09 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (approximately 6 ounces)
10 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (approximately 2 ounces)

→ Spices & Seasonings

11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F if using an oven-safe skillet for finishing.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add diced sweet potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8–10 minutes until just tender and lightly golden.
03 - Add red onion, red bell pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until vegetables are softened.
04 - While vegetables cook, season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Grill, bake, or pan-sear chicken until cooked through (internal temp 165°F), about 6–8 minutes per side. Shred or dice the cooked chicken.
05 - Toss shredded chicken with BBQ sauce until well coated.
06 - Spread BBQ chicken evenly over the sweet potato mixture in the skillet. Sprinkle cheddar and mozzarella cheese over the top.
07 - Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Remove from oven and garnish with green onions, jalapeño slices, and fresh cilantro if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet and smoky flavor combo hits every craving at once
  • Everything cooks in one pan so cleanup is practically nonexistent
  • It reheats beautifully for lunch the next day
02 -
  • Sweet potatoes need to be diced small and even so they cook at the same rate
  • Let the chicken rest a few minutes before shredding or it will steam instead of shred
  • An oven safe skillet is essential here to avoid transferring to another dish
03 -
  • Smoked gouda instead of mozzarella adds incredible depth
  • Let the skillet rest for 5 minutes before serving so the cheese sets slightly

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