Description
Sizzling mexican chicken, sweet potato, and black bean skillet delivers authentic southwestern comfort. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, offering complex flavors that invite home cooks to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) chicken breast, boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup cheese, shredded (cheddar, Mexican blend, or Monterey Jack)
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 can (10 oz/280 g) diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
- ½ small onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced (any color)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Juice of 1 lime
Instructions
- Chicken Preparation: Sear chicken pieces in olive oil over medium heat until golden brown, seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove and set aside.
- Vegetable Sauté: In the same skillet, add olive oil and cook sweet potatoes, onions, and bell peppers until softened and lightly caramelized.
- Spice Infusion: Introduce minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano. Quickly stir to activate aromatic flavors without scorching.
- Liquid Integration: Combine black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and chicken broth. Return chicken to the skillet, creating a robust, layered foundation.
- Simmering and Melding: Reduce heat and cover, allowing ingredients to simmer and sweet potatoes to tenderize. Melt shredded cheese over the top, creating a creamy surface.
- Final Flourish: Brighten the dish with fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro. Serve immediately with accompaniments like rice, warm tortillas, or avocado slices for a complete Mexican-inspired culinary experience.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Searing: Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to achieve a perfect golden-brown exterior, ensuring maximum flavor development and preventing steaming instead of browning.
- Vegetable Caramelization Technique: Cut sweet potatoes and vegetables into uniform size pieces to guarantee even cooking and consistent caramelization, enhancing overall dish texture and flavor profile.
- Spice Incorporation Strategy: Toast dry spices for 30 seconds before adding liquid ingredients to intensify their aromatic qualities and unlock deeper, more complex flavor dimensions in the skillet.
- Dietary Adaptation Options: Swap chicken for tofu or plant-based protein to create a vegetarian version; use cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice for a low-carb alternative that maintains the dish’s delicious Mexican-inspired essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg