Description
Sweet Potato Skillet Songbird Recipe is a harmonious one-pan meal featuring tender chicken, caramelized sweet potatoes, aromatic vegetables, and a melody of herbs and spices. Everything cooks in one skillet for effortless weeknight comfort with restaurant-quality flavor.
Ingredients
MAIN INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into bite-sized pieces
2 large sweet potatoes (about 1.5 lbs), peeled and cubed into 3/4-inch pieces
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup chicken broth
SEASONING:
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
FINISHING:
2 cups fresh spinach or kale, roughly chopped
Fresh parsley for garnish
Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
1. Pat chicken completely dry and cut into uniform bite-sized pieces. Season with half of the spice mixture. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. Peel and cube sweet potatoes into 3/4-inch pieces. Dice onion and bell pepper. Mince garlic. Combine all seasoning spices in small bowl.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add sweet potato cubes in single layer. Cook without stirring 4-5 minutes until golden-brown on bottom. Stir and cook another 4-5 minutes until mostly tender and browned.
4. Push sweet potatoes to edges of skillet. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to center. Add seasoned chicken in single layer. Cook 3-4 minutes without moving until golden brown. Flip and cook 3 more minutes.
5. Add diced onion and bell pepper to skillet, stirring to combine. Cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften. Add garlic and remaining spice mixture. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
6. Pour chicken broth over everything, scraping up browned bits from bottom. Bring to simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until sweet potatoes are fork-tender and chicken reaches 165°F.
7. Add chopped spinach or kale and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
8. Remove from heat and let rest 2-3 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
Pat chicken very dry for proper browning – moisture prevents caramelization.
Cut sweet potatoes into uniform 3/4-inch cubes for even cooking.
Don’t stir sweet potatoes constantly – let them caramelize undisturbed first.
Use instant-read thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F.
Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts but both work well.
A 12-inch skillet with lid is ideal for this recipe.
Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat with splash of broth to prevent drying out.
Add quicker-cooking vegetables (zucchini, tomatoes) in last 5 minutes only.
Recipe easily doubles – use very large skillet or divide between two pans.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Main Dish, One-Pan Meals
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 625mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: sweet potato skillet, one pan chicken, skillet dinner, chicken and sweet potatoes, easy weeknight dinner, one pan meal
