Sweet Potato Skillet with BBQ Chicken (Printable Version)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

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

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1.3 lbs), 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 (about 6 oz)
10 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 oz)

→ 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 Make It:

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 Insights:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan so cleanup takes about two minutes
  • The sweet potatoes get these crispy edges while staying tender inside
  • That moment when the cheese melts over everything is basically magic
02 -
  • Don't rush the sweet potato cooking stage since undercooked sweet potatoes are disappointingly hard
  • Let the skillet rest for about 5 minutes after baking so the cheese sets up slightly
  • A rotisserie chicken works beautifully if you want to skip the chicken-cooking step entirely
03 -
  • Cut your sweet potatoes as uniformly as possible so they all finish cooking at the same time
  • If your skillet handle isn't oven-safe, wrap it tightly in foil before baking

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