Mexican Chicken, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Skillet
on Apr 24, 2017, Updated Aug 01, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Mexican Chicken, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Skillet is an easy and healthy dinner that’s all made in one pan and comes together in 30 minutes. Top it with shredded cheese and cilantro for a family friendly, fast and delicious Mexican inspired meal!
Ingredients you’ll need
- Chicken breasts – Gives the recipe a good amount of protein. You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
- Yellow onion
- Cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, garlic powder – The spices. This is my go-to combo of spices for southwest recipes.
- Sweet potato – Adds a bit of sweetness to balance out any spicy flavors. It’s also a powerhouse carb.
- Cherry tomatoes
- Black beans – Another source of carbs and protein for the meal. Black beans pair great with sweet potatoes too.
- Green chiles – You can use mild or hot depending on how spicy you want this to be.
- Salsa or enchilada sauce – Depending on what you have or like best, either salsa or enchilada sauce work for this recipe. They create the “sauce” and add a lot of flavor. Use whatever brand you like best.
- Lime – Adds a pop of bright, fresh, zesty flavor.
- Cilantro – Fresh, classically used herb used in Southwest and Mexican cooking. If you don’t like cilantro, omit it.
- Cheese – Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese are my top picks for this recipe.
How to make Mexican chicken sweet potato and black bean skillet
Par-cook the sweet potato – Peel and cut the sweet potato in half and put it in a shallow dish with a 1/4 cup of water. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and cut a slit in it with a knife so the steam can escape.
Microwave the sweet potato for 3-5 minutes or until it’s tender, but not fully cooked. It will continue cooking when added in with the other ingredients. Once it’s cool enough to handle, dice it.
Sauté the chicken and onion – Add the chicken to a large skillet that’s been heated with olive oil. Spread it into a single layer and season with half of the dried spices, salt and pepper.
Let it cook without moving it for several minutes. This allows the chicken to brown and get a nice crust on it. Add in the onion and stir the chicken around until it’s cooked through and the onion is tender.
Add in remaining ingredients – Add in the remaining dried spices, sweet potato, tomatoes, black beans, green chiles, and salsa to the skillet. Stir everything together and let it cook until heated through.
Squeeze in the lime juice and top with the shredded cheese. Cook until the cheese melts and then serve. If you love cilantro like me, sprinkle some on top.
Chicken sweet potato and black bean skillet FAQ:
Substitute chicken breasts with ground turkey or ground beef.
I highly recommend par-cooking the sweet potato because it will take longer to cook than the chicken. You will over-cook the chicken if you add it to the skillet raw.
Yes. Omit the chicken and double the amount of sweet potatoes. You cloud also add a vegan chicken alternative, or crumbled tofu or tempeh.
How to serve it
This is a balanced meal and can absolutely stand on it’s own. However, if you’re looking for different ways to serve it, I’ve listed a few below.
- Use it as a filling for tacos or burritos.
- Grab some pizza dough and make a Mexican pizza or flatbread with it.
- Serve with a side of cilantro lime rice or cauliflower rice for a lower carb option.
Leftovers, reheating and freezing
The leftovers for this chicken skillet will keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator. Store them in an airtight container. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove. Heat over medium heat until warmed through.
This is a great freezer friendly meal as well. Once cooked let it cool completely. Store it in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you are ready to eat it, let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then follow the reheating instructions listed above. I recommend omitting the cheese and adding it in when you reheat the meal.
More Mexican Inspired Recipes
Mexican Chicken, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 sweet potato, peeled, par-cooked and diced (see note on par-cooking)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 15 ounces canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 ounces canned diced green chiles
- 1/2 cup salsa or red enchilada sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese
- 1/2 of a lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large (10-12 inch) cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- In a small bowl combine all of the spices.
- When the skillet is hot add in the chicken and spread into an even layer, then sprinkle with half of the spice blend.
- Sauté the chicken for approximately 3 minutes then add in the onion.
- Continue to cook for several more minutes or until the onion has softened and the chicken is cooked through.
- Lower the heat to medium and add in the remaining spice blend, sweet potato, cherry tomatoes, black beans, green chiles and salsa or enchilada sauce.
- Stir together and cook until the mixture is heated through, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Squeeze the lime juice over everything then top with the shredded cheese.
- Cover with a lid or lay a piece of foil on top of the skillet until the cheese has melted.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve.
Notes
- To par-cook a sweet potato, cut it in half lengthwise and place it in a shallow microwave safe dish or bowl cut side down. Pour a 1/4 cup of water in the dish, cover the dish with a piece of plastic wrap and poke a couple of holes in the top of the plastic to allow the steam to escape. Microwave for 3-5 minutes depending on the size or until the sweet potato is tender, but not fully cooked.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this using tofu instead of chicken, and it turned out great! I baked the tofu for a little while before adding it to the skillet.
Love the tofu substitution Lauren! Great way to keep it vegetarian and get extra protein.
This was so delicious! We loved everything about it! I used 2 sweet potatoes and no onion! Can’t wait to make this again, so much flavor! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Danae. I made this for my family last night and it was a huge hit. Lots of flavor and didn’t think I was a fan of black beans but they worked well in this dish. Definitely making this again. Thank you for sharing this delicious meal.
I’m so glad the recipe was a hit with the family Stephanie! Thanks for trying it out.
My mom and I found this recipe on Pinterest earlier today, so we decided to give it a try for dinner. It was delicious!! We used hot green chiles and a medium salsa which packed the perfect amount of heat. We also served this with tortilla chips to give it some crunch. So glad I found this recipe- we will definitely be making this again!
Sorry if this question has already been asked, what is the actual serving size amount…1 cup?
I made this today using ground turkey instead of chicken… it was amazing!!! Thank you ????
Glad you liked it Kali and thanks for trying the recipe!
Any recommended adjustments if I’m going to make it vegetarian?
Hi Bonnie,
If you eliminate the chicken I would just add more vegetables and extra black beans. Zucchini and corn would be good additions for vegetables.
Loved it! I doubled the chili powder and added a bit more of the other spices since I like my food a little spicier, and it was perfect for me. I’m used to eating skillet meals like this over rice but I really enjoyed it as-is. Looking forward to eating this again throughout the week!
What is considered a serving size for the recipe??
I’m wondering this too!
I was wondering the same, but I just cooked this meal exactly by the recipe and then divided it equally into 4 containers. It says serves 4, so I assumed that was right.
I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering, as well, please!
Great skillet supper. Quick and easy and super tasty!