Sweet Potato Skillet with BBQ Chicken & Cheese (Printable)

Hearty skillet with tender sweet potatoes, smoky BBQ chicken, and melted cheese. A comforting one-pan meal ready in 45 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

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

→ 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
07 - 1 jalapeño, sliced
08 - Fresh cilantro, chopped

→ 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

# Directions:

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 Tips:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one pan, meaning you spend more time eating and zero time scrubbing multiple pots
  • The sweet potatoes get these crispy edges while staying creamy inside, creating texture I didnt know was possible
02 -
  • Sweet potato size matters more than you think, so try to cut them into uniform half-inch cubes for even cooking
  • Letting the cheese rest for a few minutes after baking helps it set slightly instead of sliding off completely
03 -
  • Canned black beans make an excellent vegetarian substitute for the chicken, just rinse and drain them first
  • If your skillet isnt oven-safe, transfer everything to a baking dish before the final cheese step

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