Sweet Potato Skillet with BBQ Chicken & Cheese (Printable)

Tender sweet potatoes meet smoky BBQ chicken and melted cheese in this satisfying one-pan skillet meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

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

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 large sweet potatoes (approximately 1.3 pounds), peeled and cut 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 garnish)
08 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

→ 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 freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F if using an oven-safe skillet for final melting step.
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 temperature reaches 165°F), approximately 6–8 minutes per side. Shred or dice the cooked chicken.
05 - Toss shredded chicken with BBQ sauce until thoroughly coated.
06 - Spread BBQ chicken evenly over the sweet potato mixture in the skillet. Sprinkle cheddar and mozzarella cheese over the top.
07 - Transfer skillet to 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 Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan so cleanup is practically nonexistent
  • The sweet and smoky flavor combo hits every comfort craving imaginable
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day cooking
02 -
  • Cutting the sweet potatoes too large will leave you with crunchy raw bits while everything else is overcooked
  • Letting the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking makes it so much easier to shred or dice cleanly
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one because it holds heat so well and gives the best crust on the sweet potatoes
  • If your BBQ sauce is really thick, thin it with a splash of water or apple cider vinegar before tossing with the chicken

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