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    Home » Chicken & Turkey » Skillet Sweet Potato Chicken

    Skillet Sweet Potato Chicken

    Feb 1, 2023 · by Valentina · 12 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Sweet Potato Chicken recipe is full of warming spices, and it's cooked and served in one skillet. A comforting and hearty dinner, it's sweet and savory with a kick of heat.

    One pan dinner of Sweet Potato Chicken in a cast iron skillet

    Imagine incredibly succulent chicken that's braised in a creamy blend of deep and rich warming spices, coconut milk and mashed sweet potatoes.

    Full of Shiitake mushrooms, peas and caramelized onions, Sweet Potato Chicken is a hearty, stew-like, comforting one-pan dish.

    It's delicious year round, but it's especially warming during the cooler months.

    Jump to:
    • The Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Recipe Tips
    • How to Make it
    • Serving Suggestions
    • More Scrumptious Sweet Potato Recipes
    • Making it Ahead and Storage
    • FAQ
    • Sweet Potato Chicken Recipe

    The Ingredients

    raw sweet potato, mushrooms, onion, peas and garlic for Skillet Sweet Potato Chicken Recipe
    • sweet potato - These don't have to be perfectly shaped, as we'll be mashing them. Choose firm sweet potatoes with smooth skin and no cracks.
    • chicken - Fresh raw chicken should be a light pink color with white pieces of fat, little to no odor, and soft and moist.
    • onion - Look for onions that are firm, heavy for their size and without bruises.
    • garlic - Look for firm heads of garlic without any soft spots or green shoots, which is an indication of old garlic. (Raw garlic cloves should be firm without any dark spots.)
    • shiitake mushrooms - Shiitakes have a soft, meaty texture and a delicious umami flavor. While the chicken and sweet potatoes are the main ingredients in this recipe, the Shiitake mushrooms are what make the dish -- they bring it to a another level. Choose Shiitakes with the thickest caps possible, that are curled under, and avoid those that look wet, slimy, or shriveled.
    • vermouth - This adds more fantastic flavor -- it's subtly sweet with notes of citrus and warming spices like cardamom and cinnamon.
    • cardamom
    • cinnamon
    • turmeric
    • cayenne
    • canned unsweetened coconut milk - Light or regular are both okay.
    • honey
    • fresh basil - Look for perky bunches with smaller leaves, without bruising or yellow leaves.
    • frozen peas - These are added last and the pop of green color finishes the dish.
    • salt - I cook with Kosher salt. I prefer it over other salts for a few reasons: its larger flake size, it's less refined and usually doesn't contain additives, and it does a great job enhancing the flavor of foods without making them taste salty.
    • black pepper - Preferably freshly ground.
    A few whole shiitake mushrooms with green behind them.

    (See recipe card below for quantities.)

    Substitutions

    • Feel free to use different cuts of chicken. I like the variety of a whole cut-up chicken, but if you only like thighs, only use thighs, etc.
    • I like cooking chicken on the bone when I can because it's incredibly juicy. That said, if you prefer the ease of eating chicken off the bone, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. The cooking time will be slightly less.
    • I think the Shiitake mushrooms add a little something special to this recipe. That said, if you prefer, you can substitute them with Crimini, Button or Portabellos (all sliced thinly).
    • You can substitute vermouth with sherry (medium dry or cream).
    • If you like cilantro, it's a nice substitute for the basil.
    • Want to make it vegetarian? Use cauliflower steaks instead of chicken. Follow the same instructions and cook just until the cauliflower is tender.

    Recipe Tips

    • The sweet potato sauce is on the chunky side. For a smoother sauce, you can add the sweet potato with the coconut milk to a blender and blend for a few seconds before adding it to the pan.
    • If your basil leaves are on the larger side, roughly chop them.
    • To save time you can use jarred, minced garlic.
    • It's best to thaw the frozen peas before adding them to the pan.

    How to Make it

    - You can either bake the sweet potato in the oven, or more quickly in the microwave. For the oven: Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice the potatoes in half and place them flat side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake until tender, about 30 minutes. For the microwave: Pierce the potato with a fork a few times and place in on a double layer of paper towels in the microwave. Cook on high for about 4 minutes per side.

    Half of a cooked sweet potato.

    - Cut the baked sweet potato in half and use a spoon to gently scrape out the potato. Add it to a small mixing bowl and then use a fork to mash it.

    - Coat the bottom of a large skillet (at least 12-inches) with olive oil and over medium-high, sear both sides of the chicken pieces. Once each side is golden, remove them from the pan and set aside.

    - With the medium-high heat still under the pan, add the onions and garlic and sauté, stirring often, until soft and golden.

    Sautéed onion slices in a black pan.

    - Add a bit more oil to the pan and add the mushrooms and sauté until they begin to brown.

    - Turn the heat to low to add the vermouth, and then turn it up to medium. Use a flat-edged wooden spatula, to scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits of food that are stuck. Once the vermouth has almost completely cooked off, turn the heat to low and add the spices and stir.

    - Then add the mashed sweet potato, coconut milk and honey. Mix until it's as smooth as possible, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

    - Return the chicken to the pan, spoon some of the sauce on top, add the basil leaves between, cover and braise just until the chicken is cooked through.
    Add the peas and mix them into the sauce.

    Skillet Sweet Potato Chicken Recipe in cast iron skillet with fresh peas and basil on top

    (More detailed instructions including recipe times, are in the recipe card below.)

    Serving Suggestions

    • Since sweet potato chicken is somewhat of a stew, it's delicious with rice with herbs, your favorite pasta and/or a warm bread. All of these foods are perfect to soak up any extra sauce.
    • And it's always nice to serve a bright, fresh salad with chicken dish. A Little Gem Salad or Snow Pea Shoot Cranbery Salad would both be great choices.

    More Scrumptious Sweet Potato Recipes

    • Easy Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes
    • Basil Baked Sweet Potatoes with Bacon
    • Baked Sweet Potato Slices with Rosemary

    plate of spices for Skillet Sweet Potato Chicken Recipe

    Making it Ahead and Storage

    • Ideally, Sweet Potato with Chicken should be served right after it's finished cooking. That's when the chicken will be at it juiciest. However, it's still excellent the next day. Let it come to room temperature and refrigerate in an airtight container, then to reheat it, set it out at room temperature for about 30 minutes, place it in a casserole dish in a 375°F oven just until it's hot, about 15 minutes.
    • Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
    • It can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months in an airtight container of freezer bag with a bit of room for expansion.

    FAQ

    What are warming spices?

    Warming spices have a deep aroma and strong flavor, and can make any dish taste richer. Many warming spices also have the potential to increase your internal body temperature. (The warming spices in this recipe make it one of the most comforting chicken dishes of all time. It includes turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.)

    Enjoy every last delicious bite of this sweet potato chicken dinner! I hope you love it!

    Sweet potato chicken in cast iron skillet

    Sweet Potato Chicken Recipe

    Valentina K. Wein
    This Sweet Potato Chicken recipe is full of rich, deep curry flavors, and it's cooked and served in one skillet. A comforting and hearty dinner, it's sweet and savory with a kick of heat.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 440 kcal

    Equipment

    • 12-inch cast iron skillet

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound sweet potato, baked (see notes)
    • olive oil for the pan
    • 1 approximately (3-pound) whole cut up chicken, skinless, bone-in
    • 2 cups yellow onion, thinly sliced
    • 1½ tablespoons garlic, minced
    • 3 cups Shiitake, thinly sliced (about 5-ounces)
    • ¼ cup vermouth
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • pinch of cayenne pepper
    • 13½ ounces coconut milk (1 can should be 13½-ounces)
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1 handful fresh basil leaves, washed and dried
    • 1 cup green peas frozen and thawed
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare the sweet potatoes. You can either bake the sweet potato in the oven, or more quickly in the microwave. For the oven: Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice the potatoes in half and place them flat side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake until tender, about 30 minutes. For the microwave: Pierce the potato with a fork a few times and place in on a double layer of paper towels in the microwave. Cook on high for about 4 minutes per side.
      Cut the baked sweet potato in half and use a spoon to gently scrape out the potato. Add it to a small mixing bowl and then use a fork to mash it. Set aside.
    • Sear the chicken. Coat the bottom of a large skillet (at least 12-inches) with olive oil and place it over medium-high heat. Season both sides of the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Once the pan is very hot, place them, presentation side down, in the pan. Use kitchen tongs to flip the pieces over once they’ve browned, after about 2 minutes. Cook for another minute. (This gives the chicken a nice caramelization, and will speed up the overall cooking time.) Remove the chicken pieces form the pan and place them on a plate. Set aside. The chicken will finish cooking with the sauce later in the recipe.
    • Sauté the onions, garlic and mushrooms. Over medium-high heat, add the onions and garlic and sauté, stirring often, until soft and golden, about 10 minutes. Add a bit more oil to the pan and add the mushrooms. Sauté until they begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
    • Deglaze and add spices. Turn the heat to low to add the vermouth, and then turn it up to medium. Use a flat-edged wooden spatula, to scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits of food that are stuck. Once the vermouth has almost completely cooked off, turn the heat to low again and add cardamom, cinnamon and turmeric. Stir and cook just until it's aromatic, about 30 seconds.
    • Add sweet potato, coconut milk and honey. Then add the mashed sweet potato, coconut milk and honey. Mix until it's as smooth as possible.
    • Season and return chicken to pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Here’s How to Season to Taste.) Return the chicken to the pan, presentation side up, and spoon some of the sauce over each piece.
    • Add basil and braise. Add the basil leaves between the pieces of chicken and cover. Braise just until the chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes.
    • Add peas and serve. Mix the peas into the sauce. Let them warm and serve.

    NOTES

    Calorie count is only an estimate.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 440kcal
    Keywords chicken for family dinner, comfort food recipes for fall and winter
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dixie

      March 14, 2022 at 5:31 am

      I found this recipe because I had 3 ingredients I needed to use up. Chicken, sweet potato and basil. I was impressed with how it came out and especially how the potato just became part of the sauce making it creamy in the best way. This recipe is a keeper for sure. I had to change a couple of things because I did not have a couple of ingredients on hand like coconut milk so I used regular milk and I was out of fresh mushrooms so I used canned. Still the recipe turned out good.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 14, 2022 at 12:12 pm

        Hi there! Thanks so much for writing in. This makes me so happy -- especially because my intention with the sweet potato is to make the sauce rich and creamy (and add flavor, of course). So glad it was such hit and that you want to make it again. Yay! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    2. Cherylynn

      September 26, 2022 at 2:20 pm

      Is there something I can use in place of vermouth? Thank you

      Reply
      • valentina

        September 26, 2022 at 6:17 pm

        Hi Cherylnn. Thanks for writing in. Sherry is a great alternative to the vermouth in this recipe. I'd use medium dry or cream sherry. I hope you love this -- it's such a comforting chicken dish. Enjoy. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
        • Cherylynn

          September 27, 2022 at 10:55 am

          Sorry! I should have asked if there was a non-alcoholic alternative to the sherry or vermouth? Thank you.

          Reply
          • valentina

            September 28, 2022 at 4:37 pm

            Hi! Ah, I see. You have a few choices . . . you can use chicken stock, water, coconut water, or even a touch more of the coconut milk. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

            Reply
        • Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

          February 06, 2023 at 6:48 am

          I love everything about this: sweet potatoes, mushrooms, coconut milk - everything. I especially love that you recommend a skinless chicken - although how they grow those is anybody's guess 🙂 - because i don't like chicken skin in a stew or braise. This would send such a scent through the house on a cold, winter Saturday!

          Reply
          • Valentina

            February 10, 2023 at 9:09 am

            I love this, Jeff. Lovely for a winter Saturday. (or Sun - Fri!) 😀 Enjoy and have a great weekend. ~Valentina

            Reply
    3. Frank | Memorie di Angelina

      February 01, 2023 at 12:59 pm

      What an intriguing recipe! I don't think I've had anything quite like it, but it sounds delicious. I already have all of the ingredients, so I may try this out on my family... I think it'd be a big hit.

      Reply
      • Valentina

        February 02, 2023 at 2:27 pm

        I hope you love it, Frank. It's one of my favorite chicken recipes. Thank you! 🙂 Valentina

        Reply
    4. Dawn

      February 07, 2023 at 9:09 am

      Doesn't this sound and look delicious!! Love the warming spices paired with the chicken and sweet potato. I already know this would be a hit in our home. It would be the perfect thing to serve for supper this week, especially with this cold, snowy weather. Warm ya right up!

      Reply
      • Valentina

        February 10, 2023 at 9:11 am

        Hi, Dawn. I know we're fortunate to have a lot of sunshine where I am, but I being in snowy weather sounds really nice -- I'm imagining being inside, looking out, with a fire and a bowl of something warm, of course. 😉 ~Valentina

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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