Description
Mexican-inspired black bean sweet potato and chicken chili brings hearty warmth to dinner tables with complex spices and nutritious ingredients. Home cooks can quickly create this robust meal that satisfies hunger and delights palates.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) boneless chicken breasts or 2 heaping cups rotisserie chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups (480 ml) cubed sweet potatoes
- 1 can (14 oz/400 g) rinsed black beans
- 2 cans (14 oz/400 g each) diced tomatoes with their juices
- 1 cup (240 ml) corn
- 1 small bell pepper, sliced thinly into strips
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tbsp chile powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Coarse salt and fresh black pepper to taste
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Olive oil for sautéing
- Shredded sharp cheddar or monterey jack cheese
- Sour cream
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Seasoning and Searing: Generously season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat, thoroughly cooking chicken until no pink remains. Transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board to cool.
- Vegetable Foundation: Increase pot heat slightly and sauté diced onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic. Cook until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, seasoning with salt and pepper to enhance their natural flavors.
- Spice and Substance: Incorporate diced sweet potatoes, canned tomatoes, rinsed black beans, and corn kernels into the vegetable base. Sprinkle chile powder, ground cumin, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper throughout the mixture, creating a robust and balanced flavor profile.
- Simmering and Melding: Slice cooled chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces and return to the pot. Reduce heat and allow chili to simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ensure sweet potatoes reach desired tenderness and adjust seasonings to taste.
- Finishing Touches: Ladle chili into serving bowls and top with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips for added texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Chicken Prep Tip: Allow chicken to cool completely before slicing to prevent moisture loss and maintain juicy texture.
- Spice Distribution Strategy: Sprinkle spices evenly to ensure balanced flavor in every bite, preventing clumping of seasonings.
- Sweet Potato Tenderness Check: Test potato softness during simmering to avoid overcooking, which can turn them mushy and lose structural integrity.
- Garnish Enhancement: Layer toppings like cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips just before serving to maintain crisp textures and fresh flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg