Chile-Rubbed Chicken Thighs with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Cabbage-Avocado Slaw
A fast, colorful Mexican-inspired skillet dinner built around one of the best values in your list: boneless chicken thighs. Sweet roasted sweet potatoes, charred poblano and jalapeño, and a crisp cabbage-avocado finish keep it bright, seasonal, and very Arizona-friendly for late March.
Ingredients
- Foster Farms Fresh & Natural Cage Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Fillets 1 lb $5.99
- Sweet Potato 1 lb, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes $1.99
- Green Cabbage 1/2 lb, very thinly sliced $0.99
- Fresh Large Ripe Avocado 1 each, sliced $0.99
- Fresh Poblano Peppers 1/2 lb, seeded and cut into strips $2.69
- Fresh Jalapeno Peppers 1 small pepper, thinly sliced $0.99
- Jumbo Yellow Onions 1/2 lb, sliced $0.99
- Garlic 2 cloves, minced $0.69
- Organic Cilantro 2 tablespoons chopped $1.19
- pantry: olive oil 2 tablespoons
- pantry: ground cumin 1 teaspoon
- pantry: smoked paprika 1 teaspoon
- pantry: chili powder 1 teaspoon
- pantry: kosher salt 1 teaspoon, divided
- pantry: black pepper 1/2 teaspoon
- pantry: lime or splash of lemon juice 1 tablespoon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Peel and cut 1 lb sweet potato into 3/4-inch cubes. Slice 1/2 lb jumbo yellow onion, seed and cut 1/2 lb poblano peppers into strips, mince 2 garlic cloves, thinly slice 1 small jalapeño, thinly slice 1/2 lb green cabbage, slice 1 ripe avocado, and chop 2 tablespoons cilantro.
- On a sheet pan, toss the 1 lb cubed sweet potato with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika. Spread in a single layer and roast until browned and tender, 22 to 25 minutes, turning once.
- While the sweet potatoes roast, pat dry 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thigh fillets and season them with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon chili powder.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the seasoned 1 lb chicken thighs and cook until deeply browned and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes per side depending on thickness. Transfer to a cutting board and rest 5 minutes, then slice into thick strips.
- In the same skillet, add the sliced 1/2 lb onion and poblano strips. Cook 4 to 5 minutes until lightly charred at the edges. Stir in the minced 2 garlic cloves and sliced jalapeño and cook 30 seconds more.
- In a bowl, toss the thinly sliced 1/2 lb green cabbage with 1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and the chopped 2 tablespoons cilantro. This should stay crisp and fresh, not wilted.
- To plate, spoon the roasted sweet potatoes onto each plate, fan the sliced chicken over one side, and mound the charred onion-poblano mixture beside it. Finish with a tuft of the cabbage slaw and sliced avocado on top or just off to the side for cool contrast. Scatter any extra cilantro over the plate for a bright green finish.
Cook time: 35 minutes
Estimated cost: $11-14
Health notes: About 620 calories per serving. Estimated macros: 38g protein, 28g carbs, 36g fat, 7g fiber. Good protein, moderate carbs, and plenty of vegetables.
Drink pairing: If you want wine, go with a juicy Grenache for the smoky chiles and chicken, or a dry Riesling if you like a little contrast with the heat and sweet potato.