Description
Hearty autumn harvest chicken skillet delivers comfort with seasonal ingredients and robust flavors. Rustic cast-iron cooking combines tender chicken, roasted vegetables, and warming spices for a satisfying meal you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lb (680 g) chicken thighs, skinless, boneless
- 1 lb (454 g) sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1-inch dice (about 2 medium sweet potatoes)
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup wild rice, uncooked
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 6 tbsps olive oil
- 4 tbsps butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 oz (85 g) portobello mushrooms, chopped (1 large)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3 tbsps fresh thyme, leaves only
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Rinse wild rice thoroughly under cold water until clear, then simmer in a saucepan with water for 45-50 minutes until grains split and become tender.
- Sweet Potato Roasting: Preheat oven to 400°F. Dice sweet potatoes into uniform cubes, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme. Roast for 20-25 minutes, rotating midway for even caramelization.
- Chicken Seasoning: Generously coat chicken thighs with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, Italian herbs, and dried thyme.
- Chicken Searing: Heat cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil. Sear chicken thighs for 5-6 minutes on first side, then flip and cook until internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 4-5 more minutes.
- Mushroom Sauté: Remove chicken and in the same skillet, sauté portobello mushrooms and garlic until golden and moisture evaporates.
- Rice Integration: Add cooked wild rice to skillet with chicken stock and butter, stirring gently to combine and warm through.
- Final Assembly: Incorporate roasted sweet potatoes into rice mixture, season to taste. Nestle seared chicken thighs back into skillet and garnish with fresh thyme leaves.
Notes
- Rinse Rice Thoroughly: Clean wild rice meticulously to remove any potential debris or foreign particles, ensuring a pure and clean base for your dish.
- Monitor Chicken Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to confirm the chicken reaches 165°F, preventing undercooking and guaranteeing food safety while maintaining juicy meat.
- Optimize Skillet Technique: Cast iron skillets provide superior heat retention and create an incredible golden-brown sear, developing deep, rich flavors during cooking.
- Herbaceous Finishing Touch: Fresh thyme leaves added at the end elevate the overall aroma and provide a bright, fresh contrast to the hearty, robust ingredients.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg