Southwest Sweet Potato, Black Bean, and Rice Skillet Recipe
This Southwest Sweet Potato, Black Bean, and Rice Skillet is a vibrant, hearty one-pan meal combining tender sweet potatoes, earthy black beans, seasoned rice, and melted cheese. Its smoky, zesty flavors from chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika make it a perfect easy weeknight dinner with nutritious, wholesome ingredients and a delightful Southwestern twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southwestern
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potato
- 4 ounces diced green chiles
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- Juice of 1 lime
Spices
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Other Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salsa or salsa verde
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 15 ounce can low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar, colby jack, or monterey jack cheese
Instructions
- Sauté Sweet Potatoes: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the peeled and diced sweet potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for about 8 minutes until they start to soften and brown slightly.
- Steam Sweet Potatoes: Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of water to the skillet and cover it with a lid. Let the sweet potatoes steam for about 4 more minutes or until they become fork-tender, depending on the size of the pieces.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the diced green chiles, drained black beans, cooked brown rice, chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salsa, chopped cilantro, lime juice, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything thoroughly to combine the flavors evenly.
- Melt Cheese and Heat Through: Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top of the skillet mixture, then cover the skillet with the lid again. Allow the cheese to melt and the dish to warm through for another 3 to 4 minutes.
- Serve: Serve the skillet hot, garnished with additional chopped cilantro, slices of avocado, and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if desired for extra creaminess and flavor.
Notes
- Use low sodium black beans to control salt content.
- Sweet potatoes can be steamed in the skillet with water instead of boiling separately for convenience.
- Swap cheese for a vegan alternative to make it vegan-friendly.
- This dish can be served as a main course or as a hearty side.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Keywords: Southwest skillet, sweet potato recipe, black beans, brown rice, easy dinner, one-pan meal, vegetarian, Southwestern flavors
