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Meat, Meal soups and plant based

Grilled chicken, sweet potato and black bean bowl

This grilled chicken, sweet potato and black bean bowl serves 4 in 45 minutes, at an easy level, for about €3.20 per person. It combines rice, spiced chicken, roasted sweet potato, black beans and fresh avocado. The key to getting it right is spreading the sweet potato out on the pan, so it roasts instead of steaming in its own juices.

Tonight, everyone builds their own bowl, with rice, grilled chicken, roasted sweet potato, black beans and ripe avocado.

Grilled chicken, sweet potato and black bean bowl
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.20
Calories per person
720 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

This bowl brings together very different textures on one plate, grilled chicken with a bit of crust, soft and slightly caramelized sweet potato, creamy black beans and fresh avocado for smoothness. Smoked paprika and cumin add character without heat, and lime wakes everything up at the end. It's a simple dish that still has plenty going on.

This is the kind of dinner that works on a busy weeknight just as well as on a night when everyone builds their own bowl. Kids pick what they like, adults add more lime or cilantro. It's also a smart way to use leftover chicken or cooked rice, and a nice break from the usual saucy dinners without reaching for anything complicated.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken breasts 500 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Sweet potatoes 2
  • Avocados 2
  • Lime 1
  • Fresh cilantro 1 bunch

Pantry

  • Canned black beansoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Riceoften in the pantry 250 g
  • Smoked paprikaoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Ground cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 220°C, cut the sweet potatoes into cubes, toss with oil, paprika, salt and pepper, and roast. 25 min

    Don't crowd them on the pan, they need to roast, not steam.

  2. Rub the chicken breasts with cumin, paprika, salt and pepper, then sear them in a pan. 12 min

    Let them rest 5 minutes before slicing to keep the juices in.

  3. Cook the rice in boiling salted water, then drain it. 11 min

    A splash of lime juice in the rice makes it taste fresher.

  4. Rinse the black beans and warm them up with a pinch of cumin and salt.

    Rinse them well, the liquid in the can is thick and sweet.

  5. Assemble the bowls with rice, sliced chicken, sweet potato, beans, sliced avocado, cilantro and lime juice.

    Add lime juice to the avocado as soon as you cut it so it keeps its color.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut the sweet potato cubes roughly the same size so they all roast at the same rate.
  • Use a hot pan for the chicken, to get good color on the outside without drying it out inside.
  • Prep all the components ahead and keep them separate, so you can assemble the bowls at the last minute without anything going soft.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for shrimp or marinated tofu with the same spices for a different take.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the chicken and double the black beans, adding a poached egg if you want more protein.
  • For a quicker version, use already cooked rice and thinly sliced sweet potato to cut down on oven time.

What to serve it with

  • A drizzle of lime yogurt sauce
  • Corn chips for crunch
  • Sparkling water with lime

Storage

The components keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge, in separate sealed containers. The rice, chicken and sweet potato freeze well, but not the avocado, which should be cut fresh. Reheat the chicken, rice and sweet potato in a pan or microwave before assembling the bowls.

Questions about this dish

Can you make this bowl ahead for the next day?

Yes, cook the rice, chicken and sweet potato the day before and keep them in the fridge separately. Cut the avocado and add the lime juice only right before serving so it stays nice.

What can replace the black beans?

Kidney beans or chickpeas work really well instead, with the same spices. Rinse them well before heating, just like the black beans.

How do you make this for kids who don't like spices?

Set aside some chicken before rubbing on the spices and grill it plain. Kids can also build their bowl without cilantro or lime if they prefer.

What rice works best for this bowl?

Plain white rice works great, but brown rice or basmati work too. The important thing is that it stays fluffy and separate once cooked.

How long does it take to make a grilled chicken bowl with sweet potato and black beans?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a grilled chicken bowl with sweet potato and black beans?

About 720 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a grilled chicken bowl with sweet potato and black beans cost?

About €3.20 per serving, or €12.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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