Harvest Chicken Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts is one of the most popular recipes on my site, and it’s not hard to see why. It will satisfy your taste buds in the best way, fulfill your desire for a nutritious meal, and leave you with only one skillet to clean up afterward.
The original version of harvest chicken skillet with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and sautรฉed apples first appeared in my recipe archives nearly 10 years ago (!!), when I was still snapping haphazard recipe photos with my non-smartphone.
Fast forward to today, and this harvest chicken recipe is still one of my (and your) favorites!
- In addition to being an undeniably simple one-pan recipe, it’s also incredibly cozy and delicious.
- The fall-inspired flavors will wrap you in a hug so comforting, you’ll want to keep going back for more.
- From the creaminess of the sweet potatoes to the savoriness of the bacon to the sweetness of the apples, this easy skillet meal truly has it all.
- Plus, you have the added bonus of easy cleanup (SCORE!).
- It’s also Paleo and Whole30 approved, so if you are following either diet, you can enjoy it too.
With this chicken sweet potato Brussels sprouts skillet, you can sneak oodles of veggies, lean protein, and fruit into one single meal.
That’s my kind of multitasking!
5 Star Review
โMy family has made this recipe every fall for 4 years now. It has SO much flavor and is perfect for leftovers! It’s a crowd-pleaser for sure.โ
— Rory —
How to Make Harvest Chicken Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
This harvest chicken breast skillet recipe features all of my favorite fall ingredientsโsweet potatoes, apples, Brussels sprouts, and a touch of cinnamonโalong with one of my favorite year-round ingredients, BACON.
I love that it’s made in a single pan, is healthy and filling, and reheats well too (just like this Sweet Potato Pasta).
Pssst. If you’re a fellow lover of bacon and Brussels sprouts, give these Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts a try.
The Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts. A source of lean protein with mild flavor, chicken breasts are a healthy and versatile ingredient. I love how well they pair with the bacon and veggies.
- Bacon. This bacon harvest chicken skillet wouldn’t be complete without the pieces of salty, crispy thick-cut bacon.
- Brussels Sprouts. Sautรฉed Brussels sprouts are just as yummy as roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic. In the pan, they become caramelized on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside. Brussels sprouts are rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- Sweet Potato. One of my go-to fall veggies. They’re naturally sweet and packed with vitamins.
- Granny Smith Apples. Granny Smith apples are ideal for this recipe because they will hold up during the cooking process. Their crisp texture and tart flavor are ideal complements to the more creamy, savory elements in this dish.
- Fresh Thyme. For a touch of fresh, savory herb flavor.
- Cinnamon. The secret cozy ingredient that makes this dish extra comforting. It’s especially delicious with the sweet potatoes.
The Directions
- Brown the chicken. Remove it to a paper towel-lined plate. Cook the bacon, then remove it to a paper towel-lined plate. Remove most of the bacon drippings from the pan.
- Saute the Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, and onion in the bacon drippings.
- Stir in the apples, garlic, thyme, and cinnamon. Add the broth. Bring to a boil, then return the chicken to the skillet with the remaining broth. Cook for a few minutes. Stir in the bacon and ENJOY!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. The bacon will soften a little, but it will still be yummy.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave, adding a splash of chicken stock to keep it from drying out.
Meal Prep Tip
Up to 1 day in advance, cut the chicken into cubes and chop the veggies. Refrigerate each in a separate airtight storage container.
Leftover Ideas
Enjoy leftovers from this chicken skillet over a bed of spaghetti squash (use my easy Crockpot Spaghetti Squash or Roasted Spaghetti Squash method) or farro (just like in my Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad). To turn leftovers into a hearty harvest chicken salad, toss them with some spinach.
What to Serve with Harvest Chicken Skillet
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Cast Iron Skillet. A must-have kitchen tool! This is another excellent, more budget-friendly option.
- Non-Slip Cutting Board. This cutting board will stay put while you chop.
- Vegetable Peeler. Makes light work of peeling potatoes, carrots, apples, and more.
The Best Cast Iron Skillet
This beautiful cast iron skillet will last you a lifetime! It’s ideal for making skillet recipes like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Granny Smith apples are wonderful in this recipe because they hold up well during cooking and have great flavor. However, I think you could use any firm, crisp variety of red apples with good results.
The cinnamon adds a wonderful warmth and coziness to the dish, but you can omit it if you prefer.
For a swap with a similar flavor profile, try using cabbage. I think you could also substitute the Brussels sprouts for broccoli florets (I’d recommend adding the florets in with the apples).
Harvest Chicken Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
- 3 cups Brussels sprouts trimmed and quartered (about 3/4 pound)
- 1 medium sweet potato peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 8 ounces)
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
- 4 cloves garlic minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth divided
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large, nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium high, until hot and shimmering. Add the chicken, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook until lightly browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate lined with paper towels.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium low. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crisp and brown and the fat has rendered, about 8 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate (I simply laid another paper towel on top of the plate with the chicken, then stacked the bacon on that). Discard all but 1 1/2 tablespoons bacon drippings from the pan.
- Increase skillet heat back to medium high. Add Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, onion, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender and the onions are beginning to look translucent, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the apples, garlic, thyme, and cinnamon. Cook 30 seconds, then pour in 1/2 cup of the broth. Bring to a boil and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the reserved chicken and remaining 1/2 cup broth. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved bacon and serve warm.
Notes
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. The bacon will soften a little, but it will still be yummy.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave, adding a splash of chicken stock to keep it from drying out.
Nutrition
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Such a good dish! I went apple picking and looked up dinners to make with apples and this did not disappoint. Iโm planning on making it again for Friendsgiving but Iโm wondering what you would add to make it just a little bit sweeter. Maybe brown sugar? Thanks!
Hi John! Personally I love the recipe as is, but I guess if you needed to add sweeter to it for your taste you could add brown sugar? Or maybe even try a different variety of apple that is sweet, such as fuji or gala. Hope this helps!
Iโm so sad :( I wanted to love this recipe but it did not come out like your beautiful pictures! lol
And based on all of the outstanding reviews Iโm wondering if it was user-error? ;)
I used a ceramic plated cast iron panโฆ
My bacon did not produce a whole lot of excess grease thoughโฆa little of course but I doubt it was 1.5 tbspโs so I added a bit of olive oil to supplement (maybe this was a mistake?)
So maybe I didnโt cook the bacon quite long enough?
And my veggies did not have that crispy-roasted texture like your pictures & Iโm not sure why. I almost feel like I would have been better off roasting them in the oven.
And there was a lot of excess liquid which kind of made the dish just kind of soupy. Perhaps I should have decreased the amount of chicken broth?
It also just seemed like it needed more flavorfulโฆperhaps lacking in flavor because I didnโt have more bacon grease? Or maybe I just needed to add more salt? I donโt know!
I would be willing to give this another shot and would love any recommendations of where I might have gone wrong.
Hi Jen! I’m sorry you had trouble with this recipe. It’s really hard to know what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you. It sounds like you might be onto something with the bacon. The longer you cook it, the more grease it should produce but you definitely don’t want to burn it. As far as the flavor, I think it has great flavor but we all have different taste. Definitely adjust the seasonings to your taste. To get a nice crispy look to the dish, you might need to cook the veggies at a higher temperature. Hope this helps!
Iโve made this twice so far, and each time I forget how yummy the flavors all blend together. Itโs such a delightful fall dish and honestly the most โdifficultโpart is all the chopping and thatโs not even that bad if you do everything before hand so itโs ready to go. I can see myself making this several more times this fall/winter. Any excuse to use my giant cast iron for a one pot meal!
Hi Juliana! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I have made this several times and love it! But now I would like to make it as a Thanksgiving side dish with a couple of people being Vegan. Any suggestions?
Hi Mama lina! I’ve only made this recipe as written, but I do have side dishes that you might enjoy! https://www.wellplated.com/roasted-brussels-sprouts-with-garlic/ Or https://www.wellplated.com/roasted-sweet-potatoes/ Also here is a link to all of my vegan recipes: https://www.wellplated.com/category/recipes-by-diet/vegan/ Hope this helps!
Fantastic!!
Hi Vanessa! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I made this a second time today and substituted Aidells chicken apple sausage for the chicken.
It came out great!
Hi Cindy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Tried and was very delicious! I did omit the bacon & brussel sprouts and added spinach and pecans. Yum!!
Hi Rhonda! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
The cinnamon and apples do not go well with the other ingredients. I can see how this dish be good with no apples and a different spice: maybe chili powder or almost anything else. Haha. Neither my husband nor I enjoyed this dish, and I’m dreading eating the leftovers because I don’t like to waste food.
I โm sorry to hear you didnโt enjoy the recipe, Melissa. I know itโs frustrating to try a new recipe and not have it turn out. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed them, so I really wish they wouldโve been a hit for you too!