These delicious slow cooker chicken and sweet potato power bowls are a fantastic option for busy weeknights or meal prep.
They are packed with flavor, offering a hearty and healthy dinner with tender chicken and sweet potato rice, all brought together with a homemade creamy chipotle sauce.
This recipe simplifies dinner without sacrificing taste, making it a perfect addition to your family’s rotation. You’ll love how easy it is to throw together and the satisfying results.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato Power Bowls with Creamy Chipotle Sauce
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These slow cooker chicken and sweet potato power bowls are a flavorful and healthy option for busy weeknights or meal prep. Featuring tender chicken and sweet potatoes, all brought together with a homemade creamy chipotle sauce, this recipe simplifies dinner without sacrificing taste. It’s a versatile dish perfect for family meals, lunches, or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Rub this spice mixture evenly over all sides of the chicken.
2. Lightly grease the bottom of your slow cooker with olive oil. Place the seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer at the bottom. Scatter the diced sweet potatoes evenly over the chicken.
3. Pour the chicken broth over the chicken and sweet potatoes. This will help keep everything moist and tender as it cooks.
4. Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on the “high” setting for 3-4 hours, or on the “low” setting for 6-8 hours, until the chicken is easily shredded with two forks and the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
5. Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it gently with the sweet potatoes and cooking liquid.
6. While the chicken is cooking or just before serving, prepare the sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, adobo sauce, and lime juice until smooth. Taste and adjust the adobo sauce for your preferred level of spice.
7. To serve, spoon the chicken and sweet potato mixture into individual bowls. If desired, you can serve this mixture over a bed of cooked rice or quinoa for an even heartier meal.
8. Drizzle a generous amount of the creamy chipotle sauce over each bowl. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, if using, for a burst of freshness and color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low
- Category: main dish
- Method: slow cooking
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
Keywords: slow cooker, chicken, sweet potato, chipotle, power bowl, meal prep, easy dinner, healthy, creamy sauce, weeknight meal
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true winner for anyone seeking a convenient, flavorful, and nutritious meal. It’s perfect for busy parents who need a hands-off dinner solution, as the slow cooker does most of the work. The combination of tender, seasoned chicken and soft sweet potato rice creates a comforting base, while the creamy chipotle sauce adds a delightful kick that’s not too overpowering, making it generally family-friendly. You can serve these power bowls for a weeknight dinner, pack them for lunches, or even prepare them for a casual gathering. It’s a versatile dish that delivers on both taste and ease, making it a staple for those who appreciate good food without a lot of fuss.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for these slow cooker chicken and sweet potato power bowls is straightforward. Most items are pantry staples or easily found at any grocery store. We’re focusing on fresh, wholesome ingredients that come together beautifully with minimal effort.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
- Cooked rice or quinoa, for serving (optional)
For simple substitutions, you can easily swap boneless, skinless chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer a richer flavor and slightly more tender texture. If you don’t have Greek yogurt, sour cream can be used in the creamy chipotle sauce, though the flavor will be slightly tangier. For a milder sauce, reduce the amount of adobo sauce or omit it entirely and add a pinch of regular paprika for color. Feel free to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a slightly different flavor profile.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed for maximum flavor with minimal active cooking time, making it ideal for busy schedules.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low in the slow cooker
- Total Time: Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes, depending on your slow cooker setting.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Making these slow cooker chicken and sweet potato power bowls is incredibly simple. Just follow these steps, and you’ll have a delicious meal ready with minimal fuss.
- Prepare the Chicken and Sweet Potatoes: Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Rub this spice mixture evenly over all sides of the chicken.
- Layer the Slow Cooker: Lightly grease the bottom of your slow cooker with olive oil. Place the seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer at the bottom. Scatter the diced sweet potatoes evenly over the chicken.
- Add Liquid: Pour the chicken broth over the chicken and sweet potatoes. This will help keep everything moist and tender as it cooks.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on the “high” setting for 3-4 hours, or on the “low” setting for 6-8 hours, until the chicken is easily shredded with two forks and the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
- Shred and Combine: Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it gently with the sweet potatoes and cooking liquid.
- Prepare the Creamy Chipotle Sauce: While the chicken is cooking or just before serving, prepare the sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, adobo sauce, and lime juice until smooth. Taste and adjust the adobo sauce for your preferred level of spice.
- Assemble the Power Bowls: To serve, spoon the chicken and sweet potato mixture into individual bowls. If desired, you can serve this mixture over a bed of cooked rice or quinoa for an even heartier meal.
- Garnish and Serve: Drizzle a generous amount of the creamy chipotle sauce over each bowl. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, if using, for a burst of freshness and color.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
These slow cooker chicken and sweet potato power bowls are incredibly versatile, making them easy to adapt for different tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can reduce or omit the adobo sauce in the creamy chipotle sauce, or serve the sauce on the side so everyone can add their preferred amount. Kids often enjoy the sweetness of the sweet potatoes and the tender chicken, especially when paired with a mild sauce.
Consider adding black beans or corn to the slow cooker during the last hour of cooking for extra fiber and flavor. You could also stir in some fresh spinach right before serving, allowing it to wilt in the residual heat. For a different texture, top your bowls with crunchy tortilla strips or a sprinkle of toasted pumpkin seeds. These bowls are fantastic for meal prep; simply divide the chicken and sweet potato mixture into containers along with separate containers of the chipotle sauce. They also make a great addition to a casual buffet-style dinner, allowing guests to build their own bowls with various toppings like diced avocado, pickled red onions, or a squeeze of extra lime.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even with a straightforward recipe like this, a few common mistakes can impact the final dish. One frequent slip-up is overcooking the chicken, especially if using chicken breasts on the high setting for too long. Overcooked chicken can become dry and stringy. To avoid this, check for doneness around the 3-hour mark on high or 6-hour mark on low; the chicken should shred easily but still be moist.
Another common issue is unevenly cooked sweet potatoes. If your sweet potato cubes are too large, they might not become tender at the same rate as the chicken. Aim for uniform 1/2-inch cubes to ensure they cook through properly and absorb the flavors. Lastly, don’t forget to taste your creamy chipotle sauce as you make it. Adobo sauce can vary in spiciness, so start with a smaller amount and add more gradually until you reach your desired heat level. Forgetting to pat the chicken dry before seasoning can also lead to the seasonings not adhering as well, so a quick pat with a paper towel is a small but important step.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
These slow cooker chicken and sweet potato power bowls are excellent for meal prepping and storing for later enjoyment. Once the chicken and sweet potato mixture has cooled completely, transfer it to airtight containers. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Store the creamy chipotle sauce in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator for the same duration. This prevents the sauce from making the other ingredients soggy and allows you to add it fresh when serving.
When you’re ready to reheat, simply warm the chicken and sweet potato mixture in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat until heated through. If it seems a little dry, you can add a splash of chicken broth or water to help moisten it. Then, drizzle with the fresh chipotle sauce and any desired garnishes. Freezing is also an option for the chicken and sweet potato mixture (without the sauce). Place cooled portions in freezer-safe bags or containers and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The creamy chipotle sauce is best made fresh or stored in the fridge, as its texture can change after freezing and thawing.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use frozen chicken? Yes, you can use frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. However, you may need to increase the cooking time by about 1-2 hours on either setting to ensure the chicken cooks through completely and reaches a safe internal temperature.
What if I don’t have chipotle in adobo sauce? If you don’t have chipotle in adobo, you can try using a pinch of smoked paprika and a tiny dash of cayenne pepper for a smoky, spicy flavor, but the unique depth of chipotle will be missed. You could also use a different creamy sauce like a simple lime crema.
Can I add other vegetables to the slow cooker? Absolutely! Bell peppers,
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
