What if I don't have onions?

You can just leave them out. This recipe is very forgiving. If you're on a low histamine diet , then leave out the onions. You can get creative with the spices, too. Just use what you have and love.

Can you use frozen chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken. Just add 10 minutes to the time (so 18 minutes total). It is best if your chicken is already diced, though.

Is this chicken recipe healthy?

Yes, this is a very balanced recipe that includes protein, carbs, and fat. It's also appropriate for grain-free, paleo, Whole30, pro-metabolic, low-carb, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets.

Could I make this with whole or bone-in chicken?

It's better to use boneless chopped chicken breasts or thighs so that the sweet potatoes don't get overcooked.

Do I cook the sweet potatoes with the skin?

Yes, you can, but some people prefer to peel sweet potatoes so they have a smoother texture once cooked.

How do you make chicken tender and not rubbery?

The key to juicy moist chicken is to not overcook it. Another tip is to cook your chicken in a pressure cooker! The lid helps trap the moisture and prevent the chicken from getting rubbery or dried out.

Do I need to add more time if I double the recipe?

No, the cooking time stays the same.

Instant Pot Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe

Name: Instant Pot Sweet Potato and Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 38 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon cooking oil (I used olive oil); 1 onion, chopped; 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 cup water; 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 3 cups); 1 14.5-ounce canned chopped tomatoes, with the juices; 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for topping); 1 medium lemon or lime, juiced

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 tablespoon cooking oil (I used olive oil)
1 onion, chopped
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup water
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 3 cups)
1 14.5–ounce canned chopped tomatoes, with the juices
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for topping)
1 medium lemon or lime, juiced

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Drizzle your cooking oil into the Instant Pot bowl and press the Sauté button. Let the oil heat up for about two minutes.
Place the onion and chicken in the pot. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir the onion and chicken while they cook for a few minutes.
Add the thyme, garlic powder, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
Cancel the sauté function and add the water, chopped sweet potatoes, and tomatoes, and stir to combine.
Lock on the lid and set the cooking time to 8 minutes on high pressure.
When the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick-release the remaining pressure.
Remove the lid and stir in the cilantro and lemon or lime juice.
Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator in a tightly-sealed container for up to 4 days.

Notes

The total cook time for this Instant Pot dinner recipe includes 10 minutes of time for the pot to come up to pressure and then 10 minutes for a natural release.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can use chopped chicken breasts or chicken thighs in this recipe. You can use orange, purple, or white-fleshed sweet potatoes.
Feel free to get creative with your seasonings. If you don’t have any of the ones listed, you can always use spices like oregano, rosemary, turmeric, curry powder, or Italian seasoning.
You can easily double this recipe so you have more servings. It’s one of my favorite meal prep meals that you can serve in different ways. Serve it plain one night, with rice another right, and as a burrito bowl another night. See all of my meal prep tips for beginners or my favorite Instant Pot meal prep accessories.
If you want to use frozen chicken breasts in this recipe, increase the cooking time to 18 minutes.

Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Category: Main dish
Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
Cuisine: Healthy
Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 263
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 235.1 mg
Fat: 12.7 g
Saturated Fat: 4.8 g
Carbohydrates: 9.5 g
Fiber: 2.2 g
Protein: 27.5 g
Cholesterol: 98 mg