Salsa Chicken on a Sweet Potato

First of all . . . Happy 9th Birthday to my charismatic, carnivorous, fierce, adorable Pete Monroe.  He is my 10 pound chihuahua rescue pup, and I adore he and his brother, JoJo, so much.  Happy Birthday, Pete! You enrich our lives every day with your sweet eyes and your quirky personality.  

Now, onto this yummy recipe. I decided to marry salsa chicken and a sweet potato for a twist on a loaded regular potato; however, this recipe is pretty healthy and packs in a lot of good fiber, protein, and yummy goodness.  The actual hands-on time is less than 5 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Salsa Chicken on a Sweet Potato
Source:  Inspired by slow-cooker salsa chicken recipes and loaded potatoes, of course!

Ingredients (serves 4):
4 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and pierced with a fork a few times
1 pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders (boneless thighs would also work)
1 jar of your favorite salsa (chunky salsa works better than smoother salsa, I think)
black beans & corn
cilantro, lime, cheese, avocado - optional
S & P

The Process:
Place the chicken into a slow cooker.  Pour the jar of salsa over the chicken.  Throw in some black beans and frozen corn if you would like (I found that this added great texture and heartiness).  For a little depth, I added a few generous shakes of cumin and a modest sprinkle of cayenne pepper, finished with a little S & P.  Turn the slow cooker on low for about 6 hours.  

When you have about an hour to go before dinner time, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle a little salt on top.  Bake in the oven until fork-tender, about 45 minutes or so.  

To assemble, slice the sweet potato down the middle but not completely in half.  Scoop some of the tender, flavorful salsa chicken on top of the roasted sweet potato.  Add a little cheese while the chicken is warm so it melts into the chicken.  Squeeze a lime wedge over the dish; this really brightens the flavors.  Add a little sour cream and cilantro if desired.  Serve with sliced avocado.  

The flavors are incredible, and the preparation is so EASY!! The chicken will literally fall apart, and the salsa flavor will sing through each bite.  It is a healthy, satiating meal.  

Bon Appetit!