BBQ Chicken and Potatoes Skillet

The temperatures are dipping outside, leaves have started to fall, and autumn recipe books have hit shelves. Looks like fall is really just right around the corner! I couldn’t be more happy…fall is definitely my favorite season of the year.

Also, we’re now less than two months away from my wedding! I’m nervous and scared and excited. I’ve still got a lot of planning to do and I’m one of the world’s worst procrastinators. Here’s hoping everything goes off without a hitch.

With summer winding down, I’ve been trying to pack in as much summery foods as possible. Next month is my third annual Squash September, so this month I’ll try and pack in barbecues and cookout foods and sandwiches and tacos! And even though I’ll be slammed the month of October, and I’ll be on my honeymoon for a while, I’m thinking about starting “Crocktober”…a month packed full of slow cooker recipes! See? Fall really is my favorite season if I plan all these specials around the Fall months.

In honor of summer’s last days, I’ve been using up a bottle of BBQ sauce Rob picked up from Kansas City during his Bachelor Party. I’ve actually made this recipe TWICE in two weeks, which I rarely do. It’s THAT good! Plus, who doesn’t love a simple one skillet meal?

The first time I made this I used red potatoes, but the second time I used regular russet potatoes. I preferred the red potatoes…they cook quicker and taste better to me, so that’s the recipe I’ll post below. This dinner is definitely a winner in my book!

You should try and use a locally-made barbecue sauce, or something of high quality. Look, there’s nothing wrong with KC Masterpiece or Sweet Baby Ray’s (actually my favorite large-scale BBQ sauce), but it’s always more delicious to find a local BBQ sauce! We’ve got Head Country here in Oklahoma that is made in Ponca City. It’s a more tangy-spicy BBQ sauce (I prefer sweet), but it works really well in BBQ dishes and for grilling meats.

BBQ Chicken & Potatoes Skillet

• Servings: 4-6
• Time: 30 mins
• Difficulty: Easy
• Print

A simple, one-skillet meal filled to the brim with chicken, potatoes and carrots.

Ingredients

• 2 TBS. butter
• 2 TBS. olive oil
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 cups baby carrots, cut in half
• 4-5 red potatoes, cubed into 1″ pieces
• 1 lb. chicken breast tenderloins, cut into strips
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 to 1 cup BBQ sauce

Directions

1. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat oil in butter over medium heat. Add potatoes and carrots (trying to place potatoes cut-side down). Let cook for 2-3 minutes, then add water. Cover and cook for another 7 minutes (no stirring!).
2. Remove the cover from skillet (still no stirring!) and cook for at least 3 more minutes and THEN stir, flipping the potatoes. Push veggies to the side and add the chicken, seasoning with thyme, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes and then flip and cook until chicken is no longer pink, about 4-5 more minutes.
3. Stir in barbecue sauce and let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes allowing the sauce to thicken and caramelizing the veggies and chicken. Add more barbecue sauce if needed.

Step-By-Step Instructions

In a large cast-iron skillet, heat oil in butter over medium heat. Add potatoes and carrots (trying to place potatoes cut-side down). Let cook for 2-3 minutes, then add water. Cover and cook for another 7 minutes (no stirring!).

Remove the cover from skillet (still no stirring!) and cook for at least 3 more minutes and THEN stir, flipping the potatoes. Push veggies to the side and add the chicken, seasoning with thyme, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes and then flip and cook until chicken is no longer pink, about 4-5 more minutes.

Stir in barbecue sauce and let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes allowing the sauce to thicken and caramelizing the veggies and chicken. Add more barbecue sauce if needed.

I sprinkled a little bit of parley over the top and served immediately while it was still piping hot. This meal would be perfect for those busy weeknights when you just need to put dinner on the table as quick as possible!