Mexican Shredded Chicken and Sweet Potato Comfort Bake
A warm, high-protein family casserole layering tender shredded chicken, sweet potatoes, and black beans in a gently spiced tomato sauce. Top with fresh avocado for a quick, comforting weeknight dinner everyone will love.
Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Total
40 min
Makes
5 servings
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Marie + Lila
Marie created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Total
40 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Oven · Large skillet · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for quick lunch reheats.
Do these three things first
- 1Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and light grease a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baki…
- 2Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 3Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 10 steps complete
Next: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and…
- 01
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and…
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and light grease a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking dish with olive oil.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Heat olive oil in a large skillet…
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat (around 325°F or 160°C).
Tap card to mark done - 03
Add yellow onion and garlic clove
Add yellow onion and garlic clove, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until soft and translucent.
Look for: soft and translucent
Tap card to mark done - 04
Stir in diced tomato
Stir in diced tomato, black beans, cumin, and chili powder; simmer for 5 minutes until tomato juices reduce slightly.
Look for: tomato juices reduce slightly
Tap card to mark done - 05
Fold in pre-cooked shredded chicken breast until…
Fold in pre-cooked shredded chicken breast until evenly coated in the sauce mixture.
Look for: evenly coated in the sauce mixture
Tap card to mark done - 06
Steam diced sweet potato pieces in a…
Steam diced sweet potato pieces in a microwave-safe bowl or steamer basket for 6 to 8 minutes until soft when pierced with a fork.
Look for: soft when pierced with a fork
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Spread the chicken and bean mixture evenly…
Spread the chicken and bean mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
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Arrange the steamed sweet potato pieces evenly…
Arrange the steamed sweet potato pieces evenly over the chicken layer.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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Bake uncovered at 375°F (190°C) for 15…
Bake uncovered at 375°F (190°C) for 15 to 20 minutes until heated through and bubbling around the edges.
Look for: heated through and bubbling around the edges
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Remove from oven
Remove from oven, let rest for 5 minutes, and serve warm topped with sliced fresh avocado.
Allow: 5 minutes
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