When it’s the middle of the week and cooking is third on your to-do-list after a long work day, a one-pot meal can be a life saver. My one-pot meal was created with a working parent’s hectic schedule in mind. This recipe features some of my favorite comfort food ingredients consisting of chicken thighs with greens and sweet potatoes over rice. Besides being easy to prepare it is full-flavored with spicy harissa seasoning, thyme, oregano and vine-ripened tomato sauce. So, there is a little Soul-Food and Italian fusion happening in this dish.

One-Pot Ingredients

Chicken Thighs
Aromatics: onion, celery, green pepper (aka, the trinity)
Collard Greens
Sweet Potatoes
White Rice
Chicken Broth
Tomato Sauce
Herbs & Spices: harissa seasoning blend, thyme, oregano
Minced Garlic

Additionally, if you desire, marinate the chicken the day before in olive oil, white wine, salt, pepper, and cilantro. This is optional and does add extra time to your prep but it will give more depth of flavor.

Technique

In a large pot or dutch oven, sear the chicken thighs (both sides) on medium high heat and then set aside.
Using the rendered chicken fat, saute the onion, celery, green pepper and sweet potatoes. Add the minced garlic and continue to saute.
Add the tomato sauce and stir to incorporate.
Add the rice and chicken broth. Stir and cover.
Add the seared chicken thighs, greens, thyme, oregano, and harissa. Cover and simmer on medium-low heat.
Add the salt and pepper to taste and continue to simmer until rice and greens are tender.

Note: Exact measurements and cook times are detailed in the full recipe below.

A hot pan with a little oil will create a good crispy sear on the chicken.

Saute the vegetables until they start to become soft. The simmering process will cook them the rest of the way.

Saute vegetables | Broth, chicken and rice added

Add the herbs and seasonings with the greens and simmer some more.

When simmering at different stages, make sure to cover the pot. This will decrease the cooking time by steaming while simmering.

The finished dish will have light and fluffy seasoned rice, soft vegetables and tender greens. And, of course, juicy chicken thighs with seasoned skins.