Chicken, Black Bean and Chard Skillet

Chicken, Black Bean & Chard Skillet

For about 2 generous meals:

• 1 chicken breast or a couple of thighs, cut into substantial pieces
• 1 zucchini, big chunky half-moons
• 1 yellow squash, same
• 4–6 oz shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• ½–1 cup rinsed black beans
• About ⅓–½ leek, sliced and well rinsed
• 3–4 large chard leaves
• 1–2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp paprika
• Black pepper
• Optional squeeze of lemon at the end

First, meet your chard. This was my first time cooking with Chard.  Don’t treat the whole leaf like spinach. The colorful/white stems take longer to cook than the leaves.

Wash it well. Cut the stems out of the leaves. Slice the stems into little ½-inch pieces. Then roughly chop the leafy parts into fairly large pieces. They’re going to shrink dramatically, so don’t make tiny little chard confetti.

Then:

1. Brown the chicken first. Heat oil over medium-high. Season chicken with garlic powder, paprika and pepper. Cook until browned and cooked through to 165°F, then take it out and put it on a plate. 
2. Shiitakes next. Let them cook about 3–4 minutes. Don’t fuss with them constantly; give them a chance to brown.
3. Add leek + chopped chard stems. Cook about 2 minutes. 
4. Add your big zucchini and squash chunks. Cook around 4–5 minutes. You want them cooked but still substantial. No vegetable mushiness allowed.
5. Garlic goes in. About 30 seconds.
6. Add black beans and chopped chard leaves. Toss gently. Give it about 2 minutes—just until the chard wilts but still has some personality.
7. Chicken comes back LAST. Toss everything together for only about a minute, just enough to bring it together. Taste before adding any salt.
8. A little lemon at the end would be lovely if you want brightness.

🔒 Don’t Change This — And Here’s Why

Separate those chard stems from the leaves. If they go in together, either the stems remain too hard or the leaves surrender their will to live while waiting for them. 

And keep your zucchini/squash big. Vegetables can have some structural integrity.

Also, black beans go near the end.