Easy,  Entrées,  Gluten Free,  Our Favorites,  Pork,  Recipes

Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries

Published: October 12, 2017 / Updated: March 14, 2023 / 31 Comments
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

This post has been compensated as part of my ongoing partnership with Stoneridge Orchards. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

It’s time for some real talk.

Life has been hectic lately. In the past few weeks we’ve had house guests, new school schedules, busy work schedules, never-ending piles of housework…

…and then I came down with the flu and was out of commission for a week. UGH.

When I was finally able to get back to some sort of normalcy, I wanted comfort food and I wanted it NOW. And I didn’t want to dirty a bunch of dishes while making it.

Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries: (#ad) This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

Single skillet meals are a total game changer in the kitchen! They’re perfect for when you’re low on time and/or energy but still want a home-cooked meal without much fuss.

I had toyed with a version of this pork dish a while back when I was trying out the Chili Lime Cherries with Tajin® from Stoneridge Orchards, and I knew it had major potential to be an all-in-one-skillet meal if I added in some more veggies.

It’s hard to beat a meal that’s made up of a beautifully seared piece of meat that’s nice and juicy inside served with roasted veggies and a flavorful pan sauce.

And all from just one pan!

And pork tenderloin is such a versatile ingredient. Some of our very favorite recipes utilize it, like this balsamic marinated pork tenderloin, this pan-roasted pork tenderloin with balsamic tomatoes, these peanut noodles with roasted pork tenderloin + honeyed oranges, and this breaded pork tenderloin with lemon caper sauce.

Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries: (#ad) This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

I had seen Tajin in the Latin aisle at my local supermarket in the past, but hadn’t ever experimented with it at home until I tried these cherries.

Tajin is a popular spice blend used in Mexican cooking. It’s made of premium chilis, lime juice, and sea salt. The result is a mild kick that can be added to all sorts of dishes.

I love pairing sweet and spicy together, so the fact that these cherries are already perfectly spiced makes them perfect for snacking.

Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries: (#ad) This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

Do you have a favorite type of squash? I used a carnival squash for this recipe.  According to this awesome winter squash reference article on epicurious, carnival squash is a mix between an acorn squash and a sweet dumpling squash.

Growing up, I think I only ever had butternut squash. I still remember the first time I tried prepping one at home – what a nightmare! It’s such a hassle to peel them – it took forever and I was sure I was going to cut myself!

In fact, it’s now one of the few ingredients that I’ll pay more for at the store to just buy some that’s already peeled and diced. It saves me a lot of time and frustration, so I think it’s worth it!

Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries: (#ad) This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

Since I’ve branched out and tried lots of types of squash now, I find myself gravitating toward ones that you don’t have to peel.

That’s right – there are some varieties of squash that you can go ahead and eat the skin of!

Bonus points for the extra fiber, ease of prep, and how pretty it looks in the pan when the skin is left on!

Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries: (#ad) This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

You could use any squash that you like here – but if you use something like butternut or spaghetti squash, you won’t be able to eat the skin.

Be sure to cut your squash into consistent sized slices so they’ll cook evenly. Truth be told, I cut the ones in this dish a little too thick, so I had to cook it a little longer for them to fully cook. Around 1/2-inch thick slices should be just fine.

You could also use sweet potatoes or even cauliflower in this dish – it really is versatile!

Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries: (#ad) This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

After the pork is cooked, let it sit for 5-10 minutes before slicing it up and serving. Make sure to drizzle the pan sauce and plumped-up cherries over the meat before serving – you won’t be sorry!

What are your favorite one-dish meals? I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below!

Looking for more single skillet recipes? Check out some of our favorites:

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries: (#ad) This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries

  • Author: Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen - Ashley Covelli
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 Servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Latin
Print Recipe

Description

This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons peanut or grapeseed oil
  • 1 piece pork tenderloin, cut into thirds (about 1 pound total)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 shallots, sliced
  • 1 small acorn or delicata squash (about 1 pound), halved, seeded, and sliced 1/2-inch thick
  • 1/2 cup Stoneridge Orchards Chili Lime cherries
  • 1/4 cup low sodium chicken stock or broth
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • Cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Heat oil in a large, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Pat pork dry and season with half of the salt and pepper, the cumin, smoked paprika and coriander. Rub the seasoning all over. Once oil is hot, place pork in the skillet and sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until nicely browned all over. Add garlic, shallots, squash, cherries, chicken stock, and vinegar to pan. Season with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
  3. Place skillet in the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 145°F and squash is tender when pierced with a knife. Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes.
  4. To serve, slice pork into medallions. Serve with veggies alongside, drizzling with the pan juices and plumped cherries. Garnish with chopped cilantro, if desired.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 279
  • Sugar: 15.4 g
  • Sodium: 379.4 mg
  • Fat: 9.6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22.9 g
  • Fiber: 1.4 g
  • Protein: 25.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 73.7 mg

Keywords: pork, delicata squash, latin pork

Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes
Latin-Spiced Pork + Squash Skillet with Chili Lime Cherries: (#ad) This smoky-sweet single skillet meal is a quick and easy way to get a comfort food dinner with Latin flair on the table any night of the week.

Ashley Covelli is a food photographer, recipe developer, and culinary instructor based in Ossining, New York. She loves helping people become enthusiastic and adventurous in the kitchen so that they can build skills and confidence to cook for themselves and their loved ones. She can almost always be found with at least 3 different beverages within arm's reach.

31 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆