BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
If you love the cozy comfort of sweet potatoes and the smoky tang of BBQ chicken, then you’re going to adore this BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe. It’s that kind of dish that hits the sweet spot between healthy and indulgent, plus it’s super satisfying on chilly evenings or whenever you want a hearty meal without the fuss. Trust me, stuffing sweet potatoes with creamy, saucy BBQ chicken is a game changer and a family favorite in my house.
What makes this BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe especially worth trying is how easy it is to prep and yet tastes like you’ve been cooking for hours. It’s balanced, packed with flavors, and perfect for meal prep or entertaining since it looks impressive but couldn’t be simpler. Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through all my pro tips so these come out perfectly every time!
Why This Recipe Works
- Flavor Fusion: The sweet, smoky BBQ chicken balances beautifully with creamy mayo and naturally sweet potatoes.
- Simple Prep: Using cooked shredded chicken and baked sweet potatoes saves time without sacrificing taste.
- Customizable: You can easily swap toppings or adjust seasoning to suit your own flavor preferences.
- Great for Meal Prep: These stuffed potatoes store and reheat well, making weeknight dinners a breeze.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The ingredients in this BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe come together to create a balanced, flavorful meal. Each component plays a part in bringing texture, taste, and moisture—making sure nothing feels dry or overpowering.
- Sweet Potatoes: Naturally sweet and creamy when baked, they form the perfect ‘bowl’ for the smoky chicken filling.
- Avocado Oil: A neutral-flavored oil that’s great for sautéing onions without overpowering other flavors.
- Red Onion: Adds a gentle bite and sweetness when cooked, balancing the tang of BBQ sauce.
- Shredded Chicken: The star protein here, tender and ready to soak up all the sauce and flavors.
- BBQ Sauce: Smoky, tangy, and slightly sweet—this is the flavor anchor of the dish.
- Mayonnaise: Brings creaminess and smooth texture, blending the chicken and potato filling perfectly.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning, enhancing all the natural flavors without overwhelming.
- Optional Toppings: Fresh herbs, green onions, avocado, or even an extra drizzle of BBQ sauce add brightness and personality.
Tweak to Your Taste
One of the things I love most about this BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe is how easy it is to tweak depending on what you have on hand or what mood you’re in. Whether you want it spicy, creamy, or loaded with extra veggies, it’s all fair game.
- Spicy Kick: I sometimes toss in a bit of chipotle powder or hot sauce for a smoky heat that wakes up the filling just right.
- Cheese Lover’s Twist: Melting some sharp cheddar or pepper jack on top before the final bake adds great richness.
- Vegetable Boost: Adding corn kernels, diced bell peppers, or black beans turns this into an even heartier meal.
- Dairy-Free Option: Swap the mayo for mashed avocado or a plant-based mayo to keep it creamy without dairy.
Step-by-Step: How I Make BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Step 1: Bake Those Sweet Potatoes to Soft Perfection
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper—makes cleanup easier, trust me. While it heats up, give your sweet potatoes a good rinse and poke them all over with a fork. Place them on the sheet and slide into the oven for about 50 minutes or until they’re really soft when pierced. Pro tip: don’t skip the fork pokes to help them cook evenly and avoid steam build-up. If you want to save time on a busy night, you can bake these ahead of time and refrigerate.
Step 2: Sauté Onions to Sweeten the Flavor Base
When your potatoes have around 5 minutes left baking, put a small skillet on medium-low heat and add avocado oil. Once it’s warm (about 30 seconds), toss in the diced red onion along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté gently for 3-4 minutes until the onions soften and get just a bit of color. This step helps mellow out the onion’s sharpness and adds a subtle sweet depth.
Step 3: Mix the Filling and Stuff the Potatoes
Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut each one in half lengthwise. Scoop out the insides carefully, leaving enough flesh behind so the skins hold their shape. Add the scooped potato to a bowl with the sautéed onions, then stir in the shredded chicken, ½ cup BBQ sauce, and ⅓ cup mayo until everything is well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon the mixture evenly into the potato skins for that lovely stuffed look.
Step 4: Bake Again and Add the Finishing Touch
Turn your oven down to 350°F and pop those stuffed sweet potatoes back in for about 20-25 minutes—just enough so everything heats through and melds together. While that’s baking, mix the remaining 1 tablespoon of BBQ sauce with ½ tablespoon mayo, and once the potatoes come out, drizzle this on top to add a glossy, flavorful finish that really brings the dish to life. Garnish as you like, serve, and enjoy!
Pro Tips for Making BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
- Even Sizing: Choose sweet potatoes of similar size so they cook evenly and look uniform when served.
- Shred Chicken Warm: It’s easier to shred the chicken when warm or freshly cooked—freeze any leftovers for future meals.
- Don’t Over-Scoop: Leave a thin layer of sweet potato inside the skins so they don’t collapse after baking again.
- Use Quality BBQ Sauce: A good quality sauce really elevates this dish—try different brands or homemade for your favorite flavor profile.
How to Serve BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Garnishes
I always top these stuffed sweet potatoes with fresh green onions and a sprinkle of chopped parsley for freshness and color contrast. If I’m feeling fancy, I add creamy avocado slices or a little extra drizzle of BBQ sauce for that beautiful glossy finish. It just makes the dish pop and adds a fresh brightness that cuts through the richness.
Side Dishes
For sides, I like to keep it simple—sometimes a crisp green salad or roasted veggies like asparagus or Brussels sprouts. If you want to keep things comforting, creamy coleslaw or even cornbread on the side rounds out a perfect meal. The sweet potatoes and BBQ chicken have plenty of flavor, so lighter, crisp sides work best.
Creative Ways to Present
I’ve served these BBQ chicken stuffed sweet potatoes at casual dinners and holiday gatherings alike. For a party, I like to slice them into smaller portions and arrange them on a platter with colorful garnishes—guests love grabbing these handheld bites. Wrapping one half in foil also makes it an adorable individual serving when you want to elevate the presentation.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and find they keep really well for 3-4 days. When reheating, I prefer warming them in the oven to maintain that baked crispness on the edges rather than the microwave, which can make the skins soggy.
Freezing
If you want to freeze these for an even quicker meal later, I recommend freezing the filling and the potato halves separately. That way you can thaw and reheat the filling quickly, then stuff fresh or pre-baked potatoes. This keeps the texture and flavor intact much better.
Reheating
To reheat leftovers, pop the stuffed potatoes into a 350°F oven for about 15-20 minutes until heated through. This method helps keep the filling creamy and the skins just a bit crisp, which microwave reheating doesn’t do justice.
FAQs
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Can I use rotisserie chicken for this BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe?
Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken works perfectly here and saves time. Just shred the meat and mix it with the BBQ sauce and mayo as instructed for a quick, flavorful filling.
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Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, the recipe as is is naturally gluten-free, assuming your BBQ sauce doesn’t contain gluten. Always check labels if you’re sensitive or cooking for someone with celiac disease.
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Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Definitely! Bake and cool the sweet potatoes and prepare the chicken filling up to 2-3 days in advance. Keep them separate until you’re ready to assemble and bake for best texture.
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What can I use instead of mayonnaise?
You can substitute mayo with Greek yogurt, sour cream, or mashed avocado for a creamy texture but slightly different flavor—choose what fits your taste or dietary needs.
Final Thoughts
This BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe holds a special place in my meal rotation because it’s both comforting and flexible — plus, it feels fancy without being complicated. I love sharing it with friends who want something wholesome and flavorful that doesn’t demand hours in the kitchen. Give it a try, and I bet you’ll keep coming back to make it your own go-to for weeknight dinners and beyond.
PrintBBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 stuffed potatoes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
Delicious BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes combine tender roasted sweet potatoes with a savory mixture of shredded chicken, sautéed red onion, BBQ sauce, and creamy mayo. This comforting and flavorful dish is perfect for a satisfying dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (38 ounces)
- 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
Chicken Mixture
- 1 cup diced red onion (120 grams)
- 3 cups shredded chicken (340 grams/about 1 pound raw and cooked)
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/3 cup mayo
- salt and pepper, to taste
Topping Sauce
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon mayo
Optional Toppings
- parsley
- green onion
- avocado
- additional BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Prep the sweet potatoes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rinse the sweet potatoes and pierce each one several times with a fork. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 50 minutes until they are soft and easily pierced with a fork.
- Prepare the chicken mixture. When the sweet potatoes have about 5 minutes left to bake, heat a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the avocado oil and let it heat for about 30 seconds. Add the diced red onion along with salt and pepper to taste and sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally until the onions are softened. Transfer the onions to a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
- Combine ingredients. Once the sweet potatoes are cooked, remove them from the oven and cut each in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out the flesh from each sweet potato half, leaving a thin layer inside the skin so they keep their shape. Add the scooped sweet potato flesh into the bowl with the sautéed onions. Add the shredded chicken, 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, and 1/3 cup mayo to the bowl and mix everything until well combined. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Stuff and bake again. Evenly distribute the chicken mixture back into the sweet potato skins. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the stuffed sweet potatoes for 20-25 minutes until they are heated through.
- Prepare the topping sauce and serve. While the stuffed potatoes bake, mix the remaining 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce and 1/2 tablespoon mayo in a small bowl. When the sweet potatoes are finished baking, drizzle this sauce evenly over the tops. Add optional toppings such as parsley, green onion, avocado, or extra BBQ sauce if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- To save time, cook the sweet potatoes and prepare the shredded chicken a few days in advance and store them in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Use leftover rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken to make the process faster.
- You can substitute mayo with Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Adjust the BBQ sauce amount based on your preferred level of sweetness and tanginess.
- For extra creaminess, add shredded cheese to the chicken mixture before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed potato
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg