These BBQ Chicken stuffed sweet potatoes are a healthy meal option that contain less than 5 ingredients! Sweet potatoes are stuffed with tender and juicy BBQ chicken and topped with shredded mozzarella cheese.
BBQ chicken stuffed sweet potatoes are exactly as the name sounds: a giant sweet potato that is sliced down middle, the insides are fluffed, and it is filled with tender, shredded BBQ chicken.
The recipe is so easy to make--anyone can do it. There are less than 5 ingredients required and it requires very little prep work. Simply cook the meat in the crock pot, cook the potatoes and assemble them.
It's the perfect easy, weeknight meal that looks gourmet but isn't hard to make. We have this recipe on rotation at least once a month in my household! It pairs perfectly with instant pot asparagus or a large spinach caprese salad on the side. If you’re looking for more dinner recipes with veggies, be sire to check out this stuffed summer squash!
Reasons to Love This Recipe
My favorite part about this recipe is that it's so easy to make! You can cook the chicken in the crockpot in the morning, and then don't have to touch it until later on in the day. It works perfectly if you're leaving the house to run errands or go to work.
This recipe is healthy! Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin A. It's one of those recipes that are healthy, yet still delicious and satisfying.
The recipe is versatile; if you don't like chicken, swap it out with pulled pork. Or, replace the sweet potatoes with baked potatoes!
Ingredients Needed
This easy dinner recipe only requires 5 ingredients! That’s it, 5 total items! Seriously, could it be any easier?
- Chicken Breast: Use boneless, skinless chicken breast.
- Italian Dressing: I prefer the light zesty Italian dressing made by Kraft. Any brand will work, however. Use light dressing if concerned about calories.
- BBQ Sauce: The flavor of BBQ sauce will significantly affect the flavor of your chicken, so choose your favorite! I absolutely love Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce. It gives an excellent BBQ flavor that’s not overly sweet and not overly spicy.
- Sweet Potatoes: Look for a medium/large sweet potato. Try to find a round sweet potato, rather than a long and skinny potato. This will make it easier to add the BBQ chicken stuffing on the inside.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Optional, however, tastes delicious on top of the potato! Any type of cheese can be used- cheddar, Mexican, Italian blend, etc.
How to Cook the Sweet Potatoes
Cook the sweet potatoes in the oven, as this creates a moist and sweet potato. Do not boil the sweet potatoes over the stove, as this can cause the potato to fall apart and skin to come off. It will be very difficult to stuff the sweet potato with BBQ chicken.
Preheat the oven to 375F. Wash sweet potatoes, and pierce with a fork about 4-5 times. Brush lightly with olive oil or spray with pan-release spray.
Lay sweet potatoes flat on baking sheet. Cook for 45 minutes, rotating each potato every 20 minutes. Potatoes will be tender when done.
How to Assemble the BBQ Stuffed Potatoes
- Let sweet potatoes cool for about 5 minutes or until they are cool enough to handle.
- Make a slice down the middle length ways. Cut only as deep as the bottom of the sweet potato flesh, without cutting open the bottom skin. This will help to hold the sweet potato together better. The potato should open similar to opening a book: still bound together in the middle.
- Using a fork, gently fluff the sweet potatoes so that the potato interior is broken up. Keep sweet potato in the skin.
- Add the BBQ Chicken to the middle of each sweet potato. Use a generous amount, until the potato is filled to the top.
- Top with mozzarella cheese.
- Place sweet potatoes back in the oven, cook for 2 minutes at 375F and then Broil for the remaining 2 minutes. The broil at the end helps brown the cheese lightly. Watch cheese carefully so it does not burn.
- Remove from oven and top with remaining sauce.
Variations
Replace the Sweet Potatoes: I feel obligated to say (as a dietitian) that sweet potatoes provide an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. However, this recipe can be easily substituted with baked potatoes. Here's a whole list of substitutes for potatoes. The only difference in the recipe is that the baked potato will take longer to cook in the oven.
Also, the interior of baked potatoes tends to be a little bit more dry compared to sweet potatoes. Save some of the extra sauce from the crock pot chicken and use it as a sauce for the final product.
Cut of chicken: This recipe has only been tested with chicken breast and boneless and skinless chicken thighs. Chicken thighs will be slightly higher in fat and calories.
BBQ Sauce Options: Use your favorite sauce, as this provides the most flavor to the dish! Look for a BBQ Sauce (not paste) as these provide an excellent flavor. My recommendation is Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Sauce. Another option is the KC Masterpiece Original BBQ Sauce.
- Sweeter BBQ Chicken: choose a BBQ sauce that is honey flavored.
- Add some extra spice: look for a mesquite-flavored BBQ Sauce.
Topping Ideas
Once the sweet potato has been stuffed with chicken and topped with Mozzarella cheese, it’s time for toppings. While I personally think the potato has enough flavor and does not require extra toppings, here are some delicious options:
- Chopped red onions
- Chopped green onions
- Crumbled bacon bits
- Extra BBQ Sauce
- Ranch Dressing
Nutrition Information
I like to think of this meal as a healthy alternative to your normal bbq chicken sandwich. The chicken is a great source of lean protein, and the sweet potatoes add lots of vitamins and minerals (healthier than eating BBQ with a side of fries!). Here's some info on the nutrition of this recipe:
- Sweet potatoes: provide lots of Vitamin A (over 100% of your daily needs). They are also a great source of fiber, and potassium and have many health benefits.
- BBQ Sauce: tends to add extra sugar, you can always look for a low-sugar option if that's of concern
- Protein: chicken provides an excellent source of lean protein. The potatoes contain 36 grams of protein per serving.
- The main component that determines how healthy these are, is what's put on top of the potato. Stick to the meat and a small amount of cheese as listed in the recipe, and they will be lower in calories compared to a potato that is topped with sour cream and bacon.
More Easy Dinners
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- crock pot
- Oven
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast, boneless & skinless about 4 medium breasts
- 8 oz Italian Dressing
- 2 cups BBQ Sauce divided
- 8 medium sweet potatoes
- 1.5 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
BBQ Chicken
- Spray bottom of crock pot with pan release. Lay chicken breasts flat in crock pot.
- Pour the Italian dressing and 1 cup of BBQ sauce evenly over the chicken breast.
- Cook on low for 5 hours.
- Once chicken has cooked, remove from crock pot and let stand for 5 minutes to cool. Shred the chicken using two forks, and then mix in the remaining 1 cup of BBQ sauce.
- Note: Save the juice from the crock pot to pour over the sweet potatoes once they are assembled. It adds extra moisture and flavor!
Sweet Potatoes & Assembly
- Tip: Start this step 1 hour before chicken is done cooking.
- Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray a baking sheet with pan release spray.
- Wash and scrub sweet potatoes. Pat dry and poke 4-5 holes in each potato using a fork. Brush lightly with olive oil or spray with pan release spray.
- Lay sweet potatoes flat on baking sheet. Cook for 45 minutes, rotating each potato every 20 minutes. Potatoes will be tender when done.
- Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes to cool.
- Slice the potatoes in half lengthwise, cutting only deep enough to cut through the potato and not the bottom layer of skin. This helps hold the potato together.
- Fill each sweet potato with a generous amount of BBQ chicken mixture and top with 2 tablespoon of mozzarella cheese.
- Turn oven up to broil. Place prepared potatoes back in the oven and cook for 2 minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve hot!
Nicole says
Super easy but full of flavor! 10/10!! Adding to our go-to dinners.
Justin says
I also made this recipe for my family this weekend. Everyone loved it. I’m gonna try the wings recipe next.
Ashlee Welter says
Awesome glad you enjoyed!