Sweet potatoes stuffed with a few simple ingredients make a tasty, nutritious lunch or supper dish. To make a delectable, satisfying, gluten-free, paleo, and Whole30 dish, just bake sweet potatoes, fill them with shredded chicken mixed with BBQ sauce, and top them with pieces of red onion and fresh cilantro.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
I love stuffed sweet potatoes for dinner, especially when I’m in the mood for something filling yet healthy. It’s also a great option for a cozy night in or even for game nights with friends. Whenever I’m feeling like having something hearty, stuffed sweet potatoes are always a go-to for me. You can get creative with the fillings and toppings, but today I’m making barbecue chicken stuffed sweet potatoes with simple toppings.
I find that using sweet potatoes as the base for a meal is a great way to add more nutrients to my diet and avoid using bread or tortillas that might contain gluten, which is important for me as someone who follows a gluten-free diet.
The Best Sized Sweet Potatoes to Use
When I make stuffed sweet potatoes, I prefer to use medium-sized round ones as they are the perfect size for slicing open and stuffing with delicious ingredients. However, you can definitely use sweet potatoes of any size. Just keep in mind that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the potato. Another tip to keep in mind when making multiple stuffed sweet potatoes at the same time is to try to buy sweet potatoes that are about the same size.
This will help ensure that all of the sweet potatoes are cooked at the same rate, preventing some from being overcooked or undercooked. This will also make the process more efficient as all the sweet potatoes will be ready at the same time.
How do you Bake Sweet Potatoes
It's simple to bake sweet potatoes in the oven; simply preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, wash and clean the sweet potatoes, prick them several times with a fork, place them on a baking sheet, and bake for about 60 minutes.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
While the sweet potatoes are baking in the oven, I prefer to get a head start on cooking the chicken when I make barbecue chicken filled sweet potatoes. I accomplish this by preparing the chicken over the burner. If I use my go-to kitchen trick, shredding chicken in my stand mixer, it only takes around 15 minutes to cook the chicken and 15 seconds to shred it. The only hassle- and mess-free way to prepare chicken shredded, this trick is brilliant.
When it comes to the sauce, I have two options - I can either make BBQ sauce at home or buy it from the store. If I’m short on time, I’ll just buy BBQ sauce from the store, but if I have more time on my hands, I prefer to make the sauce at home. Homemade BBQ sauce is not only more delicious, but it’s also healthier as I can control the ingredients and adjust the sweetness and spiciness according to my preference.
Once my chicken is shredded, I mix it with the BBQ sauce in a bowl. This is a simple yet effective way to infuse the chicken with the sweet and tangy flavors of the BBQ sauce. If I want to serve the chicken hot, I mix the shredded chicken with BBQ sauce in a sauté pan on low heat. This allows the chicken to absorb more of the sauce and gives it a nice glaze.
What Toppings to Add to the BBQ Chicken
When it comes to toppings for the barbecue chicken stuffed sweet potatoes, I like to keep it simple to let the flavor of the chicken shine. However, you can definitely add other toppings based on your preference. For instance, you could add diced tomatoes or jalapeños to give it a bit of a kick. You could also sprinkle some cheese or crumbled bacon on top for added richness. One of my favorite toppings is a sprinkle of red onion and cilantro.
I love the way the sharpness of the onion and the freshness of the cilantro balance out the smokiness of the chicken.
FAQ’s
Can I make the barbecue sauce from scratch?
Yes, you can make barbecue sauce from scratch, but you can also use store-bought sauce to save time.
Can I use a different type of meat?
Yes, you can use different types of meat such as pulled pork, beef or even vegetarian meat alternatives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, stuffed sweet potatoes with barbecue chicken is a delicious and nutritious meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner or game night. With simple ingredients and easy steps, it can be prepared in no time. The combination of sweet potatoes and savory barbecue chicken creates a perfect balance of flavors, and the toppings add an extra dimension of texture and taste.
BBQ CHICKEN STUFFED SWEET POTATOES
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes
- 3 medium chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil, or olive oil
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- 8 ounces or more BBQ sauce
- ½ cup sliced red onion
- ⅓ cup chopped cilantro
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and wash your sweet potatoes. Poke the sweet potatoes 5-6 times with a fork or sharp knife, place them on the baking sheet and bake for 60 minutes. If you have large or small sweet potatoes you may need to adjust the bake time.
- While the sweet potatoes are baking, drizzle the oil in a sauté pan on medium heat. Add the chicken breasts, season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the chicken over, add the chicken broth, cover the pan and cook for an additional 7-10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (to 165 degrees fahrenheit). Remove the chicken from pan and shred with two forks or a stand mixer (see my Shredded Chicken post for more details).
- Add the shredded chicken to a bowl and mix with the BBQ sauce.
- Slice each sweet potato in half, fill with BBQ chicken and top with red onion and cilantro.
Leave a Reply