BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes is an easy crockpot weeknight meal. Baked sweet potatoes are stuffed with juicy, tender, slow cooked BBQ-seasoned chicken breasts. This simple loaded sweet potato meal will quickly become a weekly household staple!
Looking for other easy weeknight recipes? Try Cast Iron Skillet Lasagna, Mexican Pizza with Shredded Chicken, and Cajun Cream Shrimp Stuffed Potatoes next.
With a busy schedule, jam-packed with family and work obligations, time is always the biggest obstacle to preparing homemade meals. So when I have the opportunity to cut my cooking time in half, I take it! Stuffed sweet potatoes saves me time but I don't have to compromise on taste or quality.
There are so many stuffed sweet potato recipes but my favorite pairing is baked sweet potatoes with BBQ chicken. Creamy sweet potatoes are stuffed with tender BBQ pulled chicken and topped with two cheeses, green onions, and cilantro. It's bold, savory, spicy, cheesy, and so satisfying!
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Why You'll Love This Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Great Make Ahead Recipe. The slow-cooked BBQ chicken used in this recipe takes a few hours to make but it stores well. Prepare it a day ahead and all you have to do is reheat the chicken and add it to your oven-baked sweet potatoes. It's ideal for a meal prep.
A Balanced Meal. Want a healthy meal? These easy loaded sweet potatoes are packed with protein from the chicken and nutrients from the sweet potatoes.
Easy to Customize. You can always swap the fillings for another protein. But even with the BBQ chicken, there are so many toppings to choose from. Get creative!
Ingredients
Prepare stuffed sweet potatoes with chicken with an easy homemade dry BBQ spice blend and your favorite brand of barbecue sauce.
BBQ Seasoning
- Spices. I use a blend of paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon pepper seasoning.
- Red Chili Flakes. This is optional but you add it if you want a spicy kick in your BBQ chicken.
- Dried Parsley. This adds a fresh pop of herby flavor.
- Brown Sugar. The sweetness balances the smoky, savory flavors in the dish.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes. Use large sweet potatoes so you have more surface are to work with. They should be firm with minimal marks and blemishes.
- Chicken Breasts. Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Worcestershire Sauce. The umami taste deepens the overall flavor.
- Onion. White onions have a mild, sweet flavor that balances the flavors in this recipe.
- BBQ Sauce. Use your favorite brand or make your own.
- Sriracha. This hot chili is spicy, sweet, and tangy, and pairs perfectly with BBQ sauce.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Toppings
- Red Onion
- Cilantro
- Green Onion
- Monterrey Jack Cheese
- Gouda Cheese
How to Make Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Begin by slow-cooking the chicken breasts. I suggest starting this earlier in the day or at least a few hours before you plan to serve dinner.
How To Slow Cook BBQ Chicken Breasts
First, combine bbq seasonings in a small bowl, stir, and set aside. Then place chicken breasts in the crockpot, pierce chicken with a fork, and season generously, pour in Worcestershire sauce, and top with chopped onion. Finally, cover and cook on high for two to four hours or low for four to six hours.
How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
Clean sweet potatoes to remove any dirt or debris. Then pierce the potatoes with a fork. Then bake naked on a lined baking sheet for 45-50 minutes at 425 degrees until soft through the middle. In summary, this method is the tried and true way to bake a potato and will become your household cooking method, I'm sure of it!
To demonstrate, here's an image of the pierced sweet potatoes below!
Assemble Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
After the chicken is cooked, shred it, add BBQ sauce and sriracha, and stir. At the same time, the sweet potatoes should be cooked through.
Then slice down the middles of each baked sweet potato and separate the flesh from the skin.
Top generously with shredded chicken and both cheeses.
Next, place in oven on broil for about 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and golden on top.
Finally, top with red onion, cilantro, green onions and additional bbq sauce. Trust me, you will truly enjoy!
Want to see how I made this recipe? Click here.
Tips and Tricks
- Sweet potatoes bake about 15 minutes faster than regular baked potatoes (like Russet potatoes).
- Save time by using leftover chicken for this recipe.
- Cut the time it takes to bake the sweet potatoes in half by slicing them in half. They should only take about 30 minutes with this method.
Recipe Variations
- Protein. Instead of chicken breasts, save time and try ground chicken, ground turkey, ground beef, or shrimp.
- Cheese. You can swap the cheeses in this recipe for pepper jack, mozzarella, or cheddar cheese.
- Seasoning. Enhance the smoky flavors by adding smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder.
- Toppings. For added flavor and nutrients, add bell peppers and jalapenos. A refreshing, tangy coleslaw would be a tasty finishing touch too. Avocado slices, black beans, and sour cream are good toppings too.
Can I make Stuffed Sweet Potatoes in advance?
Absolutely! You can bake the sweet potatoes up to 2 days ahead. The BBQ chicken can be made up to 2 days in advance too.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It's best to store the sweet potatoes and chicken separately. Reheat leftovers in the oven or the air fryer for the best results.
FAQ
What are good toppings for sweet potatoes?
Sweet potatoes are a versatile vegetable that pairs well with both sweet and savory ingredients. You can top baked sweet potatoes with brown sugar, butter, spices, honey, herbs, and meats (like beef, turkey, and chicken).
Is it good to soak sweet potatoes before cooking?
Soaking sweet potatoes before cooking is not necessary, but it can be beneficial in certain situations. Soaking removes some of the starch from the surface of the potatoes, which can result in crispier fries or roasted sweet potatoes. It can also make the sweet potatoes cook more evenly.
Do you have to wrap sweet potatoes when baking?
Do not wrap the sweet potatoes in foil when baking. That steams the potatoes and your skin won't be crispy.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS STUFFED SWEET POTATOES RECIPE!
If you try this recipe, I'd love to see it! Share it with me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- Crockpot
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
BBQ Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Lemon + Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Red Chili Flakes optional
- 1 tsp Dried Parsley
- 1 teaspoon Brown Sugar
Additional Ingredients
- 2.5-3.5 lb Sweet Potatoes
- 1 lb Chicken Breasts
- 1 tb Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ small Onion
- ¼ cup BBQ Sauce + more for topping
- 1 tb Sriracha optional
- ¼ cup Red Onion
- 2 tb Cilantro
- 2 tb Green Onion
- ¼ cup Monterrey Jack Cheese
- ¼ cup Gouda Cheese
Instructions
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
- Combine bbq seasonings in a small bowl and stir.
- Place chicken breasts in crockpot, pierce with fork and season generously (about 1-2 TB’s) with bbq seasoning.
- Pour in Worcestershire Sauce and top with chopped onion.
- Cover and cook on high for 2-4 hours or low for 4-6.
- After chicken is cooked, shred, add bbq sauce and sriracha, stir.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
- After cleaning, pierce entire potato with a fork and bake naked 45-50 minutes at 425 degrees until soft through the middle.
- After sweet potatoes are cooked through, cut down the middle and separate flesh from skin.
Assembly
- Top potatoes generously with shredded chicken and cheese, place in the oven on broil for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
- Top with red onion, cilantro, green onions, bbq sauce and sriracha.
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