These Easy BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are ready in 60 minutes! Fluffy baked sweet potatoes loaded with tender shredded BBQ chicken, red onion, and fresh toppings. Naturally gluten-free, protein-packed, and incredibly satisfying. Perfect for meal prep or weeknight dinners! 🍠🍗
Sweet potatoes transform into the ultimate comfort food when stuffed with smoky BBQ chicken. This dish brings together naturally sweet, creamy baked sweet potatoes with savory, tangy shredded chicken in barbecue sauce for a flavor combination that satisfies every craving.
The beauty lies in the simplicity. While sweet potatoes bake until tender, chicken simmers in BBQ sauce until it shreds effortlessly with a fork. Everything comes together in about an hour with minimal hands-on time, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something nourishing without spending hours in the kitchen.
This recipe checks all the boxes for healthy eating without sacrificing flavor. It’s naturally gluten-free, packed with protein and fiber, and can be customized with endless topping combinations. Add cilantro, green onions, coleslaw, avocado, or keep it simple. Either way, it’s the kind of meal that leaves you satisfied and energized.
Ingredients
For the sweet potatoes
These form the base of your stuffed potatoes.
- 4 medium sweet potatoes, about 8 to 10 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the BBQ chicken filling
This creates the smoky, savory topping.
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup BBQ sauce, plus more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Toppings and garnishes
These add fresh flavors and textures.
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Optional: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado slices, coleslaw, jalapeños
How to Make the Recipe
Bake the sweet potatoes
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Scrub sweet potatoes thoroughly under running water and pat completely dry with paper towels. Using a fork, prick each potato 6 to 8 times all over to allow steam to escape during baking.
Rub each potato with olive oil until lightly coated, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place them directly on a parchment-lined baking sheet with some space between each one. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes depending on size, until they feel very tender when pierced with a fork and you see juices starting to bubble out. Larger potatoes will need the full hour.
Prepare the BBQ chicken
While the potatoes bake, prepare your chicken filling. Place chicken breasts or thighs in a large skillet or saucepan. Pour in the chicken broth and half of your BBQ sauce. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper over the chicken.
Bring everything to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan with a lid, and let it cook for 20 to 25 minutes. The chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees internally and no longer looks pink in the center.
Shred and coat the chicken
Remove the cooked chicken from the liquid and place it on a clean cutting board. Let it rest for about 5 minutes so the juices redistribute. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces by pulling the meat apart in opposite directions.
Return all the shredded chicken to the skillet and pour in the remaining BBQ sauce. Stir everything together until the chicken is completely coated in sauce. Add the diced red onion and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes just until the onion softens slightly but still has some crunch. Taste and add more BBQ sauce, salt, or pepper if needed.
Assemble the stuffed sweet potatoes
When the sweet potatoes finish baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes so they’re safe to handle. Using a sharp knife, cut a lengthwise slit down the center of each potato, being careful not to cut all the way through.
Gently squeeze both ends of each potato toward the center to open up the slit and fluff the flesh inside. The potato should look like a boat ready to be filled. Pile generous amounts of the BBQ chicken mixture on top of each sweet potato, dividing it evenly among all four.
If you like everything extra hot and slightly caramelized, return the stuffed potatoes to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes. Otherwise, top immediately with fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, and any other toppings you desire. Drizzle with extra BBQ sauce and serve right away.
What This Dish Tastes Like
Sweet and smoky balance
The natural sweetness of perfectly baked sweet potatoes creates an amazing contrast with the tangy, smoky BBQ sauce. Each bite delivers layers of flavor that work together beautifully, with the sweetness never overpowering the savory elements.
Creamy and tender
When baked properly, sweet potatoes develop an incredibly creamy, almost custard-like interior. Combined with tender, juicy shredded chicken, every forkful offers comforting soft textures that feel indulgent while still being wholesome.
Fresh and bright finish
The raw red onion adds a pleasant sharp bite while fresh cilantro and green onions bring brightness that cuts through the richness. These fresh elements keep the dish from feeling heavy despite being hearty and filling.
Tips for the Best Results
Choose similar sized potatoes
Look for sweet potatoes that are roughly the same size so they all finish baking at the same time. Medium potatoes around 8 to 10 ounces each are ideal for one-person portions with good surface area for toppings.
Don’t skip pricking the potatoes
Those fork holes are essential for allowing steam to escape during baking. Without them, pressure can build up inside and cause potatoes to burst open in the oven, creating a mess and uneven cooking.
Use chicken thighs for extra moisture
While chicken breasts work perfectly well, thighs stay noticeably more moist and tender through the cooking and shredding process. They’re also more forgiving if you accidentally cook them a few minutes too long, and they add deeper, richer flavor.
Make it a twice-baked potato
For an even more luxurious version, scoop out about half the cooked sweet potato flesh after baking. Mash it with a little butter, Greek yogurt, or sour cream, season with salt and pepper, then spoon or pipe it back into the skins before adding the BBQ chicken on top.
Prep components ahead
Both the baked sweet potatoes and BBQ chicken can be prepared 2 to 3 days in advance. Store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator, then simply reheat and assemble when you’re ready to eat.
Variations
BBQ chicken sweet potato bowls
Skip baking whole potatoes and cube them into bite-sized pieces instead. Toss with oil and seasonings, then roast at 425 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until caramelized. Build bowls with roasted sweet potato cubes, BBQ chicken, black beans, corn, coleslaw, and avocado for a deconstructed version.
Loaded BBQ chicken sweet potatoes
Turn these into fully loaded potatoes by adding shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, crispy bacon bits, a dollop of sour cream, and chopped chives along with the BBQ chicken. It’s like a loaded baked potato but healthier and more interesting.
Buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potatoes
Swap the BBQ sauce for your favorite buffalo wing sauce and add ranch dressing, crumbled blue cheese, and diced celery on top. This spicy version appeals to buffalo chicken lovers and still pairs beautifully with the sweet potato base.
Vegetarian BBQ sweet potatoes
Replace the chicken with shredded jackfruit or cooked chickpeas. Simmer them in BBQ sauce with the same seasonings for a plant-based option that delivers similar textures and satisfying flavors without any meat.
How to Serve
As a complete meal
These stuffed sweet potatoes are perfectly balanced on their own, containing protein from the chicken, complex carbohydrates and fiber from the sweet potato, and vegetables from the toppings. No sides necessary for a satisfying dinner.
With fresh coleslaw
Pile tangy coleslaw right on top of the BBQ chicken for added crunch and a refreshing contrast to the warm components. The creamy-acidic slaw complements the smoky BBQ flavors while adding another layer of texture.
Build a stuffed potato bar
Set out bowls of different toppings and let everyone at the table customize their own creation. Offer various cheeses, sour cream, crispy bacon, avocado, different BBQ sauce options, pickled jalapeños, and fresh herbs so everyone gets exactly what they want.
Perfect for meal prep
These make outstanding make-ahead meals for the week. Prepare all the components on Sunday, store them separately in the fridge, then assemble and reheat individual portions throughout the week for easy lunches or quick dinners.
Make Ahead and Storage
Prep components separately
Bake your sweet potatoes and prepare the BBQ chicken up to 3 days before you plan to serve them. Store in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. When ready to eat, reheat the sweet potatoes in the oven and warm the chicken on the stovetop, then assemble fresh.
Refrigerate assembled potatoes
Fully assembled stuffed sweet potatoes keep well for up to 4 days when stored in airtight containers. Reheat in a 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes until warmed through, or microwave individual portions for 2 to 3 minutes.
Freeze for longer storage
These freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Wrap each stuffed sweet potato tightly in aluminum foil, then place in freezer bags. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating wrapped in foil in a 350-degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
Use rotisserie chicken shortcut
When you’re really pressed for time, grab a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Shred the meat, toss it with BBQ sauce and the seasonings, and you’ll have your filling ready in just minutes while the sweet potatoes bake.
Why This Recipe Becomes a Favorite
Naturally nutritious
Sweet potatoes deliver complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin A, and potassium while lean chicken provides high-quality protein. The meal supports your health goals naturally without relying on processed ingredients or complicated diet rules.
Minimal hands-on time
Most of the cooking happens unattended in the oven or on the stovetop while you tackle other tasks. Your actual active prep and cooking time is only about 15 minutes for a complete, restaurant-quality dinner.
Crowd-pleasing flavors
BBQ chicken appeals to almost everyone across all age groups. The familiar, comforting flavors make this an easy choice for family dinners with picky eaters while still being interesting enough to serve to guests.
Budget-friendly comfort
This feeds a family of four for a fraction of what restaurant meals cost while feeling special and indulgent. Sweet potatoes and chicken are affordable, accessible ingredients that stretch your grocery budget without compromising quality or taste.
These BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes deliver sweet, smoky, satisfying flavors wrapped in a naturally healthy package that comes together with remarkable ease. They prove that comfort food can be nutritious, delicious, and simple all at once. May this recipe become your new weeknight dinner hero that you return to again and again.