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These Sweet Potato BBQ Chicken Boats mix the built-in sweetness of baked sweet potatoes with zesty chicken covered in barbecue sauce for a filling meal that's both cozy and packed with taste. The mix of soft, fluffy sweet potato with the rich chicken on top makes a well-rounded dish that's now a regular at my dinner table.
I started making these loaded sweet potatoes when I needed a healthier swap for regular BBQ sandwiches, and they've turned into our favorite comfort food that tastes fancy but isn't bad for you. My kids love adding their own favorite toppings.
Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes: Go for medium ones with unblemished skins so they'll bake evenly and give you just the right serving
- Olive oil: Makes the skin nice and crispy while baking and boosts the natural taste
- Shredded chicken: Grab some from a store-bought rotisserie or use your weekly prepped chicken to save time
- Barbecue sauce: Pick the one you like best - could be tangy, hot, or woody for your own personal touch
- Honey: Gives a bit of natural sweetness that works against the sharp barbecue sauce
- Chili powder: Adds a gentle heat without making your mouth burn
- Salt: Lifts all the flavors and helps get that skin crispy during baking
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the sweet potatoes:
- Poke each potato many times with a fork so steam can get out while they cook. Coat them well with olive oil until they're slightly shiny and add a bit of salt to make the skin taste better and get crispier.
- Bake to perfection:
- Put the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving room between them, then cover with foil to help them cook through evenly. Bake at 425°F for around 45 minutes if using medium potatoes, or until a knife slides in easily through the fattest part.
- Prepare the BBQ chicken:
- While the potatoes are in the oven, heat up a big skillet over medium heat and mix in your shredded chicken, barbecue sauce, honey, chili powder, and salt. Let it all cook together for 4 to 5 minutes, giving it a stir now and then until everything's hot and the sauce gets a bit thicker.
- Assemble and serve:
- Cut open each cooked sweet potato, loosen the inside with a fork, then pile on plenty of the warm BBQ chicken mix. Throw on any extra toppings like tangy red onions or corn salad if you want more layers of flavor and texture.
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The honey I put in this dish is my little trick for making regular store-bought barbecue sauce taste much better. It puts in just the right amount of sweetness to cut through the tang and works great with the natural sugar in the potatoes. Even my daughter who usually pushes sweet potatoes away asks for this meal all the time.
Alternative Cooking Methods
When you're running late, you can use the microwave for your sweet potatoes instead of the oven. Stab them all over with a fork, then nuke them on high for 5 minutes. Check if they're soft enough and keep cooking in 1-minute blocks until done. They won't feel quite as good as oven-baked ones, but they'll do just fine when you're in a hurry.
Make-Ahead and Meal Prep Tips
These loaded sweet potatoes work great for meal prep. Cook a bunch of sweet potatoes and mix up the BBQ chicken at the start of your week. Keep them apart in sealed containers in the fridge, then put together and heat up portions as you need them for quick meals throughout the week.
Variation Ideas
Try a taste of the islands by tossing pineapple bits into your BBQ chicken mix or using a pineapple BBQ sauce. The sweet fruit goes really well with both the chicken and sweet potato flavors.
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These Sweet Potato BBQ Chicken Boats are simple to throw together and make your own, so they'll fit right into your regular meal lineup!
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How can I speed up cooking potatoes?
If you're short on time, pop the sweet potatoes in the microwave for 6 minutes (flip halfway), air fry them at 400°F for 35 minutes, or pressure cook in an Instant Pot with a cup of water for 15 minutes, allowing natural release.
- → What's a good chicken substitute?
If you're out of chicken, go for shredded pork, pulled beef, or even black beans. Chickpeas are a great vegetarian option when tossed with BBQ sauce.
- → Can I prep this in advance?
Absolutely. Bake the potatoes and prep the BBQ chicken up to three days before. Keep them in sealed containers in the fridge. Warm the chicken and potatoes separately before serving.
- → What’s the best BBQ sauce to use?
Use whatever BBQ sauce you love! A smoky or spicy one pairs amazingly with sweet potatoes. Homemade or store-bought both work perfectly fine.
- → How can I give it more heat?
Turn up the spice with jalapeños, hot sauce, extra chili powder, or go for a spicy BBQ sauce. A sprinkle of red chili flakes also adds heat.
- → What are good side dishes for this meal?
This meal is filling on its own, but you can add light sides like a green salad, steamed veggies, coleslaw, or cornbread. Mexican corn salad also complements it nicely.