Published: October 7, 2016 Modified: May 29, 2025 by Cathy Trochelman 25 Comments

BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes

Clock icon 55 minutes

BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are the best combination of savory & sweet! Loaded with shredded bbq chicken, melted cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crispy onion strings, they’re a delicious break from the dinnertime rut!

These BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are the best combination of savory & sweet! Loaded with shredded bbq chicken, melted cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crispy onion strings, they're a delicious break from the dinnertime rut!

Ahhh… the good old dinnertime rut. If you’re the one who makes dinner for your household, you probably know exactly how it feels. And exactly how easy it is to get into!

The truth is once you cycle through your “go to” recipes enough times, it can be really hard to come up with new ideas. Around here? We seem to be on a repeat cycle of Fettuccine Alfredo, Chicken Tortilla Soup, and, if my kids have anything to say about it, Baked Turkey Sliders.

So I recently decided I needed to mix things up a bit… and my mind went to sweet potatoes. I absolutely love sweet potatoes, but for some reason I don’t always think of them. Until now! Because these BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are ALL I’m going to be thinking about for a while.

Perfectly roasted sweet potatoes topped with bbq chicken, melted cheese, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, and homemade crispy onion strings… this recipe is anything but boring. It’s delicious! And interesting! And will definitely get you out of whatever rut you might be in. You can thank me later!

These BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are the best combination of savory & sweet! Loaded with shredded bbq chicken, melted cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crispy onion strings, they're a delicious break from the dinnertime rut!

what you’ll need for this recipe

Sweet potatoes – Sweet potatoes are the base of this recipe. I used 2 large sweet potatoes, cut in half lengthwise. You can also use 3 or 4 smaller potatoes.

Chicken – Shredded or chopped chicken adds protein and flavor and makes this an incredibly satisfying meal. I used 3 cups of chicken, but you can use more or less to taste.

BBQ sauce – BBQ sauce adds a sweet & tangy flavor to these sweet potatoes. Use any variety you like.

Cheese – Shredded Colby Jack cheese melts on top of the chicken and adds delicious flavor and texture to the dish. Substitute Monterey Jack, cheddar, or any of your favorites.

Avocado – Chopped avocado adds a creamy note to this recipe and pairs well with the other flavors.

Crispy onion straws – Crispy Onion Straws are the perfect finishing touch. They add salty flavor and a bit of crunch

Cilantro – I added fresh cilantro as a garnish. Red onion or fresh jalapeño would also be delicious.

These BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are the best combination of savory & sweet! Loaded with shredded bbq chicken, melted cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crispy onion strings, they're a delicious break from the dinnertime rut!

how to make bbq chicken baked sweet potatoes

Par-bake the potatoes. Cut the potatoes in half and place them in a shallow baking pan with water. Bake at 400° for 30-40 minutes, until tender. Scoop out 1/4 cup flesh per half.

Fill & bake. Fill each half with bbq chicken and shredded cheese; return to the oven for 10-15 minutes, until cheese is completely melted.

Garnish. Remove from the oven; top with avocado, cilantro, crispy onion strings, and extra bbq sauce.

These BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are the best combination of savory & sweet! Loaded with shredded bbq chicken, melted cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crispy onion strings, they're a delicious break from the dinnertime rut!

Recipe Variations

  • Substitute shredded pork for the chicken
  • Add drained, rinsed black beans
  • Use any type of cheese, such as Monterey Jack, pepper Jack, or cheddar
  • Substitute guacamole for the diced avocado
  • Add chopped or crumbled bacon
  • Substitute grilled or raw onion for the crispy onion straws
  • Add sliced jalapeños for a spicy kick

These BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are the best combination of savory & sweet! Loaded with shredded bbq chicken, melted cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crispy onion strings, they're a delicious break from the dinnertime rut!

storing & reheating

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, transfer to a small oven-safe baking pan and bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until heated through.

These BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are the best combination of savory & sweet! Loaded with shredded bbq chicken, melted cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crispy onion strings, they're a delicious break from the dinnertime rut!

More Sweet Potato Recipes You’ll Love

If you’re a sweet potato fan, be sure to try some more of our favorite ways to use them!

BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes

BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are the best combination of savory & sweet! Loaded with shredded bbq chicken, melted cheese, avocado, cilantro, and crispy onion strings, they're a delicious break from the dinnertime rut!
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 361kcal
Author: Cathy Trochelman

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet potatoes
  • 3 cups shredded chicken
  • 3/4 cup bbq sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese I used colby jack
  • 1 small avocado chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
  • crispy onion strings to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
  2. Cut sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Place in a shallow baking span, open side up. Add 1/4 c. water to the bottom of the pan; cover with foil.
  3. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
  4. Remove from oven; scoop out 1/4 cup flesh per potato.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine shredded chicken and bbq sauce.
  6. Spoon bbq chicken into sweet potatoes; top with shredded cheese.
  7. Return to oven (foil optional) and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  8. Top with avocado, cilantro, crispy onion strings, and additional bbq sauce as desired.

Notes

Recipe Variations

    • Substitute shredded pork for the chicken
    • Add drained, rinsed black beans
    • Use any type of cheese, such as Monterey Jack, pepper Jack, or cheddar
    • Add chopped or crumbled bacon
    • Substitute grilled or raw onion for the crispy onion straws
    • Add sliced jalapeños for a spicy kick

Storing & Reheating

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, transfer to a small oven-safe baking pan and bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 737mg | Potassium: 953mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 24420IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 2mg

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25 Comments

  1. Sounds like a wonderful trip – one that lead to active dreams! If you keep dreaming up recipes like this? I’m all for it! These look so good!

    1. I sometimes feel like dinner is one endless rut with little glimpses of inspiration 😉 Time for another retreat, right!?

  2. It sounds as though you had a fantastic trip – and I know what you mean about being in that boring, comfortable place at home. I know that I would fall in love with the sweet potatoes!

  3. 5 stars
    I just found your blog from Facebook and I am really enjoying reading it.

    This recipe looks delicious and easy to make.
    I am going to try to cook them on Sunday for my family.

    Thank You!

  4. 5 stars
    I don’t even know how I stumbled across your blog today but I love it! I made these barbecue sweet potatoes tonight and my whole family loved them and said they want me to make these again. Great recipe! I look forward to trying more of your recipes and spending more time reading you blog. Thank you!

  5. 5 stars
    WOW! THIS WAS AWESOME! Great alternative to nachos. My husband and I both loved it! Thank you so much for rescuing that shredded chicken that was just going to waste in my fridge.