Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Beans & Grains, Dietary, Egg Free, MAIN DISHES, Nut Free, Poultry, Recipes

November 9, 2018 by Chef Julie RD

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my privacy policy.

Whip up these quick and delicious Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes that have been sponsored by StarKist, but of course, all opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for like-minded brands for making this blog possible!

Traveling is always fun and like many of you, I make sure I am always packing plenty of food for my travel adventures. No one wants to be stuck in the car, train, or airplane hangry. One food group that sometimes is a struggle packing for travel is protein. I don’t want to be that person that whips out hard boiled eggs and be known as the stinky food traveler that gets stuck sitting next to me. StarKist’s new Chicken Creations are making protein on the go a cinch. These Chicken Creations come in a pouch that is ready to be on the move – just tear, eat, and go!

Add protein to any meal with @StarKistCharlie! Try the buffalo flavor with @ChefJulie_RD’s Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes #StarKistChickenCreations

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If we are friends on Instagram you saw that I recently was at FNCE (Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo), the world’s largest meeting of food and nutrition experts — more than 10,000 registered dietitian nutritionists, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, health-care providers, and industry leaders attend the annual meeting — and address key issues affecting the health of all Americans.

At FNCE, I spent most of my time at the expo hall connecting with RDN colleagues and businesses. I made a stop over to StarKist’s booth to chat with Laura Ali, MS, RDN, LDN of StarKist. I love that brands are hiring registered dietitians on staff to provide evidence-based nutrition. I wish more brands would do that! We chatted about StarKist’s new Chicken Creations pouches. If you didn’t know, they already have convenient pouches for tuna, salmon, and now chicken!

Image mid-boomerang!

Last week I posted on my Instagram stories, asking what you wanted to learn more about StarKist’s new tear and go Chicken Creations. You asked, they answered! I went back to Laura Ali, MS, RDN, LDN of StarKist with your questions and here is what she said.

Laura Ali, MS, RDN, LDN of StarKist answers your questions about StarKist Chicken Creations

Q: What defines “premium white chicken”? Does it come from chicken breast or other parts as well?
A: “Our chicken is 100% white meat with no dark meat added”

Q: How is the chicken cooked?
A: The chicken is lightly grilled and then cooked to a safe internal temperature before it is mixed with our seasonings and added to the pouch. It is then vacuum sealed and then retorted for sterility.

Q: What is the shelf life?
A: 3 years

Q: Is the pouch recyclable?
A: Not at this time. We are actively investigating options for how to recycle the pouch.

Q: What is the pouch made of?
A: The pouch is made of food grade materials. It has 4 separate layers of aluminum, polypropylene, nylon, and polyester.

Q: Can you heat the chicken in the pouch?
A: No, it is not a microwaveable pouch so you should remove the chicken and place it in a separate container to microwave.

Q: Will other flavors be coming out?
A: Our beaks are sealed! But you can be assured StarKist has a strong innovation agenda with many new products planned for the future!

I am all about quick and easy recipes. Coming back from FNCE, I didn’t have my usual meal prep done since I got home on a Tuesday evening. I was able to whip up this recipe from ingredients I had on hand. Having protein ready to go in my pantry was clutch. StarKist Chicken Creations are ready to eat as is. I’ve been also grabbing a pouch as I’m running out the door to top a simple salad with for quick and easy lunch. The possibilities are endless!

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Author: Chef Julie Harrington, RD
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 40
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 2
Category: lunch, dinner

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Ingredients

Scale

1 large sweet potato
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 cup black beans
2 (2.6 oz.) packets of Starkist Chicken Creations BOLD Buffalo Style
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese

For the Avocado Lime Sauce:
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons cilantro
2–3 tablespoons water (more if needed)
salt and pepper, to taste.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, and place both halves flat side down on the baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

Once the sweet potato halves are finished cooking, remove from the oven. Let cool enough to be able to handle. Scoop out the inside of the sweet potato halves and place in a bowl. Add the chili powder and garlic powder; mix together. Fold in the black beans.

Scoop the mixture back into the sweet potato skins. Top each sweet potato with one packet of Starkist Chicken Creations BOLD Buffalo Style and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Place back in the oven for about 8-10 minutes or until heated through.

While sweet potatoes are cooking, combine avocado, yogurt, lime, cilantro, and water in a blender or a small food processor. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Remove sweet potatoes from the oven and drizzle with avocado sauce.

Notes

Don’t love buffalo sauce? Try this same recipe with one of Starkist’s Chicken Creations other flavors: Chicken Salad, Ginger Soy, or Zesty Lemon Pepper.

Keywords: buffalo, sweet potato, southwest, chicken, avocado

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Sweet Potato Flax Waffles

Breakfast & Brunch, Dietary, Fall, Freezer Friendly, Gluten Free, Make ahead, Recipes, Spring, Summer, Vegetarian, Winter

April 17, 2018 by Chef Julie RD

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my privacy policy.

Make these Sweet Potato Flax Waffles for a delicious weekend breakfast, and freeze for later to enjoy during a busy week.

several sweet potato waffles on a plate with sliced bananas

I go through phases where my waffle iron is always being used daily but then sits there collecting dust. I think it’s because sometimes I get sick of cleaning it. You have to get into all the nooks and crannies to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Are you team #waffle or team #pancake? Either way, this delicious Sweet Potato Flax batter will work for both using @manitobamilling flax for a filling breakfast#manitobaflax

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I used to get SO excited when we would stay at a hotel that had a continental breakfast and we could make Belgium waffles for breakfast. It was always an extra little treat!

two sweet potato flax waffles with sliced bananas and walnuts on a small white plate

Are Potato Waffles Healthy?

Yes! These waffles are packed with nutrition. These sweet potatoes are filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Using the ground flax takes place of having to add flour. Flax seeds are a great source of fiber and are high in omega 3 fatty acids. Oats are another good source of fiber and have some protein as well.

This waffle recipe is balanced to help with blood sugar spikes and will keep you fuller for longer, especially when compared to other conventional breakfast foods.

sweet potato waffles on a fork resting on a plate

Sweet Potato Waffle Ingredients

sweet potato puree
old-fashioned oats
ground flax (I used Manitoba Milling Co.)
milk
eggs
cinnamon
baking powder
salt
cooking spray
toppings: sliced banana, walnuts, maple syrup (optional)

How to Make Waffles Using Sweet Potatoes

To make the sweet potato waffle base, you need to bake the sweet potatoes first. Once they are done, scoop out the flesh and add it to a blender or food processor.

Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and pulse until it’s smooth. Allow the waffle batter to sit for about 10 minutes.

Spray your waffle iron with cooking spray and heat to medium-high.

Pour 1/3 of the batter at a time to make each sweet potato waffle. Cook 3-4 minutes or until the desired consistency is reached.

Serve with your favorite toppings for a healthy and nutritious breakfast.

three sweet potato waffles on a plate with bananas and walnuts

Waffle Topping Ideas

Fresh fruit – bananas, apples, berries, melon
Greek yogurt
Nut Butter – peanut butter, almond butter
Seeds
Honey or maple syrup

Can You Make Sweet Potato Waffles Vegan?

I haven’t tested this version, but if you experiment you could swap the poultry eggs for flax eggs. Then cut down on the amount of additional flax. You would also want to use a plant-based milk as well.

Are These Waffles Gluten Free?

They are as long as you choose a gluten free brand of oats, like Quaker or Bob’s Red Mill.

Tips for Making

I used Manitoba Milling Co. finely milled flaxseed, which is almost like the consistency of flour. If using coarse ground flax, more liquid may be needed.
To store you can reheat them in a toaster. They also freeze really well too which is great for meal prepping.
Make sure you cook the sweet potatoes until they are tender before adding them to the blender.
Preheating the waffle iron first helps to give a crispy outside.
This batter can easily be used for pancakes as well.

Team Waffle or Team Pancake?

I’ve mentioned before that I used to be a waffle person over pancake person, only because I used to be terrible at flipping them. I think my skills have improved though.
Waffle pros: They freeze and reheat better than pancakes (in my opinion).
Waffle cons: You only can really make one at a time, whereas with a large enough pan, you can easily make a few pancakes at a time.

Sweet Potato Flax Waffles

Author: Julie Harrington, RD
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 20
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: makes 8 waffles 1x
Category: breakfast, waffles

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