Are you looking for a fun and easy meal? This tasty chicken stuffed baked potato with cheese sauce is a balanced meal of protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates all in one crispy roasted potato!
It’s all about easy comfort foods right now and sometimes a hearty baked potato is just what your taste buds need. There is something utterly irresistible about a piping hot roasted baked potato, especially on those cooler evenings.
You can eat it as is or take it to the next level by turning the potato into a complete meal. Today I wanted to share with you this simple and satisfying recipe for delicious chicken broccoli stuffed baked potato with cheese sauce. All of the ingredients combined create a balanced meal in one edible potato boat. Let’s get stuffing!
How to Bake A Potato In The Oven
- Temperature: I bake the potato at 425°F (which is pretty darn hot) to achieve beautiful golden brown crispy skin.
- Seasoning: Coat the potato with a little olive oil and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper. You can add other seasonings like garlic or onion powder if you like. The skin has a lot of fiber so season the outside for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Prick: Make sure to use the tines of a fork to prick the potato all over about five times. This ensures that the steam can escape while cooking and no potato explosion in your oven.
- Time: It takes about 45 to 60 minutes to cook all the way through depending on the size. A 9 to 11-ounce potato is a good size per person for a filling meal. Use a knife to pierce the center of the to check the doneness. If you feel no resistance, it’s ready!
- Wrap: If you want a softer potato, wrap in foil and follow the same preparation and cooking instructions. The foil also helps keep the potatoes warm if not serving right away.
Open up the potato right before serving and use a fork to scrape and fluff before filling with the other tasty ingredients.
Cheese sauce
For this cheese sauce recipe, we make a blond roux. You want a pale ivory colored roux before adding the milk. Once you add the milk you want to bring it to a boil, then reduce to a medium simmer and continuously whisk.
After about 5 minutes you’ll notice the sauce thicken and become smooth. That’s when you can add some additional seasoning like salt and pepper. I added chipotle chile pepper powder for a little heat. The cheese goes in last, and with a quick stir you’ve got a gorgeous cheese sauce!
I sauteed some chicken breasts simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika. Dice them up, and you are ready to stuff those potatoes! There is no correct method for layering your potatoes, but I like to add some cheese sauce first, so it gets mixed in and oozes out a bit.
Add in a generous amount of spiced chicken, steamed broccoli, and more sauce to your liking. I also like to slice up some green onions to garnish, sprinkle extra paprika and red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
Who’s ready to dig in? What ingredients would you add to your baked potato? If you are a fan of barbecue chicken, you’ll have to check out this stuffed sweet potato recipe. Let me know what stuffing you use in the comments section below. I love to hear about your creations in the kitchen!
Recipe Science
What are the different types of Roux?
Depending on the kind of sauce you want to make will determine the roux to prepare. There are at least three types of roux; white, blond and brown. The cooking time affects the colors of the roux.
- White Roux is cooked the shortest times until frothy. When you want a pale sauce like bechamel or clam chowder, use a white roux. It also has the highest thickening power.
- Blond Roux is more ivory in color with more flavor, like for this cheese sauce.
- Brown Roux is cooked until a darker amber color is reached and nutty aromas are developed. This is great for soups like gumbo. The longer you cook the roux the more the starch granules break down and lose its ability to thicken. Therefore you need more brown roux in a recipe.
Stuffed Baked Potato with Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes, 9 to 11 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for potatoes
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, plus more for seasoning
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
- paprika, as needed for seasoning
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle pepper powder, optional
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 4 cups broccoli florets, cut into smaller 1-inch pieces
Instructions
Baked Potatoes
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly coat the potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Prick potatoes with the tines of a fork about four times. Place on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake potatoes for 50 to 60 minutes, flipping over after 40 minutes of baking until skin is crispy and a knife inserted into the center has no resistance. In the meanwhile make the topping ingredients.
Chicken
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika. Heat a large frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon of oil and allow it to heat up.
- Carefully add the chicken breast and allow it to cook for 6 minutes. Flip to the other side, reduce heat to medium and cook another 6 to 7 minutes, or until no longer pink and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
- Transfer to a clean plate to allow to rest and cool slightly. Once slightly cooled, chop the chicken into ½ inch cubes.
Cheese Sauce
- Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat until foamy. Add flour and whisk to combine until beige paste forms, stir and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes. Add milk and whisk to combine.
- Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil, whisking continuously. Reduce heat to a medium simmer, cook for 5 to 8 minutes, or until sauce is thickened.
- Add in ¼ teaspoon chipotle pepper (optional if you want it a little spicy), ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper, whisk to combine.
- Turn off the heat and slowly add in the cheese, whisk to combine until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Taste and add more seasoning as needed. Set aside.
Broccoli
- In a medium-sized saucepan fitted with a lid, add 1-inch of water to the bottom of the pot and place steamer inside. Bring water to a boil, place broccoli in the steamer and cover.
- Cook until broccoli florets are bright green and tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and lightly season with salt and pepper.
Assembly
- Cut the hot baked potatoes through the center, creating an opening for the toppings. Use a fork to fluff the inside. Fill with cheese sauce, diced chicken, and broccoli.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Valerie C. says
I used the cheese sauce recipe for the broccoli and cheese side dish I made to go with beer battered fish for dinner tonight and it was a huge hit! Instead of chipotle pepper I subbed onion and garlic powder as my daughter doesn’t care for spicy foods.
Jessica Gavin says
Sounds delicious!
Jennifer Arevalo says
I have made this recipe at least four times and it’s delicious every time. The most favored recipe in my rotation!
Question…what would you think about substituting the milk with unsweetened almond milk? And…do you think the recipe could double as a Alfredo recipe by swapping out the potatoes for pasta?
Jessica Gavin says
Awesome! Yes, you can add almond milk, however, the texture won’t be as rich. Yes, you can totally use it for alfredo sauce!
Santorio says
Planning on doing this today for Mother’s Day. Thanks for the amazing recipe.
Autumn says
Hi Jessica,
Will skim milk work for the Roux? That is all I have on hand…
Thanks!
Autumn
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Autumn- Yes, skim milk will work!
Amma says
Made this and it turned out Fantastic!!!
Thank you so much Jessica!
Jessica Gavin says
Yay Amma! I’m so thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the stuffed baked potatoes. I love the cheese sauce 🙂
irene says
Oh my goodness drooling over here!!
Jessica Gavin says
Yay! Now it’s time to pop some spuds in the oven Irene so you can enjoy some at home 🙂
judy says
Hi Jessica, I love knowing this new technique for making sauce. This is going on my grocery list for next week. This week I’m doing your pot pie soup, your chicken crockpot soup and if were still hungry and don’t have enough leftovers I’m going to make the Thai chicken curry. I was at Trader Joe’s yesterday and got the red curry sauce. I might even get some baking ingredients and make some of those delicious cookies you’ve been posting as treats for our great neighbors. have a wonderful day and thank you for sharing all you do and making it an interesting and delightful event in so many other homes. ?Judy
Jessica Gavin says
Yay Judy! I love hove adventurous you are in the kitchen. How did the other recipes turn out? Your comments always make me smile! Have fun in the kitchen 🙂