{Nourish} Build-Your-Own Smokey Chicken and Kraut Stuffed Sweet Potato

Taco Tuesday got a make-over and I am loving it. Sweet potatoes and tacos make regular appearances in our house so the first time I stumbled upon a build-your-own stuffed sweet potato, I was eager to recreate it. Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, this Chicken and Kraut Stuffed Sweet Potato is festive and easy to create. With mix-and-match toppings, everyone can build-their-own adventure and the leftovers, they’re as good, if not better, than the first bite.

 

How to Roast Potatoes

Roasting potatoes is super easy. I tend to do this step ahead of time during my early week meal-prep because my oven is already on, though you can bake or roast them on their own as well. My motto, “If my oven’s on, use it”. So, when I’m baking chicken, vegetables or a frittata, I add some whole potatoes to the fray so I am maximizing my oven use and planning ahead for the rest of the week

Roasting Instructions

For small to medium potatoes, which you will want to use in this recipe, preheat your oven to 425. Using a fork, poke holes in the sweet potato and place in a baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on it’s size. You’ll know it is ready when it’s squeezable, a very technical term. In others words it will be soft. You can test this by inserting a knife through the center – there should be little resistance. 

Try this

Japanese Sweet Potatoes are my latest obsession. White on the inside and less sweet than a traditional sweet potato, they roast up beautifully and taste divine.

Swap

Don’t like sweet potatoes, you can use a traditional russet baking potato and the recipe will be just as yummy!

Create Your Taco Base

The nice thing about a recipe like this is that there are so many variations available. You can swap the ground chicken for pulled or diced chicken, beef, pork, or even fish. 

Vegetarian Tacos

Skip the meat and opt for a traditional base like rice and beans or get creative with a southwest seasoned crumbled tofu that would be delicious with the seasonings in the recipe below. 

Taco Toppings

Toppings make any dish better, don’t they? This is the fun part. Here are a few of my favorite taco/potato toppings that you could use for this recipe. I’m envisioning a stuffed potato party with a table full of toppings for everyone to choose from! Wether you are cooking for yourself or a group, you can make it feel fun. 

• Ground chicken, turkey or beef
• Rice and Beans
• Salsa
• Guacamole or sliced avocado
• Shredded Cheese
• Plain Greek Yogurt or Light Sour Cream
• Cilantro or Scallions
• Peppers and Onions
• Radishes 
• Cabbage Slaw, Kraut or Pickled Vegetables

Health Benefits of Kraut

Let’s be clear, the kraut I used in this recipe is a far cry from the version your grew up eating on your hotdog at a baseball game. Crunchy, and bold in flavor, this is the good stuff, people! Plus it’s teaming with healthy bacteria. Lacto-fermentation creates many of the same strains of good bacteria (probiotics) naturally found in your gut, making live culture fermented foods like sauerkraut, miso, kefir and fermented vegetables some of the best sources of probiotics. A diet rich in probiotics can contribute to a healthy microbiome (the community of trillions of bacteria that live within and around us). Plus, sauerkraut or fermented vegetables are naturally rich in prebiotic fiber, which feeds the healthy bacteria so they can thrive.

Health Benefits of Probiotics

While we still have a lot to learn, we now know that our gut health is directly related to our overall health. Here are a few compelling reasons to support the colony of healthy bacteria in your digestive tract:

o   Regulate immune system and prevent disease

o   Boost energy production & support a healthy metabolism

o   Assist with absorption of vitamins and minerals

o   Improve digestion

o   Aid in brain and mood funtions

About Farmhouse Culture Brand

Farmhouse Culture, a brand I am thrilled to be working with, crafts organic, naturally fermented food and beverages, from bold-flavored Krauts, Fermented Vegetables and Gut Shots, to first-of-their-kind probiotic-rich Kraut-based tortilla chips (Kraut Krisps). To explore products, learn more about probiotics and gut health, or find your nearest store provider, visit www.farmhouseculture.com.

Meal Prep Tips

This Chicken Taco and Kraut Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe was made for meal prep. Here are a few tips to get your started. 

• Roast potatoes or sweet potatoes ahead of time and store in the fridge for 3-4 days
• Cook the taco meat and store in the fridge for 3-4 days
• Make the salsa and store in the fridge for 3 days. No time to make salsa, buy it!
• Chop herbs and vegetables and store in the fridge for 3 days