When I made these Basil Chicken and Bacon Stuffed potatoes for dinner, The Artist said, “It’s like Chicken Tetrazzini stuffed into potatoes.” It hadn’t occurred to me, but he was right. A simple white sauce seasoned with delicious herbs and cheese. And it was darn good!
Potatoes on their own are low in calories, high in fiber, and full of vitamins and minerals. I love potatoes and they are good for us – bonus! If I am having a bad day, all The Artist has to do is present me with potato chips, French fries, hash browns, anything made with potatoes, and I instantly feel better.
Steaming hot potatoes, hot from the oven and ready for stuffing
When I was diagnosed with gluten-intolerance, pasta – the staple of The Artist’s life and his true comfort food – was immediately removed from my life. Meals that I had made for most of my life had to be reinterpreted and reworked without flour. It caused me to have to push out of my comfort zone and get creative. In many cases we now prefer the new preparation to the original.
I chose to use Gourmet Garden’s Italian Herbs and Basil, but you could use any flavor combinations you enjoy. It is extremely easy to change the flavor profile. If you want to make this a vegetarian meal, leave out the chicken and bacon. I really liked the crunchiness of the bacon on the top, so if you leave it out, I recommend you add some nuts, croutons, or other similar textural component.
You can also change the cheeses you use. I like the simplicity of cheddar and Parmesan, but if you love feta, try that. A bleu cheese would add a nice piquant quality, and a pepper Jack would add a spicy kick. What’s your favorite combination?
This would be a really fun idea for a party. You can bake the potatoes early in the day and keep them warm in a low oven. You could make a couple versions of this, changing the seasoning to give more options. Set out a series of toppings and let people add their favorites. They can all customize their meals and it makes your job super easy.
If you serve this with a simple salad, I think it would be very popular for a ladies’ luncheon, showers, or kids’ parties. The potato and cheese sauce are very rich, so keep any side dishes very simple. I used jumbo potatoes and neither The Artist nor I could finish ours. Next time I will use smaller potatoes.
This is a great meal for a quick weeknight meal. You can use leftover chicken or meat from a rotisserie chicken from your grocer. Just take it off the bones and cut into chunks or strips, then toss into the sauce and dinner is ready.
I love the flavor and texture of oven-baked potatoes, but we don’t always have the time to cook them that way. If time is short, you can cook the potatoes in a microwave. I have gotten so used to the microwaved version that having a “real” baked potato is a true treat!
The Artist doesn’t care for bacon – how is that possible? More bacon for me!!
I did the simplest preparation by splitting the potatoes in half lengthwise. But if you want a more elegant version of twice-baked potatoes, take a look at the latest issue of Food and Wine. Their technique instructs you to take a slice off the top of each baked potato and scoop out the filling from that opening. It is definitely a much more attractive presentation, but either way works just fine. And I don’t know about you, but I like an easy, casual presentation most of the time.
I hope you give these Basil Chicken and Bacon Stuffed Potatoes a try – I am already planning on a repeat appearance at our dinner table! Have a fabulous day!! 
Key Ingredients for Basil Chicken and Bacon Stuffed Potatoes:
- Russet potatoes
- Bacon
- Cooked boneless chicken breast or rotisserie chicken
- Butter
- Flour or gluten-free flour blend
- Milk
- Basil and Italian herb seasoning
- Shredded white Cheddar cheese
- Grated Parmesan cheese
PRO Tip:
Make sure you use Idaho Russet potatoes for this dish. You want a starchy potato that bakes up light and fluffy. Russets are absolutely perfect!
Shortcut!
If you don’t have time to bake the potatoes in the oven or are in more of a hurry, just microwave them. The skins won’t be as crispy but the centers will be perfect in just a few minutes.
How to make Basil Chicken and Bacon Stuffed Potatoes:
- Rub olive oil on the potatoes, sprinkle with salt and bake until tender
- Cook the bacon and drain on paper towels; cut the chicken into cubes
- Whisk the melted butter and flour together, then add the milk and cook until thick and creamy
- Add herbs to the sauce then whisk in the cheeses
- Fold most of the bacon pieces and all of the chicken into the sauce; season to taste with salt and pepper as needed
- Cut open the potatoes and scoop out the centers; mix the potato centers and the cheese sauce together and spoon back into potato skins
- Sprinkle with extra cheese and put under broiler until melted and bubbling; sprinkle the tops with the reserved bacon and serve
Kitchen Tools I Use to Make This Recipe: (affiliate links)
Gluten-Free Tips:
Use your favorite gluten-free flour blend to make the white sauce and double check that the bacon you use is gluten-free. Gourmet Garden seasonings are all gluten-free.
Basil Chicken and Bacon Stuffed Potatoes (GF)
Try these Basil Chicken and Bacon Stuffed Potatoes for a delicious and filling weeknight meal. It's like a basil Alfredo sauce with chicken and bacon stuffed into a baked potato. So good!
Ingredients
Potatoes and Filling
- 4 medium-sized Russet potatoes, scrubbed thoroughly and rinsed well; patted dry
- Organic olive oil
- Kosher or fine sea salt
- 1/2 lb (about 6 slices) bacon, diced
- 1 large cooked boneless chicken breast (rotisserie chicken is fine)
Sauce
- 1/2 stick (4 tbsp) butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
- 1-1/2 cup milk
- 3 tsp Gourmet Garden Basil or freshly minced basil
- 2 tsp Gourmet Garden Italian Herbs or 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black or white pepper
- 1 cup shredded white Cheddar, plus more for topping
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Water, if needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Place potatoes on a baking sheet, rub olive oil all over until evenly coated, and sprinkle tops with salt. Bake for about 1 hour or until soft when squeezed gently.
- Make the Cheesy Chicken Filling: While the potatoes are baking, in a large skillet, cook the bacon pieces over medium heat until crispy and browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Cover with additional paper towels to absorb all the extra grease.
- Cut the cooked and cooled chicken into small bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until no lumps remain. Cook for about 3 minutes until the mixture has lost its raw flour aroma and is just beginning to color. Remove pan from the heat, and whisking constantly, slowly pour in the milk. Return to the heat and when thickened, creamy, and smooth, whisk in the basil and Italian seasoning. Stir in the Cheddar and Parmesan, whisking until melted. Add water if needed to get a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Fold most of the bacon pieces and all of the chicken into the cheese sauce. You will use the reserved bacon pieces for garnishing. Taste the sauce and add salt and/or pepper if needed. Keep warm over very low heat, stirring occasionally. If the sauce thickens up as it sits, whisk in some water to thin it.
- Fill the Baked Potatoes: When the potatoes are ready, remove the baking sheet from the oven and turn the broiler on.
- Make a cut lengthwise in the top of each potato and use hot pads to squeeze from the ends to expose the centers. Spread the potatoes open fairly wide, leaving them on the baking sheet. Scoop out most of the cooked centers from each potato, transferring the centers to a large mixing bowl. Rake the insides of the potatoes to loosen the remaining filling in the skins.
- Add the cheese sauce to the bowl with the potato centers, stirring until blended. Spoon some of the filling into each potato, sprinkle with the extra cheese, and place the baking sheet back under the broiler until golden brown and bubbly, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Use tongs to transfer potatoes to serving plates or bowls; sprinkle the tops with reserved bacon. Serve immediately.
- Extra cheese sauce/filling can be served over cooked pasta or rice for a second meal.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 598Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 863mgCarbohydrates: 74gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 31g
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This post was first shared in March 2014. The article was updated in 2020.
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