Campfire BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes – A Smoky, Cheesy, Fully Loaded Campground Meal

Picture this: perfectly baked potatoes, fluffy and hot from the campfire, split open and piled high with smoky BBQ chicken, melted cheese, and all your favorite toppings. These Campfire BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes are the ultimate fully loaded campfire dinner – hearty, satisfying, and endlessly customizable.

This recipe is designed for camp cooking at its most fun and delicious. Using your campfire, charcoal, or gas grill, you can achieve perfectly baked potatoes with crispy skins and fluffy insides, then stuff them with a smoky BBQ chicken mixture that’s packed with flavor. It’s a fantastic way to use up leftover grilled chicken, making it a brilliant example of smart meal planning and food storage. Plus, everyone can build their own perfect potato, making it a fun and interactive dinner that’s sure to please a crowd.

Recipe Card

Instructions

1. Prepare Your Campfire or Grill: Build a campfire and let it burn down to a bed of hot coals. If using a charcoal grill, light your briquettes and wait until they’re covered with white ash. For a gas grill, preheat to medium heat (about 375°F).
2. Prepare the Potatoes: Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry. Pierce each potato several times with a fork to allow steam to escape. Rub the potatoes with butter or olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt. This helps create crispy, flavorful skins.
3. Cook the Potatoes: Wrap each potato individually in aluminum foil. Place them directly on the hot coals, on a grill grate over the coals, or on your gas grill. Cook for approximately 45-60 minutes, turning occasionally, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes and the heat of your fire.
4. Prepare the BBQ Chicken: While the potatoes are cooking, combine the shredded chicken and BBQ sauce in a medium bowl. Toss until the chicken is well coated. Set aside.
5. Assemble the Stuffed Potatoes: Carefully remove the potatoes from the fire using tongs. Let them cool slightly, then unwrap them. Slice each potato lengthwise and gently squeeze the ends to open it up. Fluff the inside with a fork.
6. Fill and Top: Divide the BBQ chicken mixture evenly among the potatoes. Top with shredded cheese and return the potatoes to the grill (wrapped in foil) for 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese.
7. Add Toppings and Serve: Remove from the grill and top with your favorite toppings like sour cream, bacon bits, green onions, cilantro, or jalapeños. Drizzle with extra BBQ sauce and serve hot.

Tips Section

• Choosing the Right Potatoes: Russet potatoes are the best choice for baking – they have thick skins that get perfectly crispy and fluffy insides. Yukon Golds are a good second option.
• Perfectly Baked Potatoes on a Campfire: The key to perfectly baked potatoes is even heat. If using a campfire, place the potatoes in the hot coals, not directly in the flames. Rotate them every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking. If using a grill, place them on the cooler side of the grill and close the lid.
• Using Leftover Chicken: This recipe is perfect for using up leftover grilled chicken from a previous BBQ recipe or rotisserie chicken. This is a great way to practice food storage and reduce waste.
• Adding Smoky Flavor: For an extra layer of smoky flavor, try baking the potatoes directly on the coals without foil. The skins will get charred and smoky, adding incredible depth to the dish. If using a gas grill, you can add a foil packet of soaked wood chips to create smoke.
• Speeding Up Cooking: To speed up the cooking time, you can microwave the potatoes for 5-7 minutes before wrapping them in foil and finishing them on the campfire. This is a great trick for busy camping days.

Variations

• Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Potatoes: Swap the BBQ sauce for buffalo wing sauce and add crumbled blue cheese. Top with ranch dressing for a spicy, tangy twist.
• Pulled Pork Stuffed Potatoes: Swap the chicken for leftover pulled pork. The smoky, tender pork pairs beautifully with the fluffy potatoes and cheese.
• Southwest Veggie Stuffed Potatoes: Skip the meat and fill the potatoes with black beans, corn, bell peppers, and onions. Top with pepper jack cheese and serve with salsa and avocado.
• Loaded Baked Potato Version: Fill the potatoes with cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and green onions. Serve with sour cream and butter for a classic loaded baked potato.
• Breakfast Stuffed Potatoes: Fill the potatoes with scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon, and cheese. Top with salsa and serve for breakfast or brunch.

Storage Instructions

• How to Store Leftovers: Allow any leftover potatoes and filling to cool completely. Store them separately in airtight containers in your RV refrigerator for up to 3 days. The potatoes will soften, but the flavors will still be delicious.
• Reheating Without Sogginess: The best way to reheat stuffed potatoes is in a skillet or on a grill over medium heat until warmed through. You can also reheat them in a toaster oven. Microwaving is quick but will make the potato skins soft.

FAQ Section

Can I use sweet potatoes instead of russet potatoes?
Yes, sweet potatoes work beautifully! They have a slightly sweet flavor that pairs wonderfully with the smoky BBQ chicken. Adjust the cooking time accordingly – sweet potatoes may take a little less time to bake.

What if I don’t have a campfire or grill?
You can bake the potatoes in a conventional oven at 400°F for 45-60 minutes. If you’re at a campsite with a propane stove, you can use a Dutch oven with coals on top and bottom to bake them. The Omnia stovetop oven is another great option for baking potatoes on a propane stove.

Can I add other vegetables to the filling?
Absolutely! Sautéed bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or corn are all delicious additions to the filling. Just cook them before adding to the chicken mixture. This is a great way to use up vegetables from your cooler space.

How can I make this recipe dairy-free?
You can use dairy-free cheese and sour cream alternatives. There are many plant-based options available that melt and taste just as delicious. Just make sure to check the labels for ingredients that work well with high heat.

What should I serve with these stuffed potatoes?
These stuffed potatoes are a complete meal on their own, but they pair well with a simple green salad, coleslaw, or grilled vegetables. For a fun camping dinner, serve them with corn on the cob and baked beans. This is a fantastic, filling meal that everyone will love!