Chicken Mashed Potato Nests
on Jun 28, 2021, Updated Sep 09, 2024
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My mom’s Chicken Mashed Potato Nests is an incredible meal that the whole family will enjoy. These are 🧀 cheesy and creamy mashed 🥔 potato nests topped with tender, juicy chicken and sautéed veggies. The whole thing is topped with mozzarella and baked to ooey gooey perfection. The best part about this recipe is that it is really versatile and any ingredients or spices you have on hand will work.
Why You’ll Love Chicken Mashed Potato Nests
This Chicken Mashed Potato Nests recipe combines comforting flavors of creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes with a savory, flavorful 🍗 chicken and vegetable filling. This dish not only looks impressive with its adorable potato “nests,” but it’s also incredibly versatile, allowing you to customize the filling with your favorite protein, veggies, and spices. It’s a perfect all-in-one meal that’s both hearty and satisfying, making it ideal for family 🍽️ dinners or entertaining guests. This recipe delivers a delightful combination of textures and flavors that will please everyone at the table. And who could resist the melty cheese topping?!
How to Prepare
🥔 Peel the potatoes and then place them in a pot of boiling, salted water. Cook until fork tender.
💦 Drain and put the potatoes back into the pot and then use a potato masher to mash them.
🥛 Now, add the cheese, milk, salt, and pepper to taste and combine.
🌀 Let cool slightly and then shape the mashed potatoes into 6 equal size balls. Lightly oil up a baking dish and place them inside.
🥄 With your hands or a spoon make an indent in each one and then set aside.
🔪 Use a knife to cut the chicken into little cubes. Add oil to a large pan and heat it up.
🔥 Once hot, sauté the chicken for 4-5 minutes on medium-high.
🥕 Add your veggies of choice and spices and stir for 2-3 minutes.
🍅 Add the tomato paste and stir and then take the pan off the heat.
♨️ Fill your potato nests with the chicken mixture and then top them with mozzarella and bake in a 425F (220C) oven for 15-20 minutes until melted and golden brown.
Nonna’s Tip 👩🍳
If the potatoes are not forming into balls you may need to add a touch of breadcrumbs to the mixture.
Variations and Substitutions for Chicken Mashed Potato Nests
- You can also make it vegetarian if you leave out the chicken and just sauté a bunch of 🍄 veggies instead.
- Use any protein you like here, such as ground turkey, 🥩 beef, or even tofu for a vegetarian option. Adjust the cooking times as needed based on the protein used.
- Make these Chicken Mashed Potato Nests dairy-free by using your favorite non-dairy milk and cheeses.
Similar Recipes
Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
1 hr 35 mins
One Pan Chicken Dinner
35 mins
Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs
52 mins
Best Served With
- Serve this dish with a light and fresh side 🥗 salad such as my Simple Green Salad or Lemon Parmesan Salad.
- Serve this with fresh 🥖 No Knead Garlic Bread or dinner rolls.
- Instead of mashed potatoes, go lighter and serve this on top of my Cauliflower Mash.
Common Questions
I like using yellow potatoes for the potato nests, because they’re creamy and light. I don’t recommend using russet potatoes here.
Do not add a lot of milk to the potatoes, if you add too much liquid they won’t hold their shape. You can also add some breadcrumbs to the mixture to help keep it firm.
Absolutely! You can make the potato nests and store them covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before filling and baking. You can also freeze them; just thaw them before baking.
Yes, you can use ground turkey, beef, or even tofu for a vegetarian option. Adjust the cooking times as needed based on the protein used.
Yes, you can substitute the milk with a non-dairy alternative like almond or oat milk, and use a dairy-free cheese substitute for both the potato mixture and the topping.
Chicken Mashed Potato Nests
Equipment
Ingredients
Mashed Potatoes
- 10 medium yellow potatoes
- salt and pepper , to taste
- ⅓ cup grated parmigiano
- 1 tablespoon milk
The Chicken
- 3 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ bell pepper, diced
- salt and pepper , to taste
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dry oregano
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, to taste
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and then boil them in salted water until fork tender. Drain and put them back into the pot. Use a potato masher to mash them and then add the cheese, milk, salt and pepper to taste and combine.
- Let cool slightly and then shape the mashed potatoes into 6 equal size balls. Lightly oil up a baking dish and place them inside. With your hands or a spoon make an indent in each one. Set aside.
- Cut the chicken into little cubes and add oil into a pan and heat it up. Once hot, sauté the chicken for 4-5 minutes on medium-high. Add your veggies of choice and spices and stir for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and stir and take it off the heat. Fill your potato nests with the chicken mixture and then top them with mozzarella and bake in a 425F (220C) oven for 15-20 minutes until melted and golden brown.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
