Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up: A Simple and Delicious Family Dinner

Are you looking for a quick and healthy dinner that’s both nutritious and satisfying for the whole family? This Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up is a delicious option!

Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up combines the smooth, fluffy sweetness of baked kumara (sweet potato), tender chicken, fresh spinach, and the rich, salty flavor of pesto to create a balanced, flavorful meal with minimal time and effort!

This recipe is versatile and easy to make. You can use leftover rotisserie chicken, shredded chicken, or a freshly baked/sauteed chicken breast.

And you can make your own pesto to use up a bountiful herb harvest, or buy pre-made from the store.

Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up is perfect for a busy weeknight, hosting company, or a cozy family dinner. It’s naturally gluten-free, and easy to adapt to dairy-free if you opt for dairy-free pesto. And it’s made with simple, real food ingredients that you can feel good about serving to your kids.

It’s a meal that’s both wholesome and packed with flavor. And since my kids love it, it is a regular in our autumn/winter dinner rotation, since that’s when sweet potatoes are in season.

I hope you give it a try and enjoy it as much as we do! Let me tell you what you’ll need to know!

Here’s What is Coming in this Post:

What are Kumara?

Kumara is the term used in New Zealand (where I live) for a Sweet Potato.

Where I grew up in Washington State (USA), this sweet, root crop vegetable was also called a “Yam,” although I believe that term in referencing this type of root crop is specific to North America.

Kumara come in several different colors. I can buy them with orange skins and an orange interior, or I can get them with a reddish/purple skin and a white interior.

They come in a variety of sizes – from just a few inches long to close to a foot! (Anywhere from 7-10 cm to 25-28 cm) Sometimes they are long and more tube-shaped, other times they are round and more spherical.

You can use any color of kumara/sweet potato/North American yams for this recipe. You can also use any size, you’ll just need to cut large kumara into smaller chunks to cook evenly.

And you’ll need to plan more than one kumara per person if they are smaller than a serving size for your family members.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up:

You only need 7 ingredients to make this dinner (if you buy pre-made pesto). It’s so simple! Here’s what you’ll need for your family:

• kumara (sweet potatoes) – I like to plan one medium size kumara per person (about 230 grams / 8 ounces)
• fresh baby spinach – about 1/2 cup per person (15 grams / 0.5 ounces)
• cooked chicken (rotisserie, shredded, or baked/sauteed chicken breast) – about 1/2 cup per person (65 grams / 2.3 ounces)
• pesto (homemade fresh or store bought) – about 2 Tablespoons per person (30 grams / 1 ounce)
• olive oil – about 1 teaspoon per person
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up:

It’ll take about 55 minutes total to pull this dinner together, but it is a slow-paced dinner prep. So don’t be intimidated! You just need that much time to prep and cook the kumara.

Step 1: Prepare the Kumara (Sweet Potato):

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Wash and dry the kumara. Pierce each one a few times with a fork to allow steam to escape while baking.
• Line a baking sheet with baking paper for easy clean up.
• Place the sweet potatoes directly on a baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes or until soft and tender when pierced with a fork.
• Note: if you have extra large kumara, cut any big kumara into serving-size portions for your family.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken (if not using leftovers):

• If using fresh chicken, season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and a bit of olive oil.
• Sautee or bake the chicken until cooked through (about 7-8 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 165°F/75°C).
• Shred the chicken once it cools slightly.

Step 3: Assemble the Pile-Up:

• Once the kumara is baked and soft, cut a slit along the top of each sweet potato to create a “cup.”
• Gently open the sweet potato and fluff the inside with a fork.
• Pile fresh baby spinach on top of the open kumara. The warmth of the sweet potato will help the spinach wilt slightly.
• Add a generous serving of shredded chicken on top of the spinach.
• Drizzle with pesto to finish.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy:

• Serve immediately while the kumara is still warm and the pesto is slightly melted into the layers.
• Garnish with additional herbs or a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired.

Tips & Variations for Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up:

There are multiple ways to tweak this recipe slightly to make delicious options! Here are some of our favorites:

• Pesto options: Try different types of pesto, like sun-dried tomato pesto or homemade pesto made using mint and parsley, to change up the flavor.
• Extra toppings: Add some crumbled feta or goat cheese, nuts (like pine nuts or walnuts), or even a squeeze of lemon for extra zest.
• Make it vegan: Swap the chicken for chickpeas or a plant-based protein of your choice, and use a dairy-free pesto.
• Turn it into a salad: Do you have cold, leftover baked kumara? Swap the order of the pile up, and use some extra spinach to make the base a spinach salad with chunks of chilled kumara and chicken, and a pesto dressing to top it off! We do this for a simple summer dinner option.
• Do-Ahead Kumara Prep: for a do-ahead option, wash your kumara, place them in a single layer in your crock pot, cover with the lid, and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours. No piercing, no added water.

What to Serve with Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up:

To be honest, when I’m in a hurry, ALL I serve is Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile Up! It’s got a starch, protein, and vegetables, which makes it a healthy, well-rounded meal in my book!

But if I’m serving this meal to company or I have a little more time to invest in a side dish, some delicious accompanying options are:

• cucumber and onion salad
• cucumber and tomato salad
• greek salad
• zesty super green salad
• caesar salad
• carrot and raisin salad
• roasted vegetables (green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, etc)
• herb and garlic focaccia
• tropical ambrosia salad

Why You’ll Love This Stuffed Sweet Potato Pesto Chicken Recipe:

I really think you’ll enjoy this Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up if you give it a try. We’ve served it to a variety of guests, and although it is a simple meal, it always gets rave reviews!

Specifically, I think you’ll love this meal because it is:

• Easy & Quick: Ready in about an hour, this meal comes together with minimal effort.
• Customizable: Whether you’re using leftovers or cooking fresh chicken, this dish is flexible and can be adapted to your family’s preferences.
• Healthy: Packed with vitamins, fiber, and protein, this dinner is nutritious without compromising on flavor.

Happy Cooking!

The Kumara Chicken Pesto Pile-Up is the perfect dinner for busy families who crave a healthy, delicious, and satisfying meal.

With tender sweet potatoes, juicy chicken, fresh spinach, and vibrant pesto, this recipe is bound to become a regular in your weeknight rotation.

It is easy, requires minimal hands-on time, and is something the whole family enjoys. And if you have early eaters, it is a meal that is easy to serve to little ones with minimal mastication abilities!

Give it a try and see how quickly it becomes a family favorite!

And if you love it, would you come back and comment on the this recipe, share it on Pinterest or via your favorite social media platform, and tell your friends?

I would love for families to have delicious, healthy, easy meal options to enjoy together!