Chicken Mashed Potato Bowl

Creamy mashed potatoes, juicy seasoned chicken, and rich gravy all in one bowl. Need I say more?! This Chicken Mashed Potato Bowl is comfort food done right! It’s warm, filling, and exactly the kind of dinner that makes you slow down and savor every bite.

I absolutely love a good comfort food moment. Sometimes my mood affects what I am going to eat (like everyone, right?), and these mashed potato bowls can really hit the spot for those comfort food cravings. They are familiar and deeply satisfying, especially during chilly months! I guess they might be loosely based off of the KFC mashed potato bowls, but I prefer a chicken gravy instead of brown gravy.

I use my cheesy mashed potatoes, crispy air fryer chicken bites, and an easy homemade chicken gravy to build the ultimate mashed potato chicken bowl. It’s simple, but when everything comes together in one bowl? Absolute magic. Add a veggie (corn is my go-to), and you’ve got a complete meal!

Chicken Mashed Potato Bowl Ingredients

Mashed Potatoes

• Russet potatoes: Fluffy and perfect for mashing! You can also use Yukon gold potatoes.
• Milk: For moisture and creaminess!
• Butter: For added richness.
• Cheeses: I like to make my mashed potatoes cheesy with cream cheese, cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese!
• Garlic: For a subtle savory flavor!
• Salt & black pepper: Season to taste.

Chicken Bites

• Chicken breasts: Simple and easy, use chicken breast diced into chunks.
• Cornstarch: Helps create crispy edges!
• Spices: You’ll just need Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley, thyme and salt!

Gravy

• Butter: Creates a rich base.
• Shallot: Diced finely for a gentle onion flavor.
• Chicken broth: This is the only liquid you need to make chicken stock gravy at home!
• Cornstarch slurry: To thicken the gravy!
• Thyme, salt & pepper: To season.
  

For Serving

• Corn or any vegetable you love!

Variations & Substitutions

• Chicken: Use rotisserie chicken or frozen chicken nuggets if you’re short on time!
• Potatoes: If you don’t want to mash your own potatoes, you can buy store-bought mashed potatoes or even the frozen ones from Trader Joe’s!
• Seasoning: Swap Cajun seasoning for Italian seasoning or ranch seasoning. As long as the chicken is well seasoned, it will be delicious.
• Dairy: Make it dairy-free using plant-based butter, milk, and cheese alternatives.

How to Make Chicken Mashed Potato Bowls

Boil the Potatoes: Peel the russet potatoes and cut them into large chunks. Add them to a pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook for 12–15 minutes, or until fork-tender.

Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and pat dry. Add them to a bowl and toss with the cornstarch, salt, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley, and thyme until evenly coated.

Cook the Chicken: Lightly spray the air fryer with cooking oil. Place the chicken bites in the air fryer basket in an even layer without overcrowding the basket. Air fry at 390°F for 8–10 minutes, shaking halfway through.

Mash the potatoes: Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the milk, butter, cream cheese, minced garlic, and salt and pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy. Add in the cheeses and stir well.

Make the Gravy: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced shallot and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the chicken broth, salt, pepper, and dried thyme, and bring to a gentle simmer. Whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering broth while whisking. Cook for 2–3 minutes more, until the gravy thickens.

Assemble the Bowls: Add a big scoop of mashed potatoes to each bowl. Top with the chicken, spoon generous amounts of gravy over everything, and finish with corn or veggies of your choice. Serve immediately.

Topping Ideas for Mashed Potato Bowls

Turn your mashed potato chicken bowl into a loaded mashed potato bowl with extra toppings like:

• Crispy bacon bits
• Extra shredded cheese
• Chopped green onions
• Sour cream
• Hot sauce or chili oil

How to Store Leftover Chicken Mashed Potato Bowls

Store each component in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also meal prep the bowls into containers and keep the components together. Reheat gently in the microwave and enjoy!

Mashed Potato Bowls FAQs

More Dinner Recipes to Try

• Sweet Potato Taco Bowl
• Cooked Salmon Poke Bowl
• Mediterranean Meatball Bowl
• Chicken Fajita Bowls

Mashed Potato Chicken Bowl Recipe

Creamy mashed potatoes, juicy seasoned chicken, and rich homemade gravy come together in this cozy Chicken Mashed Potato Bowl. Warm, filling, and deeply comforting, this is an easy all-in-one dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights or chilly evenings.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 3 to 4 bowls (depends on how hungry you are!)

Calories: 875

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

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For the mashed potatoes

• 4 russet potatoes
• 3 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 4 ounces cream cheese half a package
• 1 garlic clove minced
• ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper

For the chicken

• 2 large chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cajun seasoning
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• ¼ tsp thyme

For the gravy

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 shallot diced small
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Salt to taste depending on how salty your broth is.
• ⅛ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2-3 tbsp water before adding to gravy
• Serve with corn or any other veggie you want

Method

 

1. Boil the Potatoes: Peel the russet potatoes and cut them into large chunks. Add them to a pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook for 12–15 minutes, or until fork-tender.
2. Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and pat dry. Add them to a bowl and toss with the cornstarch, salt, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley, and thyme until evenly coated.
3. Cook the Chicken: Lightly spray the air fryer with cooking oil. Place the chicken bites in the air fryer basket in an even layer without overcrowding the basket. Air fry at 390°F for 8–10 minutes, shaking halfway through.
4. Mash the potatoes: Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the milk, butter, cream cheese, minced garlic, and salt and pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy. Add in the cheeses and stir well.
5. Make the Gravy: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced shallot and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the chicken broth, salt, pepper, and dried thyme, and bring to a gentle simmer. Whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering broth while whisking. Cook for 2–3 minutes more, until the gravy thickens.
6. Cook the Veggies: Prepare corn or your preferred vegetables according to package directions or your favorite method.
7. Assemble the Bowls: Add a big scoop of mashed potatoes to each bowl. Top with the chicken, spoon generous amounts of gravy over everything, and finish with corn or veggies of your choice. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 875kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 52gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 25gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 215mgSodium: 3286mgPotassium: 1951mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1914IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 398mgIron: 4mg

Notes

• Salt the potato water well! This seasons the potatoes from the inside and makes a huge difference in flavor.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Give the chicken space so it crisps instead of steaming.
• Use whatever veggies you like best. I like to use frozen veggies like corn or mixed vegetables, but you can also steam some green beans or broccoli!
• Mash while hot! Warm potatoes absorb dairy better, giving you smoother, creamier mashed potatoes.

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