Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Printable)
Hearty bake with seasoned turkey, sweet potatoes, and vegetables baked to tender perfection.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Protein
06 - 1 lb ground turkey, lean
→ Pantry & Seasonings
07 - 2 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1 tsp dried thyme
10 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
11 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
12 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Liquid
13 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
→ Optional Toppings
14 - 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese (omit for dairy-free)
15 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F for baking.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic; sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Season with smoked paprika, dried thyme, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
04 - Stir in the diced red bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, toss diced sweet potatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.
06 - Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread the sweet potatoes in an even layer on the bottom. Spoon the turkey and vegetable mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes. Pour the chicken broth evenly over the top.
07 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
08 - Remove the foil and sprinkle with cheddar cheese if using. Bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
09 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with chopped fresh parsley and serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It hits that magical sweet spot between comfort food and something that actually makes you feel good afterward
- The way sweet potatoes caramelize underneath while soaking up all those seasoned juices is something else entirely
02 -
- I learned the hard way that cutting sweet potatoes unevenly means some pieces turn to mush while others stay crunchy
- Skipping the foil step results in dried-out potatoes, so do not try to shortcut this part
03 -
- Use a box grater to shred your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded for better melting
- Add a pinch of cayenne with the other spices if your family likes a little kick