Savory Ground Turkey Sweet Potato (Printable)
Seasoned turkey and sweet potatoes baked with vegetables and golden cheddar topping
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Vegetables
03 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Dairy
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/4 cup milk
→ Pantry & Spices
10 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
16 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
→ Toppings
17 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and red bell pepper; cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
04 - Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-6 minutes until completely browned and no longer pink.
05 - Sprinkle smoked paprika, dried thyme, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes over the turkey. Stir thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
06 - Add chopped spinach to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until just wilted. Remove skillet from heat.
07 - Place sweet potato cubes in a large bowl and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to coat, then spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
08 - Spoon the turkey and vegetable mixture evenly over the sweet potato layer. Drizzle milk over the entire surface, then sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese uniformly across the top.
09 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes to allow sweet potatoes to begin softening.
10 - Remove foil and return to oven for 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork and cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
11 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Its one of those rare meals that tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep Sundays when you actually have energy to cook
- The sweet potatoes get this incredible creamy texture while still holding their shape, creating the perfect contrast to the savory spiced turkey
02 -
- I once skipped covering with foil during the first bake and my sweet potatoes were still crunchy while the turkey dried out completely
- The milk drizzle seems unnecessary but it is what keeps the sweet potatoes from becoming dry and mealy in the oven
03 -
- Cut your sweet potatoes while the onion cooks to save time without multitasking dangerously
- Letting it rest those 5 minutes seems unnecessary but it is the difference between a neat slice and a sloppy mess