Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Print)

Hearty turkey and sweet potato bake with vegetables, melted mozzarella, and parmesan cheese for ultimate comfort.

# What You Need:

→ Protein & Dairy

01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Vegetables

04 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
05 - 1 medium onion, diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach, chopped

→ Pantry & Seasonings

09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 tsp dried thyme
11 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Liquids

15 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
02 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon for 5-7 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, thyme, smoked paprika, and cumin. Transfer turkey to a plate and set aside.
03 - Add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the same skillet. Sauté onion and red bell pepper until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in diced sweet potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
05 - Return browned turkey to the skillet with vegetables. Pour in chicken broth and mix well. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
06 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Top evenly with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
07 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender and cheese is golden. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet potatoes get meltingly tender while absorbing all those spiced turkey juices
  • Everything cooks in one pan before it even hits the oven, meaning minimal cleanup
  • Its one of those rare meals that feels indulgent but still leaves you feeling energized
02 -
  • Cut your sweet potatoes into similar sized pieces so they cook evenly, nothing worse than some chunks still crunchy while others turn to mush
  • Do not skip the foil covered baking time, the sweet potatoes need that steamy environment to get tender before the cheese browns
03 -
  • Taste your sweet potato mixture before baking and adjust the spices, the flavor intensifies in the oven but you want a solid base to start
  • Let the casserole rest before serving, it seems unnecessary but those 10 minutes make the difference between a messy scoop and perfect portions

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