Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Print)
A nutritious baked dish combining ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and vegetables topped with melted cheese for an easy family dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Protein
01 - 1 lb ground turkey
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Dairy & Toppings
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Liquids & Base
09 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
→ Pantry & Seasonings
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
15 - 1 tsp salt
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking up with a spatula, about 5-6 minutes. Remove turkey from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil. Sauté onion for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and red bell pepper, cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Stir in diced sweet potatoes, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes to begin softening the potatoes.
05 - Add spinach and cooked turkey back to the skillet. Mix well and cook until spinach is just wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
06 - Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Pour chicken broth evenly over the mixture.
07 - Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly on top of the mixture.
08 - Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes to allow sweet potatoes to cook through.
09 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork and cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
10 - Let casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and make serving easier.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It is one of those rare meals that tastes even better as leftovers the next day
- The sweet potatoes create a natural sweetness that balances perfectly with savory turkey
- Everything cooks in one pan before transferring to the baking dish, making cleanup surprisingly easy
02 -
- Cut your sweet potatoes into small, even pieces so they finish cooking at the same time as the rest of the dish
- Do not skip the foil during the first part of baking or the sweet potatoes may still be firm when the cheese is already browned
03 -
- Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded for better melting and a creamier texture
- Taste the turkey mixture before adding it to the baking dish and adjust the seasonings if needed