Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Print Layout)

Hearty baked casserole with seasoned ground turkey, tender sweet potatoes, and vegetables. Ready in 1 hour for a comforting, nutritious meal.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
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 pound lean ground turkey

→ Pantry & Seasonings

07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Liquids

13 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth

→ Optional Toppings

14 - 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
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 the ground turkey to the skillet. Cook, breaking 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 the 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 seasoned sweet potatoes in an even layer on the bottom. Spoon the turkey and vegetable mixture evenly over the potatoes. Pour the chicken broth evenly over the top.
07 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes.
08 - Remove the foil and sprinkle with cheddar cheese if using. Bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, 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 parsley and serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sweetness from the potatoes balances perfectly with the savory seasoned turkey creating those bite moments that make everyone go quiet
  • Everything cooks in one dish so you spend less time cleaning and more time actually enjoying your evening
  • It is one of those meals that tastes even better the next day, making lunch something to look forward to
02 -
  • Cutting your sweet potatoes into consistently sized cubes is absolutely crucial because uneven pieces mean some will be mushy while others stay hard
  • The foil cover during the first half of baking is what steams the sweet potatoes tender, so do not be tempted to skip this step or they will never cook through properly
03 -
  • If your sweet potatoes seem particularly large or thick, cut them into slightly smaller pieces to ensure they cook through in the same time as the turkey
  • Letting the dish rest for those full five minutes before serving is not optional, it helps the liquids redistribute so everything is not soupy when you scoop it

Return