Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Printable)

A nutritious one-dish meal featuring seasoned turkey, sweet potatoes, and vegetables topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1 pound 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 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
15 - 1 teaspoon salt

# How-To Steps:

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 on a plate.
03 - Add remaining olive oil to the same skillet. Sauté chopped onion for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and diced red bell pepper, cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Stir in diced sweet potatoes, dried thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes to begin softening the potatoes and bloom the spices.
05 - Add chopped spinach and cooked turkey back to the skillet. Mix well and cook until spinach is just wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
06 - Transfer the turkey and vegetable mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Pour chicken broth evenly over the mixture.
07 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
08 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes to allow sweet potatoes to steam and tenderize.
09 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are fork-tender and cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
10 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and make serving easier.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan before transferring to the baking dish, meaning minimal cleanup maximum flavor
  • Sweet potatoes become tender and naturally sweet while absorbing all those savory herbs and spices
  • The cheese topping creates this incredible golden crust that makes the whole house smell amazing
02 -
  • Cut your sweet potatoes into fairly uniform pieces about 1/2 to 3/4 inch so they all cook at the same rate
  • The foil step is crucial because sweet potatoes take longer to cook than everything else in the dish
  • If the cheese is browning too fast before the potatoes are done tent the foil loosely over the top
03 -
  • Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded it melts better and doesn't have anti-caking agents
  • Taste the turkey and vegetable mixture before transferring to the baking dish you can always adjust seasoning now

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