Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Printable)

Hearty casserole with seasoned turkey, sweet potatoes, and vegetables baked with cheese topping.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 ½ lbs lean ground turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 2 cups chopped baby spinach

→ Dairy

07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Liquids

09 - ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Spices & Seasonings

11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
14 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
15 - 1 tsp salt

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. 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 cook for 2–3 minutes until softened and translucent.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds 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 - Add red bell pepper, diced sweet potatoes, dried thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Continue cooking for 8–10 minutes until sweet potatoes are just tender when pierced with a fork.
07 - Remove skillet from heat. Fold in chopped spinach and stir until wilted from the residual heat.
08 - Transfer the turkey and vegetable mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese uniformly over the top.
09 - Bake for 18–20 minutes until the cheese is fully melted, golden brown, and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
10 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and make serving easier.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one skillet before transferring to the oven, meaning minimal cleanup
  • The sweet potatoes become perfectly tender while holding their shape, creating the best texture contrast
  • It reheats beautifully for lunch the next day, possibly tasting even better
02 -
  • Cutting your sweet potatoes into uniform 1/2 inch pieces is the secret to even cooking, otherwise some pieces will be mushy while others stay hard
  • Do not skip the step of letting the mixture cool slightly after adding the spinach, or the vegetables will continue cooking and become too soft
  • The bake is done when the edges are bubbling vigorously and the cheese has started to turn golden in spots
03 -
  • Use a box grater to shred your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded, which melts better and creates that perfect cheese layer
  • If you want extra crispy cheese topping, run the dish under the broiler for the last 2 minutes watching closely

Return