Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Printable Version)
Hearty casserole with lean turkey, sweet potatoes, and vegetables topped with melted cheese
# What You'll Need:
→ Protein
01 - 1 lb ground turkey
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1.5 lbs)
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
# Preparation 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 fully cooked through, breaking up with a spatula, about 5-6 minutes. Remove turkey from skillet and set aside on a plate.
03 - In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil. Sauté chopped onion for 2-3 minutes until softened and translucent. 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 for 1-2 minutes until spinach is just wilted.
06 - Transfer the turkey and vegetable mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Pour chicken broth evenly over the entire mixture.
07 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese evenly across the top of the casserole.
08 - Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes to steam the sweet potatoes until tender.
09 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and golden brown, and sweet potatoes are completely tender when pierced with a fork.
10 - Let casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to set and make serving easier.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Its the kind of meal that makes your entire house smell like comfort and home
- You get a complete balanced dinner in one pan with practically zero effort
02 -
- Dont skip the step of covering with foil first or your sweet potatoes might still be crunchy when the cheese is already burned
- Letting it rest for those 5 minutes after baking makes a huge difference in how cleanly it serves up
03 -
- Cut your sweet potatoes into evenly sized pieces so they all finish cooking at the same time
- Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the pre grated stuff for way better flavor