Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Printable)

Hearty turkey and sweet potato casserole with vegetables, ready in 60 minutes.

# What You'll 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 lb ground turkey, lean

→ Pantry & Seasonings

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

→ Liquid

13 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth

→ Optional Toppings

14 - 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
15 - 2 tbsp 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 diced onion and minced garlic; sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to 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 diced bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, toss diced sweet potatoes with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.
06 - Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread sweet potatoes in an even layer on the bottom. Spoon turkey and vegetable mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes. Pour chicken broth evenly over the top.
07 - Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
08 - Remove foil, sprinkle with cheddar cheese if using, and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with chopped fresh parsley and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet potatoes become tender and naturally sweet while soaking up all the seasoned juices from the turkey
  • Everything cooks in one dish so you spend less time cleaning and more time eating
  • The leftovers somehow taste even better the next day when the flavors have had time to deepen
02 -
  • Cut your sweet potatoes into evenly sized pieces or some will be mushy while others are still firm
  • Do not skip the foil covering step or the sweet potatoes will dry out before they cook through
  • The cheese layer is optional but it does create a nice crispy top that contrasts with the tender vegetables
03 -
  • Use a mandoline or sharp knife to ensure the sweet potatoes are evenly sized
  • Let the bake rest for the full 5 minutes so the broth absorbs back into the layers

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