Got no time but need something healthy? This Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake is gonna be your new go-to dinner! I stumbled on this recipe when I was tryna find something that’s both filling and good for you. The combo of lean ground turkey and sweet potatoes creates this amazing texture and flavor that’s seriously addictive. Plus, it’s super simple to throw together on busy weeknights when you just can’t even. Keep reading cuz I’m gonna share all my tips to make this dish absolutely perfect!
Why You’ll Love This Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake
First off, this dish solves that whole “what’s for dinner” stress. You know when it’s 5pm and you’re staring at the fridge with no ideas? Yeah, this recipe fixes that.
I made this for my family last month when my sister was visiting with her kids. Everyone – even my picky nephew who hates “orange food” – cleaned their plates. That never happens!
What’s awesome about this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake is how you can switch it up based on what you got in the pantry. No turkey? Use chicken. Want it spicier? Add more chili flakes. It’s basically impossible to mess up.
Now let’s get into the good stuff – how to actually make this delicious Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Sweet Potato Base:
- 3 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds) – these give the dish that amazing natural sweetness. Look for firm ones with no soft spots.
- 2 tbsp olive oil – helps everything roast nicely, but avocado oil works too if that’s what you got
- 1 tsp garlic powder – gives depth without having to chop fresh garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste – don’t skimp here, sweet potatoes need good seasoning!
For the Turkey Mixture:
- 1.5 pounds ground turkey – I use 93% lean, but honestly whatever’s on sale works fine
- 1 medium onion, diced – yellow onions are my fave but red works too
- 2 bell peppers (any color), chopped – I usually go with 1 red and 1 green for color
- 3 cloves garlic, minced – fresh is way better than powder for this part
- 2 tbsp tomato paste – this adds richness and umami, don’t skip it!
- 1 tsp cumin – gives that warm, earthy flavor
- 1 tsp chili powder – adjust depending on how spicy you like things
- 1/2 tsp paprika – smoked paprika is amazing if you have it
- 1/4 tsp cayenne (optional) – for heat lovers only!
For the Topping:
- 1 cup shredded cheese – I usually use cheddar but monterey jack or mexican blend is awesome too
- Fresh cilantro for garnish – skip if you’re one of those people who think it tastes like soap
- Greek yogurt or sour cream for serving – adds creaminess and cools things down
If you’re gluten-free, good news! This Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake is naturally gluten-free. For dairy-free peeps, just skip the cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.
How to Make Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake
Step 1: Prep the Sweet Potatoes
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. This high temp gets those sweet potatoes nice and caramelized.
- Wash your sweet potatoes well. I don’t usually peel mine cuz the skin has nutrients, but you can if you want.
- Cut sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Try to keep them roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Place them on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Toss everything till the sweet potatoes are evenly coated. Spread them out – crowding = steaming instead of roasting.
Step 2: Roast the Sweet Potatoes
- Put the baking sheet in the oven and roast for about 20-25 minutes. You want them fork-tender but not mushy.
- About halfway through, give them a stir so they brown evenly.
- You’ll know they’re done when the edges start to get a bit crispy and caramelized. The inside should be soft enough to pierce easily with a fork.
Step 3: Cook the Turkey Mixture
- While the sweet potatoes are roasting, grab a large skillet and heat it over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground turkey and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until it’s no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the diced onion and bell peppers to the turkey. Cook for another 5 minutes until the veggies start to soften.
- Throw in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds till it’s fragrant. Don’t burn it or it gets bitter!
- Stir in the tomato paste and spices (cumin, chili powder, paprika, cayenne if using). Cook for 1-2 minutes to toast the spices – this makes a huge difference in flavor!
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. The mixture should be well-seasoned and flavorful.
Step 4: Combine and Bake
- Once the sweet potatoes are done, take them out of the oven but keep the oven on.
- Transfer the roasted sweet potatoes to a 9×13 baking dish and spread them evenly.
- Pour the turkey mixture over the sweet potatoes and gently mix to combine. Don’t overmix – you don’t want to mash the sweet potatoes.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- If you want a more golden top, broil for the last 2-3 minutes, but watch it closely so it doesn’t burn!
When it’s done, the Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake should be bubbling around the edges with a gorgeous melty cheese top. Let it cool for about 5 minutes before serving – it’s literally lava-hot right outta the oven!
Tasty Variations to Try
Mediterranean Version
Switch up the spices to oregano and basil, add some diced zucchini, and top with feta cheese instead of cheddar. Finish with fresh lemon zest after baking for brightness.
Tex-Mex Style Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake
Add a can of black beans (drained), use taco seasoning instead of the individual spices, and top with pepper jack cheese. Serve with avocado slices and lime wedges.
Asian-Inspired
Use ginger and garlic instead of the spices, add some chopped bok choy with the peppers, and drizzle with a mixture of soy sauce and honey before baking. Skip the cheese and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Breakfast Bake
Make this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake for breakfast by adding some spinach to the turkey mixture and creating little wells in the casserole before the final bake. Crack eggs into these wells and bake until the eggs are set but yolks are still runny.
Buffalo Style
Add 1/4 cup buffalo sauce to the turkey mixture, use blue cheese instead of cheddar, and serve with a drizzle of ranch dressing and chopped celery on top.
Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Large skillet
- 9×13 baking dish
Ingredients
- For the Sweet Potato Base:
- 3 medium sweet potatoes about 2 pounds, cubed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Turkey Mixture:
- 1.5 pounds ground turkey 93% lean
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 bell peppers chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Topping:
- 1 cup shredded cheese cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- Greek yogurt or sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Wash and cube sweet potatoes, then toss them in olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Roast for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and caramelized.
- While sweet potatoes roast, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Add onion and bell peppers, cooking for 5 minutes until soft.
- Add garlic, tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and cayenne. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer roasted sweet potatoes to a 9×13 baking dish. Top with turkey mixture and mix gently. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve with Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking?
I don’t usually soak my sweet potatoes for this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake, but soaking can help remove excess starch which gives you crispier edges when roasting. If you’ve got time, soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes, then pat them super dry before tossing with oil and spices. It’s not necessary but can level up the texture if you’re looking for more crispy bits.
Can I bake raw ground turkey?
Technically yes, but I don’t recommend it for this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake. Pre-cooking the turkey on the stovetop gives you better texture and lets you drain any excess fat. It also ensures the turkey is cooked through properly and seasoned well. When you cook raw ground turkey directly in a bake, it can sometimes turn out rubbery or release too much liquid that makes everything soggy.
How to make ground turkey and potatoes?
The basic method for ground turkey and potatoes (or sweet potatoes) is pretty simple! First, roast your potatoes with oil and seasonings until they’re tender. Meanwhile, brown your ground turkey in a skillet with onions, garlic, and whatever seasonings you like. Combine everything in a baking dish, add some cheese if you want, and bake until bubbling and delicious. This Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake follows exactly that method but with specific seasonings that work amazingly together. Check out my full recipe above for all the details!
Is it better to bake sweet potatoes in foil or not?
For this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake, definitely don’t use foil since we’re cubing the sweet potatoes. But generally speaking, it depends what texture you’re going for. Wrapping whole sweet potatoes in foil traps moisture and steams them, giving you a softer, wetter texture. Baking them unwrapped gives you a crispier skin and a slightly drier, fluffier interior which is usually better for most recipes. I prefer unwrapped for almost everything, including when I’m prepping sweet potatoes for this bake.
Should you poke holes in sweet potatoes before baking?
When baking whole sweet potatoes, absolutely yes! Poking holes allows steam to escape and prevents them from exploding in your oven (trust me, that’s a mess you don’t wanna clean up). But for this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake recipe, we’re cutting them into cubes, so no poking required! The small pieces allow steam to escape naturally during roasting.
Tips for the Perfect Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake
- Don’t overcrowd your baking sheet when roasting the sweet potatoes. If they’re too close together, they’ll steam instead of roast and won’t get those delicious crispy edges.
- Season at every stage! The sweet potatoes need seasoning, and so does the turkey mixture. This builds layers of flavor.
- Use a meat thermometer if you’re unsure about the turkey – it should reach 165°F to be safe.
- For meal prep, you can roast the sweet potatoes and cook the turkey mixture a day ahead, then just assemble and bake when ready to eat.
- Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld together.
If you’re loving this healthier comfort food, you gotta check out my Juicy Turkey Leg Recipe for another amazing turkey dish. Or try these Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers which are perfect for summer grilling!
Storing and Reheating Your Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake
This recipe makes awesome leftovers! Store any extra in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, you can microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes, but for best results, reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes until heated through.
You can also freeze this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake! After baking, let it cool completely, then portion it out and freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
The Perfect Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake for Busy Weeknights
There’s something so satisfying about pulling a bubbling Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake outta the oven after a long day. I first made this recipe when I was super busy with work and needed something that would give me leftovers for a few days.
My neighbors stopped by right as I was taking it out of the oven, and the smell literally made them invite themselves to dinner! Now whenever we have neighborhood potlucks, this is what everyone requests I bring.
What I love most about this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake is how it walks that line between healthy and comforting. The sweet potatoes give it this amazing natural sweetness that balances perfectly with the savory turkey and melty cheese.
Don’t be afraid to make this recipe your own! Play with the spices, try different veggies, or switch up the cheese. Cooking should be fun and adaptable to what you have and what you like.
I hope this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake becomes a regular on your dinner table just like it has on mine. Enjoy!
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