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Ground turkey sweet potato bake fresh out of the oven with golden melted cheese on top

Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake

A hearty, protein-packed one-pan dinner combining savory ground turkey, tender sweet potatoes, warm spices, and melty cheese. Ready in under an hour.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 435
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground turkey 93 percent lean recommended
  • 2 large sweet potatoes peeled and diced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced fresh
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp ground cumin
  • 0.5 tsp dried thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese freshly grated preferred
  • fresh parsley or cilantro chopped, optional garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Aluminum foil
  • Wooden spoon or spatula

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute diced onion for 3 to 4 minutes until soft and translucent.
  3. Add ground turkey and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until just browned. Do not overcook.
  4. Stir in garlic, diced bell pepper, and sweet potatoes. Add smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring to coat everything in spices. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spread evenly, cover tightly with foil, and bake for 25 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and test sweet potatoes with a fork. If not fully tender, cover and bake 5 more minutes.
  7. Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top, and bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and golden. Garnish and serve hot.

Notes

Dice sweet potatoes uniformly at about 1/2 inch for even cooking. Cover with foil during first bake to steam potatoes tender. Test with fork before adding cheese. Freshly grated cheese melts smoother than bagged. Substitute ground chicken or ground beef if needed. Can prepare skillet mixture up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate before baking.