Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Print version)

Hearty casserole with lean turkey, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and melted cheese. Ready in 1 hour.

# Ingredient List:

→ Protein & Dairy

01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Vegetables

04 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
05 - 1 medium onion, diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach, chopped

→ Pantry & Seasonings

09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 tsp dried thyme
11 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1/4 tsp chili flakes
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Liquids

15 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
02 - In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon for 5-7 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, thyme, smoked paprika, and cumin. Transfer turkey to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Sauté onion and red bell pepper until softened for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Stir in diced sweet potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted for 2 minutes.
05 - Return browned turkey to the skillet with vegetables. Pour in chicken broth and mix well. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
06 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Top evenly with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
07 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are tender and cheese is golden. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan before hitting the oven, meaning minimal cleanup and maximum flavor development
  • The sweet potatoes get just tender enough while holding their shape, creating this perfect texture contrast with the creamy melted cheese topping
02 -
  • Dont skip the step of browning the turkey really well, that Maillard reaction is where so much flavor lives
  • Cut your sweet potatoes smaller than seems necessary, they take longer to cook than you expect and you want them tender
03 -
  • Taste the turkey mixture before baking, adjusting salt and spices since you cant fix it once its layered with cheese
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the pre-grated stuff, it melts so much better

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