Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Printable version)
Hearty bake with lean turkey, sweet potatoes, and melted cheese for a comforting gluten-free meal.
# What you need:
→ 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 (about 1.5 lb)
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 (optional)
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 with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon for 5–7 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, dried thyme, smoked paprika, and ground cumin. Transfer turkey to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Sauté diced onion and red bell pepper until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in diced sweet potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
05 - Return browned turkey to the skillet with vegetables. Pour in chicken broth and mix thoroughly. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until liquid slightly thickens.
06 - Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading evenly. Top with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese in an even layer.
07 - Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes to allow vegetables to cook through.
08 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork and cheese is golden and bubbly.
09 - Let casserole cool for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and make serving easier.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one skillet before hitting the oven, meaning minimal cleanup and maximum flavor development
- The sweet potatoes become tender and almost creamy in the oven, while the cheese gets perfectly golden and bubbly
02 -
- Dicing the sweet potatoes uniformly is crucial because larger pieces will still be crunchy when smaller ones are already soft
- The covered baking step steams the sweet potatoes, while the uncovered step creates that irresistible cheese crust
03 -
- Prep all your vegetables before starting to cook because the steps move quickly once the heat is on
- Use a box grater to shred your own mozzarella instead of buying pre-shredded cheese for better melting