Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Printable Version)
A hearty casserole featuring lean ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and vegetables baked with aromatic spices for a nutritious meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground turkey
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 2 cups baby spinach
→ Pantry & Spices
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
15 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
→ Toppings
16 - 1/2 cup shredded cheese
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
04 - Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 5-6 minutes.
05 - Add smoked paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
06 - Stir in diced sweet potatoes and pour in chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes begin to soften.
07 - Fold in baby spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute.
08 - Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
09 - Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top if desired.
10 - Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
11 - Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender and top is golden brown.
12 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pan before transferring to the oven, meaning minimal cleanup and maximum flavor development
- The sweet potatoes become tender without turning mushy, holding their shape beautifully in every bite
02 -
- Dicing your sweet potatoes into uneven sizes will result in some pieces being mushy while others remain crunchy, so take the time to cut them uniformly
- The broth amount might look like too much liquid initially, but the sweet potatoes absorb most of it while baking
03 -
- If your sweet potatoes are particularly large, use just one and a half to maintain the right ratio of meat to vegetables
- Letting the dish rest for the full five minutes before serving allows the juices to redistribute