Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake (Printable)

Wholesome baked dish featuring seasoned turkey, sweet potatoes, and vegetables in a savory casserole perfect for easy weeknight dinners.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 3 cups)
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 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
10 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
11 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1/4 tsp chili powder (optional)
13 - 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
15 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

→ Toppings (optional)

16 - 1/2 cup shredded dairy-free cheese or regular cheddar cheese
17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper, sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
03 - Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes.
05 - Stir in smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, cumin, chili powder (if using), salt, and pepper. Mix well.
06 - Add the diced sweet potatoes to the skillet. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes begin to soften.
07 - Stir in the baby spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
08 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon olive oil.
09 - Sprinkle with shredded cheese, if using.
10 - Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
11 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender and the top is golden.
12 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Its a complete meal in one dish so you save time on cleanup and planning
  • The sweet potatoes naturally thicken the sauce as they cook creating the most incredible velvety texture
  • Everything bakes together so the flavors meld into something greater than the sum of its parts
02 -
  • Cut your sweet potatoes into similar sized pieces or some will be mushy while others are still hard
  • The broth should almost completely absorb during simmering so the bake isn't watery
  • If you're using regular cheese instead of dairy free cover the dish with foil sooner so it doesn't burn
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife and steady hand when dicing sweet potatoes because they can be tricky to cut through
  • Don't skip the step of letting the sweet potatoes simmer in the broth first or they'll stay crunchy in the oven

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