Sweet Potato Turkey Bake (Printable)

Layered sweet potatoes, seasoned turkey, black beans, and melted cheese in a hearty comforting casserole.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Beans

06 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Dairy

07 - 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
08 - ½ cup sour cream (optional, for serving)

→ Spices and Pantry

09 - 1 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 tsp ground cumin
11 - 1 tsp paprika
12 - ½ tsp chili powder
13 - ½ tsp dried oregano
14 - ¾ tsp salt
15 - ¼ tsp black pepper
16 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and diced red bell pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
03 - Add the ground turkey to the skillet along with ground cumin, paprika, chili powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, for 5 to 6 minutes until the turkey is fully browned and no longer pink.
04 - Stir the drained black beans and drained diced tomatoes into the turkey mixture. Simmer for 3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
05 - Spread half of the diced sweet potatoes in an even layer across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon half of the turkey and black bean mixture over the sweet potatoes, spreading it evenly.
06 - Repeat the layering with the remaining sweet potatoes, followed by the remaining turkey and black bean mixture, distributing everything evenly across the dish.
07 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are nearly tender when pierced with a fork.
08 - Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return the dish to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
09 - Remove from the oven and let the bake rest for 5 to 10 minutes to set. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve with sour cream on the side if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan before hitting the oven, meaning less cleanup and more flavor development
  • The sweet potatoes get tender and almost creamy while still holding their shape perfectly
02 -
  • Drain those tomatoes thoroughly or you'll end up with a watery bake instead of distinct layers
  • Cutting sweet potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes is the difference between perfectly tender pieces and crunchy undercooked bits
03 -
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking—this recipe moves quickly once the stove is on
  • If the cheese starts browning too fast, tent loosely with foil for the last few minutes

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