Sweet Potato Turkey Bake (Print View)
Hearty baked casserole with sweet potatoes, ground turkey, black beans, and melted cheese.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb lean ground turkey
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1.5 lbs)
03 - 1 large red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 medium red onion, diced
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
→ Beans
06 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
→ Pantry Staples & Seasonings
07 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
08 - 1 tsp ground cumin
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - ½ tsp chili powder
11 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
12 - 1 tsp salt
13 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 2 tbsp olive oil
15 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish (optional)
# Method:
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 ground turkey and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until evenly browned and no pink remains.
03 - Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables have softened and become fragrant.
04 - Stir in the diced sweet potatoes and cook for an additional 3 minutes, allowing them to lightly coat in the seasonings and begin softening at the edges.
05 - Add the drained black beans, diced tomatoes with their juice, ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
06 - Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the sweet potatoes to begin tenderizing.
07 - Pour the entire mixture into the prepared 9x13-inch baking dish, spreading it out into an even layer.
08 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. This steams the sweet potatoes, helping them cook through evenly.
09 - Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese evenly across the top. Return to the oven uncovered and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Serve hot.
# Insider Tips:
01 -
- It tastes like you spent all day cooking but the hands on time is shockingly short.
- The leftovers actually get better as the flavors settle overnight in the fridge.
02 -
- Cut your sweet potatoes no larger than 1 cm cubes or they will not soften properly during the bake.
- Do not skip the covered baking step because the steam is what finishes cooking the sweet potatoes without drying everything out.
03 -
- Let the bake rest for at least 5 minutes after removing it from the oven so the cheese sets slightly and servings hold together better.
- Rinsing the black beans until the water runs completely clear prevents the dish from taking on a murky, cloudy appearance.