Sweet Potato Turkey Bean Bake (Printable Version)
Hearty baked sweet potato, turkey, and black bean casserole with melted cheddar. Gluten-free and high protein.
# What You 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 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - ½ teaspoon chili powder
11 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 1 teaspoon salt
13 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
15 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish (optional)
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
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.
03 - Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
04 - Stir in the diced sweet potatoes and cook for an additional 3 minutes, allowing them to lightly sear.
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.
06 - Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 10 minutes. This allows the spices to meld and the sweet potatoes to begin softening.
07 - Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Transfer the entire skillet mixture into the dish, spreading it into an even layer.
08 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow the sweet potatoes to continue cooking through.
09 - Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly across the top. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10 - Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro or parsley if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It is a complete meal in one pan which means fewer dishes and zero stress about side dishes.
- The sweet potatoes get creamy and golden while soaking up all the smoky spices.
- Leftovers taste incredible which makes it perfect for packing into lunches all week long.
02 -
- Cut your sweet potato cubes no larger than one centimeter or they will still be firm after baking.
- Do not skip the covered baking step because that steam is what cooks the sweet potatoes through properly.
03 -
- If you want more heat dice a fresh jalapeno into the vegetable mix or dash some hot sauce over your individual portion.
- For meal prep divide the bake into six containers right after it cools and grab one on your way out the door each morning.