Description
Hearty ground turkey sweet potato casserole brings comfort and flavor to family dinner tables. Protein-packed layers meld with creamy sweet potatoes, creating a wholesome meal you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground turkey
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10 oz/280 g) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend)
- 1 small onion, diced
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth (or water)
- ½ cup (50 g) crumbled feta or cotija cheese (optional)
- 1 ½ cups (45 g) baby spinach (optional, for extra greens)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Workspace: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Sauté Protein: In a large skillet, brown ground turkey over medium heat, incorporating onion and garlic until fragrant and vegetables are translucent.
- Season Mixture: Enrich the skillet contents with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Build Casserole Base: Fold in black beans, diced tomatoes, spinach, and sweet potatoes, then introduce chicken broth to create a hearty, moisture-rich mixture.
- Simmer and Soften: Cover and allow ingredients to meld together, gently cooking until sweet potatoes become tender and flavors intensify.
- Layer and Cheese: Transfer the seasoned turkey and sweet potato blend into the prepared baking dish, then generously sprinkle cheddar and feta/cotija cheeses across the surface.
- Bake and Finish: Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, uncovered, and bake until cheese melts completely and develops a golden, bubbly crust.
- Garnish and Serve: After a brief cooling period, scatter fresh cilantro over the top and serve this comforting, nutrient-packed casserole while still warm.
Notes
- Ensure ground turkey is completely browned without pink spots for food safety and better flavor development.
- Cut sweet potatoes into uniform, small dice to guarantee even cooking and prevent mushy or undercooked pieces.
- Grate cheese freshly for better melting and more even coverage across the casserole surface.
- Substitute ground turkey with plant-based crumbles for vegetarian version, or use lean chicken for variation in protein choice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg