Description
This Healthy Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake is a nutritious and flavorful one-dish meal combining lean ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and spinach, seasoned with warm spices and optionally topped with low-fat cheese. It’s perfect for a wholesome family dinner or meal prep with simple ingredients and straightforward baking.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Liquids and Cheese
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature while you prepare the ingredients.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing until the onion becomes translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Cook Turkey: Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and fully cooked through.
- Season Turkey: Sprinkle paprika, ground cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper over the turkey. Stir well and cook for another 1-2 minutes to develop flavors.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in chopped spinach and diced sweet potatoes, mixing thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Add Broth and Simmer: Pour in low-sodium chicken broth, bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook for about 5 minutes to start softening the sweet potatoes.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Move the turkey and sweet potato mixture into a greased baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Add Cheese: If using, sprinkle shredded low-fat cheese evenly over the top of the mixture.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and Continue Baking: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are fork-tender and cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and let the bake cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can omit the cheese or use a vegan cheese alternative to make this dish dairy-free.
- For added flavor, consider adding fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro before serving.
- This bake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated.
- Feel free to swap ground turkey with ground chicken or lean beef if preferred.
- Make sure sweet potatoes are diced evenly for uniform cooking.
