This Sweet Potato and Ground Turkey Bake is a wonderfully hearty and healthy casserole that comes together so easily for a perfect weeknight dinner. It’s a simple, satisfying skillet meal that finishes in the oven, filling the whole house with a cozy aroma.
My dad, James, always appreciated a hearty meal after a long day. This warm casserole, with its savory turkey and sweet potatoes, is the kind of simple, comforting food he truly cherished. It feels like a hug in a dish, just like his.
Why This Casserole Has a Special Place in My Recipe Box
- A Meal for Everyone: This is a wholesome and comforting dish that appeals to both kids and adults with its savory and slightly sweet flavors.
- Simple from Start to Finish: You only need one skillet and a baking dish, which makes preparation and cleanup wonderfully simple.
- Just as Good the Next Day: This casserole tastes fantastic as leftovers, making it an excellent choice for planning your meals ahead of time.
What You’ll Need for This Hearty Bake
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
My Trusted Kitchen Helpers
A Good, Heavy Skillet
A good, heavy skillet is my trusted friend for browning the turkey and softening the onions and garlic perfectly before everything goes into the oven.
A Classic 9×13-inch Baking Dish
This is the perfect size for spreading the casserole out, ensuring the sweet potatoes cook evenly and you get a wonderfully golden, cheesy top.
Bringing This Cozy Meal to Life, Step by Step
First, Building a Foundation of Flavor
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease your baking dish. In your skillet, warm the olive oil over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic until they’re soft and beautifully fragrant.
Second, Browning the Turkey with Love
Add the ground turkey, breaking it apart as it cooks. Once it starts to brown, stir in all those warm spices—the paprika, cumin, thyme, salt, and pepper, and cook until it’s perfectly browned.
Third, Adding a Touch of Sweetness
Now, stir the diced sweet potatoes and chicken broth into the skillet. Let everything simmer together for about 5 minutes. This gives the potatoes a little head start on becoming wonderfully tender.
Fourth, Tucking It All In
Carefully transfer the beautiful mixture from your skillet into the baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle that lovely shredded cheese all over the top.
Finally, Baking to a Golden Finish
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and let it bake for another 10-15 minutes, just until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling happily. Let it rest for a moment, then garnish with fresh green onions and parsley before serving.
A Gentle Note on Nutrition
Please remember that the nutritional values provided are an estimate and can vary based on the specific ingredients and quantities you use. This information is meant to be a helpful guide.
Little Swaps for a Lighter Meal
- Try a Different Lean Protein: While ground turkey is lovely, ground chicken works just as beautifully for a similar healthy profile.
- Welcome More Greens: Feel free to stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach or kale during the last few minutes of cooking the turkey for extra goodness.
- For a Dairy-Free Dish: If you need a dairy-free alternative, you can use a plant-based shredded cheese or simply leave the cheese off. It’s still delicious!
Ideas for Serving at Your Table
- Alongside a Crisp Salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette offers a wonderful, fresh contrast to the warm and hearty casserole.
- With a Cool Dollop of Creaminess: We love to serve each portion with a spoonful of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt for a cool, tangy finish.
- Over a Bed of Fluffy Grains: For an even more filling meal, this bake is wonderful served over a bed of quinoa or brown rice.
My Best Tips for a Perfect Bake
- Give the Potatoes a Head Start: Don’t skip simmering the sweet potatoes in the skillet. It’s the secret to making sure they are perfectly tender in the final casserole.
- Don’t Be Shy with Seasoning: The spices are what bring the ground turkey to life. Seasoning it well as it browns ensures the flavor sings in every single bite.
- The Magic of a Foil Tent: Baking the casserole covered at first is crucial. It traps steam and helps cook the sweet potatoes all the way through without letting the cheesy top get too brown too soon.
How to Store and Savor Leftovers
To store leftovers, allow the casserole to cool completely before covering it or transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply warm individual portions in the microwave or reheat the entire dish in a 350°F oven until heated through.
From My Kitchen to Yours
There is so much love baked into a simple casserole. It’s the kind of food that gathers a family and makes a house feel like a home. I hope this Sweet Potato and Ground Turkey Bake brings as much warmth and comfort to your table as it does to mine. May it be the start of new, delicious memories for you and yours.
Your Questions, Answered with a Smile
“Sarah, can I use ground beef instead?”
Of course! You can certainly substitute ground beef if you prefer. It will create a slightly different, but still absolutely delicious, flavor for this hearty meal.
“Can I get a head start and make this ahead of time?”
You certainly can. You can assemble the entire casserole, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time since it will be starting from cold.
“Is this recipe gluten-free?”
Yes, as written, this recipe is naturally gluten-free. As always, if you have a high sensitivity, just be sure to double-check that your chicken broth is certified gluten-free.
Print
Sweet Potato and Ground Turkey Bake
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Sweet Potato and Ground Turkey Bake is a simple, hearty casserole that brings a quiet warmth to the dinner table. It’s a nourishing, all-in-one meal, layering tender sweet potatoes and savory ground turkey under a lovely blanket of melted cheese. This skillet-to-oven recipe is perfect for a cozy and healthy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook until softened and fragrant.
- Stir in ground turkey, breaking it apart as it cooks. Season with smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Cook 6-7 minutes until browned.
- Add diced sweet potatoes and chicken broth. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes to soften the potatoes slightly.
- Transfer mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let rest for a few minutes before garnishing with green onions and parsley.
Notes
This casserole is naturally gluten-free (check broth to confirm). Great for meal prep and can be stored up to 4 days. Add extra veggies like spinach or bell peppers for variety, or swap in lean ground chicken. For a dairy-free option, use plant-based cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: sweet potato, ground turkey, casserole, healthy dinner, weeknight meal