Sweet Potato Turkey Black Bean Bake Recipe
This Sweet Potato Turkey Black Bean Bake is a hearty and flavorful one-dish meal combining roasted sweet potatoes, seasoned ground turkey, black beans, and melted cheese. Enhanced with fire-roasted tomatoes and taco seasoning, it's perfect for a healthy family dinner, topped with fresh cilantro, avocado, and jalapeño ranch for a delicious southwestern twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Southwestern
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 cups)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Turkey Mixture
- 1 lb ground turkey (can substitute ground beef or chicken)
- 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeds removed, and diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 oz) can fire roasted tomatoes, with juices
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Toppings
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack or cheddar cheese
- Additional chopped cilantro
- Sliced green onions
- Sliced avocado or guacamole
- Jalapeño ranch dressing
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting the sweet potatoes and baking the assembled dish.
- Roast the sweet potatoes: Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Toss them with olive oil, salt, and black pepper to evenly coat. Spread the potatoes in an even layer, allowing some overlap if needed. Roast in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until they become tender.
- Cook the turkey mixture: While the sweet potatoes roast, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, diced onion, and diced red bell pepper. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the turkey is fully cooked and the vegetables are softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add garlic and simmer: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the fire-roasted tomatoes with their juices, rinsed black beans, and taco seasoning. Stir well to combine and let it simmer for 5 minutes to meld the flavors. Remove from heat and stir in the chopped cilantro.
- Assemble the bake: Spoon the cooked turkey and bean mixture evenly over the roasted sweet potatoes in the baking dish. Then sprinkle the shredded Monterey jack or cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.
- Finish and serve: Remove the dish from the oven. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, slices of avocado or dollops of guacamole, and drizzle with jalapeño ranch dressing. Serve warm for a comforting, flavorful meal.
Notes
- To speed up prep, you can roast the sweet potatoes ahead of time and reheat before assembling.
- Feel free to swap ground turkey with ground chicken or beef as preferred.
- Adjust the amount of taco seasoning and jalapeño ranch to control the spice level.
- Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.
- For a dairy-free version, omit cheese or use a dairy-free cheese substitute.