Sweet Potato Turkey Bean Bake (Printable)
Layered sweet potatoes, seasoned turkey, black beans, and melted cheese in a wholesome comforting casserole.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground turkey
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
→ Beans & Tomatoes
06 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
→ Dairy
08 - 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
09 - ½ cup sour cream (optional, for serving)
→ Spices & Pantry
10 - 1 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1 tsp paprika
13 - ½ tsp chili powder
14 - ½ tsp dried oregano
15 - ¾ tsp kosher salt
16 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
17 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (optional garnish)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and diced red bell pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
03 - Add the ground turkey to the skillet along with the ground cumin, paprika, chili powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the turkey is fully browned and no longer pink.
04 - Stir in the drained black beans and drained diced tomatoes. Let the mixture simmer together for about 3 minutes to meld the flavors, then remove from heat.
05 - Spread half of the diced sweet potatoes in an even layer across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon half of the turkey and black bean mixture over the sweet potatoes, spreading it out evenly.
06 - Repeat the layering with the remaining sweet potatoes followed by the rest of the turkey and black bean mixture, distributing everything uniformly across the dish.
07 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the sweet potatoes are just becoming tender when pierced with a fork.
08 - Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return the dish to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling.
09 - Remove the bake from the oven and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes so the layers set. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve with a dollop of sour cream if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pan before it hits the oven meaning less cleanup
- The sweet potatoes become meltingly tender while absorbing all those spiced flavors
02 -
- Sweet potatoes vary in size so cut them into uniform cubes about ½ inch for even cooking
- Drain those diced tomatoes well or your casserole might end up soupy instead of perfectly saucy
03 -
- Use a light coating of cooking spray on your foil so cheese does not stick
- The dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together