Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet is a quick, flavor-packed dinner ready in 30 minutes or less!
Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
After a week of cookie testing (and maybe some Eclair Cake), I needed some protein and veggies! Enter Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet.
I had ground turkey in the fridge meant for mini Turkey Meatloaves (a family favorite!), but I was missing a few veggies. With sweet potatoes to use up, I tossed them together ground turkey and my favorite taco seasoning.
And just like that—dinner perfection!
You can add garlic, onion, or more veggies if you’d like, but the goal here is quick prep. Microwaving the sweet potatoes first makes chopping a breeze. This dinner can truly be on the table in 30 minutes or less!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato dinner:
- Seasonings: Chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder bring a warm, smoky flavor.
- Olive Oil: Adds richness and flavor.
- Ground Turkey: Use lean (93/7) turkey or swap with ground beef—both work great!
- Black Beans: Rinse well to remove extra starch and salt.
- Cheddar Cheese: Freshly grated melts better. Sharp or extra-sharp adds the best flavor.
- Sweet Potatoes: Details below.
Sweet Potatoes
- Shortcut: Microwaving sweet potatoes keeps prep fast and easy. They turn out tender with soft skins that peel off quickly.
- Prep: Pierce each potato a few times with a fork to let steam escape.
- Choose Small Potatoes: Pick 5-6 ounce potatoes for quicker cooking (5-8 minutes).
- Cooking Time: Larger or multiple potatoes need more time. Check doneness by piercing the center with a fork—it should slide in easily.
- Alternative Methods: Bake using this Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe or try these Roasted Sweet Potatoes instead.
Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Serving Suggestions
- Add Sauce: Skip the cheese and use the sauce recipe in the notes for creaminess. Or serve with cheese and the sauce for maximum flavor!
- Make it Creamy: Add avocado, sour cream, or plain Greek yogurt.
- Serve Over a Base: Serve over white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice.
- Add Freshness: Top with cilantro, parsley, and/or a squeeze of lime.
- Try Add-Ins: For extra flavor, add onion, garlic, corn, bell peppers, or cherry tomatoes.
Storage
- Fridge: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Store in portions for up to 3 months; thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat: Warm in a skillet or microwave.
- Meal Prep: Skip the cheese when storing; add it fresh before reheating.
More 30-Minute Meals:
- Chicken Stir Fry with a simple stir-fry sauce
- Chow Mein an easy vegetarian recipe
- Rotisserie Chicken Tacos simple taco-seasoned chicken
- Egg Roll in a Bowl with lots of veggies
- Greek Beef Bowl with hummus and veggies
Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet is your go-to for a hearty, delicious meal that’s ready fast.
Equipment
- Large skillet non-stick
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes 2 small potatoes; see note 1
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey or ground beef (93/7)
- Salt and pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Toppings as desired see note 2
- Cooked rice optional for serving
Instructions
- Wash and pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork (about 9 times). Microwave for 5 minutes, flip, and microwave for another 3-5 minutes until tender (a knife should slide through easily). Let cool slightly, peel, and dice into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Measure out seasonings.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the meat with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add meat to the skillet and brown one side, then flip to brown the other (1 minute per side). Break the meat into small crumbles using a wooden spoon. Add the seasoning mix and stir until fully incorporated. Continue cooking until the meat is browned and any fat has cooked off. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
- Add diced sweet potatoes and black beans to the skillet. Stir to combine. Sprinkle cheese over the top, cover, and let it melt for 3-4 minutes. If needed, broil for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Top with cilantro, lime, avocado, or sour cream as desired. Serve alone or over cooked rice.
Video
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Use small 5-6 oz potatoes for faster cooking.
Note 2: Add fresh lime and cilantro to individual bowls for a burst of flavor. For creaminess, try diced avocado, sour cream, or this quick sauce:
- Mix 1/2 cup mayo, 3 tbsp lime juice, 1/4 tsp lime zest, 1/8 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp hot sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Drizzle over servings.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 41.4g | Protein: 40.6g | Fat: 21.7g | Cholesterol: 100.5mg | Sodium: 760.4mg | Fiber: 10.7g | Sugar: 5.1g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Looking forward to making this! How can I prepare the potatoes without a microwave? How long should I bake them in the oven?
I’d use this recipe and stir them in at the end!
I didn’t use a microwave, just peel and cut the sweet potatoes add to the meat add some broth, I use veg. broth. Cooks fast.
Easy and delicious! Always a winner at our house.
Thanks so much Jan! 🙂
I want to see the reviews of this disk
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WOW!!! This was a surprising treat! I, my husband, and our very picky 5 year old LOVED it. I left out the ceyenne pepper and black pepper, but otherwise followed the recipe and only addition was a dollop of sour cream in each bowl. We’ve only had takeout twice since the pandemic started, and I am SO tired of cooking and coming up with stuff to cook. This was so simple to make and made me feel like I was being treated to a really tasty dish from a restaurant. This will definitely be added to our menu every few weeks. Thank you so much for the joy this brought us tonight! You just never know when a blog post you send out into the universe is going to make someone’s day so much better! Keep up the good work! 🙂
I am thrilled to hear this! Thank you so much Beth! 🙂
I made this tonight for my family and it was a hit! Delicious! It will certainly become a dish we will keep on our dinner rotation. Thank you! Yum!
I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks Sylvia! 🙂
We loved this recipe! It was really easy to make even with a 1 year old in my other arm. I made some noodles to put underneath to stretch the recipe a little bit because we loved it so much. Even the 1 year old enjoyed it.
So glad to hear it! Thanks Nicole 🙂
I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
So happy you enjoyed 🙂 Thank you!
Super easy and sooooo delicious! Definitely making this one again. There was sheer chaos going on with my toddler while making this meal and honestly it didn’t matter. It was so easy to put together. Very little mess and one pan!!
I am so happy to hear Angelina! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Could you use something other than ground turkey? Would it be good with ground sausage instead? Just curious by boyfriend loves sausage. Love all of your recipes! Thanks! (:
I haven’t tried anything else, but I don’t see why sausage (or ground beef) wouldn’t work! 🙂 I do think ground beef would go better with the seasonings, so if you use ground sausage, you may want to change those seasonings up a bit 🙂
I love all the receipes. I have tried several from Chelsea’s Receipes they are never a disappointment!
I am so happy to hear this Diane! Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂