Description
Hearty ground turkey meets roasted sweet potatoes in this one-pan Mexican-inspired dinner. Zesty spices, melted cheese, and fresh cilantro create a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground turkey
Vegetables and Beans:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) diced sweet potatoes
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 1 tomato, diced
Cheese and Sauce:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) cheddar cheese, shredded
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) sour cream
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) salsa
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Prepare sweet potatoes by dicing into small, uniform cubes approximately 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) in size.
- Place diced sweet potatoes on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a slightly damp paper towel, and microwave on high power for 4-6 minutes until they become tender but not mushy.
- Gently transfer microwaved sweet potatoes to a separate plate, allowing them to cool slightly while preventing overcooking.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream and salsa until smoothly combined, creating a creamy sauce for later use.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add ground turkey, breaking it into small crumbles using a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Cook ground turkey for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently to ensure even browning and prevent sticking, until meat is mostly cooked with slight pink remaining.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet if necessary to reduce greasiness.
- Add partially cooked sweet potatoes, black beans, salt, chipotle chili powder, and ground cumin directly into the skillet with turkey.
- Stir ingredients thoroughly to distribute spices and ensure even cooking.
- Continue cooking the mixture for an additional 3-4 minutes, gently stirring occasionally until sweet potatoes reach desired tenderness and turkey is completely cooked through.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the top of the skillet, allowing it to melt naturally from the residual heat.
- Remove skillet from heat and let it rest for 1-2 minutes to allow cheese to soften.
- Garnish with thinly sliced green onions and freshly diced tomatoes.
- Drizzle prepared sour cream and salsa sauce over the top just before serving.
- Serve hot directly from the skillet, ensuring each portion receives a mix of turkey, sweet potatoes, and melted cheese.
Notes
- Meal prep champions can dice sweet potatoes ahead of time and store in airtight containers for quick weeknight cooking.
- Drain ground turkey thoroughly to reduce excess grease and create a leaner, healthier skillet meal.
- Customize spice levels by adjusting chipotle chili powder – add more for intense heat or reduce for milder flavor profiles.
- Swap ground turkey with ground chicken or lean beef if preferred, maintaining similar cooking techniques and preparation time.
- Leftover skillet tastes fantastic when reheated and can be stored in refrigerator for up to 3 days in sealed containers.
- Fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley can replace green onions for an unexpected bright flavor boost.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 482 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg