Description
This Cheesy Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet is a wholesome and flavorful one-pan meal, featuring lean ground turkey, tender sweet potatoes, and gooey melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe combines savory and slightly sweet elements with optional spicy chili flakes and fresh parsley for garnish.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Vegetables
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound free-range extra-lean ground turkey (or grass-fed ground beef)
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ½ cup onions, diced
- ½ cup yellow pepper, diced
- 1½ cups sweet potato, diced
Seasonings and Garnishes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- A pinch of red chili flakes (optional)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (omit for Whole30 or Paleo)
- Fresh parsley, for garnishing (optional)
Instructions
- Heat Skillet: In a cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the turkey and vegetables.
- Cook Turkey: Add the ground turkey and minced garlic to the skillet. Break up the turkey with a spatula as it cooks for about 5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in the diced onions and yellow peppers. Continue to cook until the onions become soft and translucent.
- Add Sweet Potatoes: Add the diced sweet potatoes along with red chili flakes (if using), salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Cover the skillet and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Preheat Oven: While the sweet potatoes cook, preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC) to prepare for melting the cheese.
- Add Cheese: Once the sweet potatoes are tender, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the skillet contents. Place the skillet in the oven and bake briefly until the cheese melts and becomes gooey, about 3-5 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired and serve hot for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey with grass-fed ground beef if preferred.
- For a dairy-free or Whole30/Paleo-friendly version, omit the mozzarella cheese or replace with suitable alternatives.
- Adjust the red chili flakes to control the heat level or omit if you prefer a milder dish.
- Cooking sweet potatoes until tender is key; if needed, cover and cook longer on low heat or add a splash of water to soften faster.
- Use a cast iron skillet or oven-safe skillet to seamlessly move from stovetop to oven.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
