Sweet Potato Turkey Bean Bake (Print Version)
Layered casserole with sweet potatoes, ground turkey, black beans, and melted cheese for a wholesome family dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound 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 & Canned Goods
06 - 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (14 ounces) 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 tablespoon olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1 teaspoon paprika
13 - ½ teaspoon chili powder
14 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
15 - ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
16 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat 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 diced onion, minced garlic, and diced red bell pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet along with ground cumin, paprika, chili powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until fully browned and no longer pink.
04 - Stir drained black beans and drained diced tomatoes into the turkey mixture. Simmer for 3 minutes to meld the flavors. 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 gently to cover.
06 - Repeat with the remaining sweet potatoes, then top with the rest of the turkey and black bean mixture, distributing evenly.
07 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are nearly fork-tender.
08 - Remove the foil and sprinkle shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
09 - Let the bake rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve with sour cream on the side if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweetness of the potatoes against smoky spiced turkey is the kind of contrast that makes you go back for seconds before finishing your first plate.
- Everything layers into one dish so cleanup is almost nothing, which is a small miracle on busy weeknights.
02 -
- Cutting the sweet potatoes too large is the number one reason this bake ends up undercooked in the center, so aim for half inch cubes max.
- Do not skip draining both the tomatoes and the beans or you will end up with a soggy mess instead of a structured layered casserole.
03 -
- Taste the turkey filling for salt before assembling the layers because once it is baked, adjusting seasoning becomes much harder.
- Covering the dish tightly with foil for the first bake traps steam and guarantees the sweet potatoes soften without drying out the top layer.