Sweet Potato Turkey Bean Bake (Print Version)
Layered sweet potatoes, seasoned turkey, black beans, and melted cheese in a hearty gluten-free casserole.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground turkey
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
→ Beans
06 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
→ Dairy
07 - 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
08 - ½ cup sour cream (optional, for serving)
→ Spices and Pantry
09 - 1 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 tsp ground cumin
11 - 1 tsp paprika
12 - ½ tsp chili powder
13 - ½ tsp dried oregano
14 - ¾ tsp salt
15 - ¼ tsp black pepper
16 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
# How To Make:
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 the diced onion, minced garlic, and diced 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 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 browned throughout with no pink remaining.
04 - Stir the drained black beans and drained diced tomatoes into the turkey mixture. Simmer for 3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld, 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 bean mixture over the sweet potatoes, spreading it to the edges.
06 - Repeat the layering with the remaining sweet potatoes followed by the remaining turkey and bean mixture, distributing evenly across the dish.
07 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are nearly tender when pierced with a fork.
08 - Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
09 - Remove from the oven and let the bake rest for 5 to 10 minutes to set. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve with sour cream on the side if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It delivers the comfort of a casserole without the heaviness, thanks to lean turkey and nutrient packed sweet potatoes doing most of the heavy lifting.
- The layering technique makes it look impressive enough for guests, yet the whole thing comes together with one skillet and one baking dish.
02 -
- If your sweet potato cubes vary wildly in size, some will turn to mush while others stay crunchy, so take the extra minute to cut them evenly.
- Do not skip draining the diced tomatoes, because excess liquid will pool at the bottom and turn your beautiful casserole into a soggy mess.
03 -
- Taste the turkey filling before assembling and adjust the salt because canned beans and tomatoes vary wildly in sodium content.
- Shred your own cheese from a block rather than using pre shredded bags, since the anti caking additives on pre shredded cheese prevent it from melting smoothly.