Sweet Potato Turkey Black Bean Bake (Print)
Layered sweet potatoes, seasoned turkey, black beans, and melted cheese in a hearty comforting 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 It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
03 - Add ground turkey, cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat, until no longer pink, about 5 to 6 minutes.
04 - Stir in drained black beans and diced tomatoes. Simmer for 3 minutes, then remove from heat.
05 - Layer half of the sweet potato cubes in a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the turkey and black bean mixture evenly on top.
06 - Repeat with remaining sweet potatoes and turkey mixture to form the second layer.
07 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until sweet potatoes are nearly tender.
08 - Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, and bake uncovered for 10 minutes until melted and bubbly.
09 - Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with sour cream if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It reheats beautifully the next day, making it the rare casserole that tastes even better on round two.
- Everything cooks in one skillet and one baking dish, so cleanup is almost embarrassingly easy.
02 -
- If you skip the foil cover the sweet potatoes will dry out and get tough on the edges before the center softens.
- Draining the tomatoes fully is non negotiable because even a little extra liquid turns the bottom layer into a soggy mess.
03 -
- Taste the turkey filling before layering and adjust salt if needed because the sweet potatoes will absorb more seasoning than you expect.
- Shred your own cheese from a block instead of using pre shredded bags because the anti caking additives prevent it from melting smoothly.