Description
A hearty and flavorful one-pan meal featuring lean ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and melty mozzarella cheese, all cooked in a cast iron skillet. This easy recipe combines healthy ingredients with a touch of spice and fresh parsley for garnish, perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound free-range extra-lean ground turkey (or grass-fed ground beef)
Vegetables
- 1½ cups sweet potato, diced
- ½ cup onions, diced
- ½ cup yellow pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
Other Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 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 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook Turkey: Add 1 pound of ground turkey and 1 teaspoon of minced garlic to the skillet. Break up the turkey as it cooks and sauté for about 5 minutes until the meat is browned and cooked through.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in ½ cup diced onions and ½ cup diced yellow pepper. Cook them until the onions become soft and translucent.
- Add Sweet Potatoes: Mix in 1½ cups of diced sweet potatoes, a pinch of red chili flakes (if using), salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Cover the skillet and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, checking occasionally to prevent sticking, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Preheat Oven: While the sweet potatoes are cooking, preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
- Add Cheese: Once the sweet potatoes are tender, sprinkle ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the skillet.
- Melt Cheese in Oven: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Carefully remove the skillet from the oven, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- Using a cast iron skillet helps achieve even cooking and works well for transferring to the oven for melting cheese.
- For a Whole30 or Paleo version, omit the mozzarella cheese or substitute with compliant cheese alternatives.
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground grass-fed beef for a different flavor profile.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the red chili flakes or add other spices to taste.
- Covering the skillet while cooking the sweet potatoes helps them steam and become tender more quickly.
- Ensure the sweet potatoes are diced evenly for uniform cooking.
