20 minute meal! These Turkey Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are a fantastic option when you need a quick dinner recipe.
This isn’t the first time I’ve stuffed sweet potatoes, but each time I do, I wonder why I don’t make them a regular item on my meal plans. The first version involved spinach, feta and hummus – an easy meatless meal option. The second time around, I stuffed the sweet potatoes with a hoisin turkey and broccoli mixture. One of my readers commented, “Tripled this recipe to freeze for lunches – absolutely delicious! Will definitely be a staple for lunch!”
Hopefully these turkey taco stuffed sweet potatoes will get such rave reviews. They certainly did at my house!
While it can be very convenient to dump a package of taco seasoning in the ground turkey, I assure you that it takes no more than a minute to add the individual seasonings, which give you a lot more control over the sodium levels and flavor. In fact, this entire recipe takes just 20 minutes to make. While the sweet potatoes are cooking in the microwave, the turkey mixture cooks on the stovetop. Multi-tasking at its best!
Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half lengthwise, scoop out the flesh and mash it with some olive oil and cumin before scooping back into the skins. Top it all off with the cooked, seasoned ground turkey mixture.
We used pepper Jack on top of our stuffed sweet potatoes, but cheddar, Monterey Jack or even Parmesan cheese would work just as well.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I’ll be sure to find it.
Turkey Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1 stuffed potato half | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 267kcal Calories from fat 102 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat 4g | 20% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 70mg | 23% |
| Sodium 569mg | 24% |
| Carbohydrate 23g | 8% |
| Dietary Fiber 5g | 20% |
| Sugars 6g | |
| Protein 21g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
20 minute meal! These Turkey Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are a fantastic option when you need a quick dinner recipe. 234 calories and 6 Weight Watchers SmartPoints
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 1/4 tsp ground cumin, divided
- 1/4 + 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 + 1/8 tsp ground pepper
- 3/4 lb. lean ground turkey
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 1/4 cup canned crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup grated pepper Jack cheese
- 2 tbsp minced flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork. Cook in the microwave on HIGH until tender when pierced with a fork, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Let the potatoes rest until cool enough to handle.
- Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop the flesh out of the potatoes and place in a medium-sized bowl. Reserve the skins. With the back of a fork, mash the potato flesh until most lumps are gone. Stir in the olive oil, ½ teaspoon cumin, ¼ teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Divide the mashed sweet potato evenly between the potato skins. Place on a baking sheet.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly coat with cooking spray. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until cooked through. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, remaining ¾ teaspoon cumin, oregano, paprika, and remaining ⅛ teaspoon salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the crushed tomatoes.
- Preheat the broiler. Spoon the turkey mixture into each sweet potato skin. Top each with 1 tablespoon grated cheese. Broil until the cheese is melted, about 30 seconds. Garnish with parsley. Serve.
Recipe Notes
Disclosure: This post contains links to my Amazon affiliate page. Any revenue made from sales through these links helps to support this blog. Thank you!
Krista says
This is great for Taco Tuesday! Great way to eat a sweet potato!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
I don’t usually like sweet potatoes, but I could get behind these!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
These look incredible. I’m a huge fan of sweet potatoes but have never stuffed them. Great idea!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
These look outrageously YUMMY! What a great idea!
Catalina @ Peas & Peonies says
Sweet patatoes and turkey sound so good! I won’t mind to have this turkey taco stuffed weet patatoes for dinner tonight!
Sharon @What the Fork says
Wow these look really appetizing. This is something I’ll have to add to the “need to make list”
Spanishtoenglish says
I made this recipe this week. The flavor of the turkey taco stuffed sweet potatoes was good. I could cook for my family a delicious dinner. I will be sure to come back here.his is a really good post. Thank you!
Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says
We can definitly use a fun new way to serve taco’s since we eat them several nights a week! This is just right!
Elizabeth says
Are these cooked in the oven and the microwave? The directions say to place on a baking sheet? If so at what temp? And for how long?
Dara says
Hi Elizabeth, the potatoes are cooked in the microwave, then the stuffed potatoes are cooked under the broiler for 30 seconds to melt the cheese (see step 4 of the directions), which is why they’re placed on a the baking sheet. I hope you enjoy them!
Nicole says
I’m confused. It makes it seem like we are supposed to cook the potatoes in the oven before we broil them. It says as the potatoes are cooking to brown the meat. So how long do they go in the oven and for what temp?
Dara says
Hi Nicole, I just edited the recipe to make it a bit clearer. The potatoes are fully cooked in the microwave, then the stuffed potatoes are cooked under the broiler for 30 seconds just to melt the cheese. I hope you enjoy them!
Tammy Hairston says
These are wonderful, the combination of the Turkey and sweet potatoes are delightful. This is a keeper for sure!
Trudy says
Awesome meal great way to have taco
Lori says
Are these yams? At my grocery store the sweet potatoes are white and yams are orange. So I’m never sure which one to get.
Dara says
That’s always confusing, Lori! Technically they’re yams, but some grocery store label them as sweet potatoes.
Samantha says
Yams are native to Africa. What most North American s think is a yam is actually a soft sweet potato. Maybe we need to educate our grocers.
Katie says
This was delicious! I left out the cheese and used one fresh tomato instead of a can and it still worked great! It definitely takes more than 10 minutes to cook/prep though.
Ricky says
We made this last night and will be making it a thousand more times. It was that good and the entire family agreed. Thank you for the recipe.
Katy says
We don’t own a microwave. This might be a silly question, but how long would the sweet potatoes need to be in the oven (and at what temperature) to achieve the same results as the ones produced with a microwave? I have all the ingredients and can’t wait to try this out! Thank you in advance!
Dara says
Hi Katy, not a silly question at all. To bake a sweet potato, pierce the potato in several places with the tines of a fork, then bake in a 400 degree oven for about 45 minutes, or until tender. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Sarah says
I made these last night. My husband and I both loved them! Delicious and easy – thank you for the recipe!
Emily says
Made these tonight and they were great! I love that this is a healthier taco option, yet still filling. I added black beans, chopped onion and poblano pepper to the turkey mixture and used cilantro instead of parsley. Will definitely make again. Another plus is this is a very budget friendly meal.
Shelly says
Yummm! Made these bad boys for dinner last night with a few alterations. I added black beans & green chills to my turkey mixture. Also added a little bit of the shredded pepper jack to my sweet potato mixture before returning to the skins. Everyone loved them & went to bed with happy tummys. Thank you for the inspiration !
Shelly says
kept trying to put “5 Stars” but it wasn’t letting me 🙁
Jessica Holt says
These never get old. We’ve made them 5 or 6 times now and enjoy them even more each time . It’s just my husband and me, so the remaining two stuffed potatoes get eaten for lunch the next day. Two meals in one!