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This southwest ground turkey sweet potato skillet is the ultimate easy weeknight dinner! Seasoned ground turkey, creamy sweet potatoes, corn, green chiles, salsa, and cheese are cooked together in one pan for a dinner the whole family will love. It’s a nutritious, protein and fiber packed dinner that’s ready in just 30-minutes!
Easy southwest flavored dinners are no stranger here on Recipe Runner. This southwest ground turkey sweet potato skillet was inspired by both my popular southwest ground beef and sweet potato skillet and the vegetarian favorite, southwest sweet potato black bean and rice skillet.
This version uses ground turkey, which is a great option if you don’t want red meat or are looking for a more budget friendly dinner. Grocery prices are crazy these days, I get it. It’s naturally gluten-free and you can easily make it dairy-free and skip the melted cheese on top (but I highly recommend you don’t unless necessary). It’s the perfect weeknight dinner that will quickly become a repeat recipe that you make!
Ingredient Notes
Ground turkey – Skip the extra lean ground turkey and use 93/7% lean. Using ground turkey with a little fat in it not only adds flavor, but keeps it from being dry.
Sweet potatoes – They’re creamy, mildly sweet, and loaded with nutrients. The sweetness balances the spiciness of the salsa.
Spices – Chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and garlic powder are my go-to spices for southwest inspired recipes. They add a delicious earthy, smoky flavor to the dish.
Corn – I love using fire roasted corn because it has a touch of smoky charred flavor. Frozen corn is great for this recipe because it’s available year-round and inexpensive. Canned corn can be used, but the flavor isn’t as good. Fresh corn is also delicious if it’s in season.
Green chiles – It’s almost impossible for me to make a southwest flavored dinner and not add a can of green chiles to it. They have a tangy, bright flavor and depending on how spicy you like your food, you can use mild or hot.
Salsa – Salsa creates the sauce for turkey and sweet potatoes. You can use tomato salsa or salsa verde. I’ve used both and they’re equally delicious!
Cheese – My top three cheeses to use for this recipe are cheddar, colby jack, or monterey jack cheese. I find that the flavor and the way the cheese melts is better if you grate it yourself instead of using pre-shredded cheese.
Tips for Making Sweet Potato Turkey Skillet
- Parcook the sweet potatoes in the microwave before adding them in with the ground turkey. Not only does this cut down on the cooking time, but you won’t have sweet potatoes that are tender on the outside and raw in the middle. Add the diced sweet potatoes to a microwave safe bowl along with a tablespoon of water. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and poke a 1 inch slit in it so the steam can escape. Microwave for 4 minutes then stir them and microwave another 3-4 minutes or until they’re fork tender.
- Crumble the ground turkey well. Smaller crumbles with absorbs the flavors of the spices and salsa better than big ones. I love using this meat chopper for consistently small crumbles.
- Stir the lime juice in at the end. This keeps the flavor fresh and vibrant. Cooking citrus can cause it to turn bitter.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use a different protein. You can easily change up the protein in this recipe and use ground beef, ground chicken, or even crumbled tofu for a vegetarian variation.
- Add beans. Canned black beans or pinto beans are a great way to add extra protein and fiber.
- Add veggies. If you like lots of veggies in your skillet dinner, try adding a red bell pepper or zucchini.
- Enchilada sauce. Red enchilada sauce or green enchilada sauce can replace the salsa. The flavor will be similar, but with more of an enchilada vibe.
Ways to Serve Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
Side dishes – This is a meal that can definitely be served on it’s own, but if you want extra carbs or a vegetable side dish, I recommend serving it with cilantro lime rice, black beans and rice, cornbread muffins, or Mexican street corn salad.
Repurpose the leftovers – I love to use the leftovers as a filling for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, add them on top of romaine lettuce and make a taco salad, make a rice bowl, or even use them as a topping for nachos.
Storage and Reheating
Storage – Ground turkey skillet will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s a great recipe to make if you meal prep. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Reheating – Reheat leftovers in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove over medium-low heat. To freshen it up I like to add a squeeze of lime juice and extra shredded cheese.
Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 pound ground turkey 93/7% lean is best
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes (1 large or 2 small)
- 1 cup frozen fire roasted corn
- 4 ounce can diced green chiles
- 1/2 cup jarred salsa or salsa verde
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese or cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Add the diced sweet potatoes to a microwave safe bowl along with a tablespoon of water. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and use a knife to cut a small slit in it so the steam can escape. Microwave for 4 minutes then stir the sweet potatoes. Microwave for another 3-4 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and onion into the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook and crumble the turkey until it's cooked through.
- Add the dried spices, sweet potatoes, corn green chiles, and cilantro in with the ground turkey. Stir everything together until combined.
- Stir in the salsa and cook for 2-3 minutes until warmed through. Squeeze in the lime juice, stir, and then top with the shredded cheese. Cover with a lid and cook for a minute, just until the cheese is melted. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More of My Favorite Skillet Dinners
If you make this Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet, please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you and do my best to respond to your comments. And if you’re on Instagram tag @reciperunner so I can see your beautiful creations!
