One Pan Sweet Potato Turkey Dinner

Just one pan with it all included- the sweet potato, ground turkey, spinach and beets topped with melted Parmesan cheese and topped with fresh basil. Dinner is one and done…

Any meal that has a low dirty dish : delicious food ratio is a keeper. I mean, I feel like i’ve been known to even make a recipe that has a low dirty dish : AVERAGE food ratio before JUST so I don’t have to do a lot of dishes. That’s embarrassing.

This dinner however…it’s a different type of one pan dinner. It doesn’t get mushy and take on the same flavor as everything else, it truly only requires ONE pan, and it tastes so good!

the INGREDIENTS:

• Lean ground turkey
• sweet potato
• beets
• spinach
• parmasen cheese
• fresh basil

the lean ground turkey

I choose 99% lean ground turkey when I buy. I buy it at Trader Joe’s and saute it in olive oil and salt and pepper. Its very good. And really quick!

the sweet potato

Sweet potatoes are a starch that are rich in vitamin A and healthier than the regular potato [which is why i choose it 9/10 times.] Also, it is like it’s name says…sweet, naturally:)

FUN FACT: Eating just one sweet potato baked in the skin will give you more than four times the recommended Daily Value of the vitamin A nutrient, making it one of the richest plant sources of vit A there is! very impressive, sweet potato. 

the beet

If for nothing else, the COLOR! And if you’re wondering, BEETS are low in calories and high in many nutrients including potassium, manganese, folate and vitamin B2.

As a general rule of thumb, the more bright-colored plant foods you include in your diet, the more antioxidants you’ll consume. Beet greens contain beta-carotene, which are also found in carrots, spinach, and broccoli.

FUN FACT: Eating antioxidants may help reduce your risk for some cancers.

everydayhealth.com

the spinach

spinach. Eating spinach may benefit eye health, reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels.

I mean, do it for the color and thee health! https://www.ealthline.com/nutrition/foods/spinach

the onion

Onions contain Phytochemicals and are naturally occurring compounds in fruits and vegetables. Phytochemicals are able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions. 

FUN FACT: Onions have been cultivated for over 5000 years 

the fresh parmesan cheese

you don’t need to know anything special about fresh parmesan cheese. It ALWAYS takes anything up a notch:)

fresh basil leaves

they smell wonderful and add a unique fresh flare that you can’t compete with.

• 

NOW for the steps:

1. Chop onions and dice sweet potatoes and beets to approx the same size. By doing this they will cook evenly.
2. Saute onions and garlic with olive oil in large saute pan until almost translucent and beautifully caramelized. [They will continue to cook with the ground turkey so they don’t need to be completely done at this point.]
3. Add the ground turkey and season with salt and pepper. Cover to saute. Breaking up the turkey with wooden spatula as needed. Cook until turkey is almost done…still slightly pink because it will continue to cook with the vegetables. [Cooking the turkey with the lid on helps to bring out the juice from the turkey which provides enough liquid to saute the veggies!]
4. Add diced beets and diced sweet potatoes to the saute pan with thee turkey. Cover saute pan again and cook until sweet potatoes and beets are tender. Stir occasionally. [Add one tablespoon of water at a time to the pan if liquid cooks out.]
5. While sweet potatoes/beets are cooking, preheat oven to 400 degrees.
6. When sweet potatoes/beets are tender, remove from stove and stir in spinach. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over.
7. Place saute pan in the oven to melt the cheese.
8. Watch carefully as it melts quickly! Remove and garnish with basil!

So, whether you are in the market for a delicious, hearty side or just another meal to put on the table. This one may be the one for you!

Print