Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potato

I once thought the only way to serve sweet potatoes was smothered in more sweet stuff. For Thanksgiving, I would top them with candied pecans, or marshmallows, or BOTH! If I served sweet potatoes any other time of the year, they were drenched with butter, covered in brown sugar, and dusted with cinnamon. Then, I had a savory stuffed sweet potato, and it was life changing. Ok, that was a bit of an exaggeration, but it was damn good! Since then, I have substituted sweet potatoes in nearly every potato dish I know. This recipe is one of my favorites, not to mention, EASY!

Ingredients:

4 medium to large sweet potatoes

1 lb ground turkey

1 medium sweet onion, diced

1 bell pepper, diced

1 14oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 14oz can whole kernel corn, drained

1 10oz can tomatoes with green chilies, drained

1 packet taco seasoning (or make your own, recipe follows)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Taco Seasoning:

1 Tbsp chili powder

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 

Recipe:

Bake sweet potatoes at 400 degrees for 45min-1hr, depending on size. I normally set them in the oven on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet and then set the oven to 400 degrees. It takes right at an hour this way. 

If you are pressed for time, you can cook a medium size sweet potato in the microwave in about 12 minutes. Just prick the potato several times with a fork to vent (so it doesn't explode on you), nuke for 3 minutes at a go, and flip in between.

Once the sweet potato has a little give when squeezed, it's done. Set aside to cool. They will retain their heat for a good 20 minutes after you remove them from the oven, if left whole. That is more than enough time to cook up the filling!

Brown the turkey over medium heat, about 10 minutes.

(I know this photo needs no instruction, but it adds so much pretty color after all that brown meat!)

Add diced onions and bell pepper to the browned meat. Cook until just soft, about 5 minutes. I prefer mine to have some bite. It adds texture!

Add rinsed and drained black beans, drained corn (fresh is nice if you have it), drained tomatoes with green chilies, and taco seasoning. Cook until heated, about 5 minutes.

Split sweet potatoes, stuff with the filling, and top with cheddar.

Enjoy!!!