One-Pan Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Recipe

This easy, healthy Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet is a go-to for quick weeknight dinners. Bright flavors from ground turkey, sweet potatoes, black beans, tomatoes, spices, and a simple two-ingredient sauce make this fast meal both satisfying and nutritious.

Sweet Potato Ground Turkey Skillet

This skillet comes together quickly and delivers big flavor. A helpful shortcut — briefly microwaving the diced sweet potatoes — speeds up the cooking so everything finishes at the same time. The dish combines lean ground turkey with pre-cooked sweet potatoes, black beans, and warm southwest spices. A final sprinkle of melted cheddar, fresh diced tomato, and sliced green onions round out the dish.

The fast two-ingredient sauce (sour cream mixed with salsa) brightens each bite and makes the skillet especially kid-friendly — it’s a favorite finishing touch that pulls the flavors together in under a minute.

Ingredients

• Ground Turkey – Use the fat content you prefer; any will work.
• Sweet Potatoes – One large sweet potato yields about 2 cups diced. Use two small ones if needed.
• Black Beans – One 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed, for added texture and nutrients.
• Kosher Salt – Or sea salt. If using table salt, start with half the amount and adjust to taste.
• Chipotle Chili Powder – Provides a smoky southwest flavor; this is not the same as regular chili powder. A little goes a long way.
• Cumin – Complements the chipotle and rounds out the seasoning.
• Cheddar Cheese – Freshly grated from a block melts best, but use your preferred cheese.
• Green Onions – Optional, for a fresh finish.
• Tomato – One medium, diced, for brightness and contrast.
• Sour Cream – One part of the quick sauce; Greek or plain yogurt works too.
• Salsa – The other half of the sauce; choose the texture and heat level your family prefers.

Full ingredient amounts appear in the recipe card below.

Instructions

1. Add diced sweet potatoes to a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Carefully remove and set aside.

2. In a small bowl, combine equal parts sour cream and salsa to make the sauce. Set aside.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat (a cast iron pan works well). Add the ground turkey and cook, crumbling, for about 5 minutes until mostly cooked through. Drain any excess liquid if needed.

4. Add the hot sweet potatoes, black beans, salt, chipotle chili powder, and cumin. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are tender and the turkey is fully cooked.

5. Remove from heat and sprinkle shredded cheddar over the skillet so it melts. Top with diced tomato, sliced green onions, and the sour cream–salsa sauce. Serve immediately.

Tips, Tricks, and FAQs

• If your household prefers more heat, increase the chipotle chili powder by 1/2–1 teaspoon.
• If you don’t have a microwave, roast the diced sweet potatoes at 400°F on a sheet pan for 10–15 minutes until slightly tender before adding to the skillet.

Is this skillet spicy?

It has a mild smoky kick from chipotle chili powder but isn’t overwhelmingly spicy. The sour cream–salsa sauce tones the heat, making the dish acceptable for many kids. If someone is particularly sensitive to spice, reduce or omit the chipotle powder.

Recipe Card

Yield: serves 4

Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet

This one-dish skillet is ready in about 20 minutes using a quick microwave shortcut for the sweet potatoes. With lean turkey, black beans, and sweet potatoes, it’s a healthy, flavorful weeknight meal.

Prep Time
5 minutes

Cook Time
15 minutes

Total Time
20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 2 cups diced sweet potatoes (about 1 large)
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1 tomato, diced

Sauce

• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup salsa

Instructions

1. Add diced sweet potatoes to a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Set aside.
2. Mix sour cream and salsa in a small bowl and set aside.
3. Cook ground turkey in a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling, until mostly cooked (about 5 minutes). Drain if needed.
4. Add sweet potatoes, black beans, salt, chipotle chili powder, and cumin. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes until potatoes are tender and turkey is cooked through.
5. Remove from heat, sprinkle with cheese to melt, and top with tomatoes, green onions, and the sauce. Serve immediately.

Notes

Choose a salsa texture and heat level that suits your family. For a smoother sauce, use a mild taco sauce instead of chunky salsa. If you want more spice, add 1/2–1 teaspoon extra chipotle chili powder. To cook sweet potatoes without a microwave, roast at 400°F for 10–15 minutes until slightly soft.

Nutrition Information

Yield: 4
Serving Size: 1/4 of dish
Calories: 610
Total Fat: 34g
Saturated Fat: 13g
Cholesterol: 159mg
Sodium: 813mg
Carbohydrates: 37g
Fiber: 8g
Sugar: 9g
Protein: 42g

Nutritional values are estimates and will vary based on ingredients and portions used.

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