Description
Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes combine the natural sweetness of baked sweet potatoes with a savory, spiced ground beef filling, topped with fresh ingredients like shredded mozzarella, diced tomatoes, mashed avocado, and sour cream for a delicious and satisfying meal perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1 cup chunky salsa
- 1/2 cup water
Sweet Potatoes and Toppings
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (to taste, approx. 1 cup)
- Diced tomatoes (to taste, approx. 1/2 cup)
- Mashed avocado (to taste, approx. 1 avocado)
- Sour cream (to taste, about 1/2 cup)
Instructions
- Cook the Sweet Potatoes: Poke holes all over the sweet potatoes with a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking.
- Microwave Sweet Potatoes: Place the sweet potatoes in a microwave-safe dish with a bit of water. Microwave on high for 10 minutes. Check for doneness and if not fully cooked, microwave for an additional 5 minutes until tender.
- Heat Skillet: Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the beef mixture.
- Cook Beef and Aromatics: Add ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic to the hot skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally until the beef is browned and onion is tender, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Add Spices: Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and dried oregano evenly into the beef mixture.
- Simmer with Salsa: Pour in chunky salsa and water. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend flavors and reduce liquid slightly.
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Allow cooked sweet potatoes to cool slightly until safe to handle. Carefully cut each sweet potato lengthwise, being sure not to slice all the way through to keep them intact.
- Fluff Sweet Potato Interiors: Use a fork to gently fluff the insides of each sweet potato, creating space to hold the beef filling.
- Assemble the Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: Spoon the spiced ground beef mixture generously into the opened sweet potatoes.
- Add Toppings: Top each stuffed sweet potato with shredded mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes, mashed avocado, and a dollop of sour cream for a creamy, fresh finish.
Notes
- If preferred, sweet potatoes can be baked in the oven at 400°F for 45-50 minutes instead of microwaving for a softer texture.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be used as a leaner protein alternative to beef.
- For added flavor, sprinkle chopped fresh cilantro or green onions on top before serving.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
- Can be made gluten-free by ensuring salsa and all spices are gluten-free certified.
