Italian-Style Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet

This easy one-skillet 30-minute meal has everything you need for a healthy, filling, and delicious dinner. Packed with protein, fiber, and flavor, it’s a weeknight favorite for busy families.

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One-skillet meals are my go-to on busy weeknights because they’re fast, simple, and satisfying. This Italian Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet is all of that and more. Bright, wholesome ingredients come together quickly to create a dish that’s comforting, flavorful, and easy to adapt. Leftovers reheat well and make a hearty lunch.

The balance of savory turkey, slightly sweet potatoes, creamy beans, and tangy marinara creates a pleasing mix of textures and flavors. Every bite delivers protein, fiber, and a touch of cheese—comfort food that still feels wholesome. Even picky eaters who normally avoid sweet potatoes tend to love them prepared this way.

Ingredients for Italian Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet

• Olive oil
• Sweet potato (medium, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes)
• Lean ground turkey (about 1 lb)
• Onion (½ cup chopped yellow)
• Garlic (1 clove, minced)
• Seasonings — Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper
• Northern white or cannellini beans (1 can, drained and rinsed)
• Chicken stock (½ cup)
• Marinara or pasta sauce (1 cup, divided)
• Fresh herbs — chopped parsley and basil (¼ cup each)
• Mozzarella cheese (½ cup shredded)
• Parmesan cheese (¼ cup grated)

This recipe is very flexible. Swap ground turkey for ground beef, chicken, or Italian sausage. You can also use regular potatoes like russet, Yukon Gold, or red potatoes if you prefer. Any marinara or pasta sauce on hand works well, and additional vegetables can be added for variety.

How To Make Italian Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet

Step 1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sweet potato cubes and cook 5–8 minutes, stirring often, until the edges are golden. The potatoes will not be fully tender yet. Transfer them to a plate.

Step 2. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Cook the ground turkey with the chopped onion until the turkey is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute.

Step 3. Return the sweet potatoes to the skillet. Add Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, drained beans, chicken stock, ½ cup of the marinara sauce, chopped parsley, and basil. Stir to combine, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook another 7–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are fork-tender.

Step 4. When the potatoes are cooked through, sprinkle the skillet with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan. Drizzle the remaining ½ cup marinara over the top and serve immediately.

Tips and Suggestions

• Sweet potatoes cook more slowly than other potatoes, especially when diced large. Cover the skillet during the final 7–10 minutes to trap steam and speed cooking.
• Change the flavor profile by swapping seasonings: use cumin and chili powder for a taco-inspired version, or thyme and rosemary for a more earthy, Italian farmhouse flavor.
• Add extra vegetables such as chopped spinach, diced zucchini, or a frozen vegetable blend for added color and nutrition.

We like to serve this skillet with a simple green salad to round out the meal. It’s an easy, satisfying dinner that comes together quickly and is perfect for busy evenings.

Ingredients (Concise)

• 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• ½ cup chopped yellow onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained and rinsed
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 1 cup marinara sauce, divided
• ¼ cup chopped parsley, ¼ cup chopped basil
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella, ¼ cup grated Parmesan

Instructions (Concise)

1. Heat 2 tbsp oil, sauté sweet potatoes 5–8 minutes until golden. Transfer out.
2. Add 1 tbsp oil, cook turkey and onion until no longer pink; add garlic 1 minute.
3. Return potatoes, add seasonings, beans, stock, ½ cup marinara, parsley, and basil. Simmer 7–10 minutes until potatoes are tender.
4. Top with cheeses and remaining marinara. Serve hot.

Notes and Nutrition

Recipe notes: Use other ground meats or potato varieties if desired. Nutritional values are estimates and should be treated as approximations.

Let’s eat! 🤍

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