Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
For the Sweet Potatoes
- 4 sweet potatoes, medium
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Filling
- 1 lb minced beef
- 1 onion, small, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 jalapeño, diced, optional
- 1 cup spinach
- as needed salt
- as needed black pepper
- as needed oil, for cooking
- as needed water
To Assemble and Top
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- as needed sour cream, or Greek yogurt, for topping
- as needed green onions, or cilantro, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 400
- 2
Wash and thoroughly dry the sweet potatoes. Rub them with 1 tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Place the seasoned sweet potatoes on a baking tray.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Bake the sweet potatoes for 45–60 minutes, or until they are soft and tender when pierced with a fork.
⏱️ 60 min•🌡️ 400
- 4
While the sweet potatoes are baking, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil for cooking once hot.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Add the 1 lb of minced beef to the skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes, breaking it apart with a utensil, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until it has softened, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Stir in the 4 cloves of minced garlic and the diced jalapeño (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika powder, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well to combine.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Stir in the 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Add a small splash of water (about 1/4 cup) to the beef mixture and continue to cook until the liquid has mostly evaporated and the mixture is fully cooked through.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
Finally, add the 1 cup of spinach to the skillet and cook until it wilts, about 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Once the sweet potatoes are baked and tender, carefully remove them from the oven. Slice each sweet potato open lengthwise, being careful not to cut all the way through.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
Place 1/2 teaspoon of butter into the center of each potato. Lightly mash the inside flesh of each potato with a fork.
⏱️ 2 min
- 14
Spoon the prepared beef filling generously into each sweet potato.
⏱️ 3 min
- 15
Top each loaded sweet potato generously with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 16
Return the loaded sweet potatoes to the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400
- 17
Remove from the oven. Optionally, top with sour cream or Greek yogurt and green onions or cilantro before serving warm.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Loaded Sweet Potatoes
For the Sweet Potatoes
- 4 sweet potatoes, medium
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Filling
- 1 lb minced beef
- 1 onion, small, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 jalapeño, diced, optional
- 1 cup spinach
- as needed salt
- as needed black pepper
- as needed oil, for cooking
- as needed water
To Assemble and Top
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- as needed sour cream, or Greek yogurt, for topping
- as needed green onions, or cilantro, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 400 - 2
Wash and thoroughly dry the sweet potatoes. Rub them with 1 tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Place the seasoned sweet potatoes on a baking tray.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Bake the sweet potatoes for 45–60 minutes, or until they are soft and tender when pierced with a fork.
⏱️ 60 min•🌡️ 400 - 4
While the sweet potatoes are baking, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil for cooking once hot.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Add the 1 lb of minced beef to the skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes, breaking it apart with a utensil, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until it has softened, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Stir in the 4 cloves of minced garlic and the diced jalapeño (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika powder, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well to combine.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Stir in the 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Add a small splash of water (about 1/4 cup) to the beef mixture and continue to cook until the liquid has mostly evaporated and the mixture is fully cooked through.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
Finally, add the 1 cup of spinach to the skillet and cook until it wilts, about 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Once the sweet potatoes are baked and tender, carefully remove them from the oven. Slice each sweet potato open lengthwise, being careful not to cut all the way through.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
Place 1/2 teaspoon of butter into the center of each potato. Lightly mash the inside flesh of each potato with a fork.
⏱️ 2 min - 14
Spoon the prepared beef filling generously into each sweet potato.
⏱️ 3 min - 15
Top each loaded sweet potato generously with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 16
Return the loaded sweet potatoes to the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400 - 17
Remove from the oven. Optionally, top with sour cream or Greek yogurt and green onions or cilantro before serving warm.
⏱️ 1 min