Taco Style Baked Sweet Potatoes

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Baked sweet potatoes, taco style meat, and toppings we all love. This healthy take on taco night will be a meal everyone will enjoy!

Ground beef is an absolute staple in my house. It’s an affordable way to keep a good source of protein on hand at all times. However, sometimes I get into a rut with it and only make traditional tacos week after week. Before I know it, Taco Tuesday becomes Tacos Everyday.

I have to remind myself often that just because I have everything needed to make tacos does not mean I have to stick with the same method of making tacos every time. That is why I love this recipe. It creates a new spin on taco night while still enjoying the delicious flavors we love so much.

Taco Style Baked Sweet Potato on a white plate.

Getting creative with ground beef in the kitchen also serves as a great reminder of how versatile this kind of meat actually is. I’ve been making burgers with it and will also add it to pasta and rice dishes as well. If you are trying to sneak in more nutrition for gut health I would highly recommend cooking rice and pasta in homemade bone broth. This makes the entire meal so filling and more beneficial than cooking rice or pasta in water.

Taco meat for taco style baked sweet potato.

Why You’ll Love Taco Style Baked Sweet Potatoes

New take on Taco Night – This is not your average taco in a tortilla. This is a great way to put a fun twist on a dinner time classic.

Easy – Bake the sweet potato in the oven while you are preparing the meat and veggies. By cooking two things at once, everything will be hot and ready to serve at the same time!

Filling – This meal can keep the whole family full for a long time! The potato and meat are filling and the toppings are interchangeable. Everyone can customize their taco style baked sweet potato just the way they like it!

Tips

Poke holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork before putting them in the oven. This will allow steam to leave the potato while cooking. Don’t skip this step. Otherwise your potatoes might burst in the oven. What a mess!
Add the minced garlic after you add the meat to the pan. Adding minced garlic to a pan without constantly stirring it will cause the garlic to burn. Adding garlic to the meat will allow the meat to absorb the garlic flavor and create a barrier between the garlic and the pan to prevent burning.
Cook the meat low and slow. This helps buy some time while chopping the veggies. Once I’m done chopping, the meat is usually ready. By taking care of these two steps at once, your veggies will be ready to add to the sweet potato and the meat will still be hot and ready to serve.
Store the taco toppings separate from the meat and potatoes. If you are using this for meal prep, it’s best to keep everything that can be reheated in one container and add the cold toppings later.

Tools You May Need

Large Knife

Cutting Board

Baking sheet

Parchment paper

Cheese grater

Garlic mincer

Ingredients

Sweet potatoes – One per person.

Ground beef – If you can, I highly recommend grass fed and finished beef. The taste is unmatched!

Butter or oil – Avocado, coconut, or olive oil is recommended.

Onion – White or yellow is best for this recipe.

Bell pepper

Garlic cloves – Fresh garlic tastes incredible in this dish, but if you only have garlic powder that works too.

Salt

Pepper

Cumin

Smoked Paprika

Chili Powder

Parsley

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Avocado

Sour cream

Hot sauce – optional

How to Make Taco Style Baked Sweet Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

After about 15 minutes, poke holes in each sweet potato all over, place them on a baking sheet with parchment paper, and put them in the oven for 1 hour.

While the sweet potatoes are cooking, add butter or oil to a pan and preheat the pan on low heat.

Chop onions and bell pepper and add to the pan once the butter or oil start to sizzle.

Once onions are translucent, add ground beef to the pan.

Add salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and parsley to the meat. Mix well.

Minced garlic cloves and incorporate into the ground beef.

While the beef and spices are cooking on low heat, chop lettuce, tomatoes, and any other toppings you’d like. Set aside.

Once the sweet potatoes are done cooking cut them down the middle and open them up with a fork.

Add lettuce to the sweet potatoes first. It’s easier to keep the lettuce in the potato this way.

Add your meat, toppings, and some hot sauce for a little kick!

Storage

Store extra sweet potatoes and taco meat in an air tight container for several days. These heat up nicely.

Store veggies and dairy separate to prevent the lettuce from getting soggy.

FAQs:

Can I use a regular potato for this recipe?

Absolutely! I used a sweet potato for this recipe because I love the sweetness it adds to this savory dish, but a russet potato would work great!

Can I use greek yogurt instead of sour cream?

Yes. Greek yogurt is an incredible alternative. The tanginess of the yogurt will compliment the savory flavors of the taco ingredients. It’s also a great way to add probiotics to your meal!

What pairs well with the baked sweet potato?

With a meal this hearty I would pair it with a simple salad. Something simple and light would be perfect for this meal. I would also have chips and salsa on the table as an appetizer, and eat the taco style baked sweet potato with chips too!

Find More Recipes:

Easy Ranch Dip and Seasoning

The Best Oven Roasted Carrots

How To Make Bone Broth From Scratch

Simple Blueberry and Feta Salad with Oven Roasted Chicken

If you try this recipe and love it, it would mean so much if you came back and gave this recipe 5 stars!