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Creamy Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Casserole with Crispy Sage Breadcrumbs

creamy ground turkey and sweet potato casserole - featured image
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A comforting and creamy casserole featuring lean ground turkey and sweet potatoes, topped with crispy sage breadcrumbs for a perfect texture contrast. This easy, wholesome dish is perfect for cozy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey (93% lean recommended)
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • About 1/4 cup fresh sage leaves, chopped (plus a few whole leaves for garnish)
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (100g), gluten-free if needed
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (45g), divided
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (15g), gluten-free flour as alternative
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk (360ml), or any milk of choice
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth (120ml)
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional: pinch of smoked paprika or nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
  2. Peel and dice sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes; set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté chopped onion for about 3 minutes until translucent.
  4. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add ground turkey, breaking it apart, and cook for 6-8 minutes until browned and no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, and optional smoked paprika. Remove from heat.
  6. In a medium saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to form a roux.
  7. Slowly whisk in milk and chicken broth, cooking until sauce thickens, about 4-5 minutes.
  8. Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and optional nutmeg. Remove from heat once smooth.
  9. Add cooked turkey mixture and diced sweet potatoes to the sauce; stir gently to combine.
  10. In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add panko breadcrumbs and chopped sage leaves. Toast, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  11. Pour the creamy turkey and sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  12. Sprinkle the crispy sage breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top, pressing lightly to adhere.
  13. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
  14. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

If breadcrumbs brown too quickly, tent casserole loosely with foil halfway through baking. Let casserole rest 5 minutes before cutting to firm up. Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs for gluten-free version. Dairy-free options include plant-based butter and almond or oat milk with nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground turkey casserole, sweet potato casserole, creamy casserole, comfort food, crispy sage breadcrumbs, easy dinner, weeknight meal

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