Description
Hearty Tex-Mex savory sweet potato beef bake delivers bold southwestern flavors in one satisfying skillet meal. Home cooks will appreciate this simple yet delicious recipe that combines ground beef, spices, and creamy sweet potatoes for a complete dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (1 pound) lean ground beef
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, diced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 14.5 oz (425 ml) vegetable broth
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 1 ⅓ cups instant rice
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 tbsp (1 tablespoon) olive oil
- 2 tsp (2 teaspoons) dried rosemary
- ½ tsp (½ teaspoon) salt
- ½ tsp (½ teaspoon) black pepper
- ¼ tsp (¼ teaspoon) garlic powder
- 2 tsp (2 teaspoons) parsley for garnishing
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Coat diced sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried rosemary, ensuring uniform seasoning coverage.
- Potato Roasting: Spread seasoned sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast in a preheated 400°F oven for 30 minutes until tender and slightly caramelized.
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a skillet, adding diced onions and cooking until onions become translucent and beef is fully cooked.
- Casserole Assembly: Combine roasted sweet potatoes, beef-onion mixture, vegetable broth, heavy cream, and instant rice in a casserole dish, mixing thoroughly to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Initial Baking: Cover the dish and bake at 400°F for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and rice to absorb liquids.
- Cheese Topping: Uncover the casserole, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese across the surface, and return to the oven for 10 minutes until cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbly crust.
- Resting and Garnishing: Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 10-15 minutes to allow ingredients to set, then finish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for added color and herbal freshness.
Notes
- Potato Prep Tip: Dice sweet potatoes uniformly to ensure even roasting and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Meat Browning Technique: Cook ground beef until it develops a rich, caramelized crust for maximum flavor depth and prevents excess moisture.
- Cheese Melting Secret: Use freshly shredded cheddar for superior melting quality and more robust flavor compared to pre-packaged cheese.
- Resting Importance: Allow the casserole to rest after baking, which helps ingredients meld together and makes serving easier without falling apart.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg