Sweet, caramelized sweet potatoes filled with juicy spiced beef and topped with a stretchy blanket of mozzarella and cheddar — a cozy oven-baked dish that impresses with both flavor and ease. Roast the potatoes until tender, quickly cook the filling in a skillet, then finish everything in the oven until the cheese turns golden and bubbling.
Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes — 2 tubers
- Ground beef — 7 oz | 200 g
- Yellow onion — 1/2 piece
- Garlic — 2 cloves
- Green bell pepper — 1/2 piece
- Chile pepper — 1 piece
- Corn, canned and drained — 1 cup | 150 g
- Mozzarella — 2 oz | 50 g
- Cheddar — 2 oz | 50 g
- Smoked paprika, salt, black pepper — to taste
- Vegetable oil — 1 tbsp for frying
Step-by-step recipe
- Preheat the oven to 400°F | 200°C on conventional bake with convection. Wash the sweet potatoes, pat dry, prick several times with a fork, and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 50 minutes until tender.
- While the sweet potatoes roast, finely chop the onion and garlic, dice the bell pepper, and slice the chile into thin rings. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the onion with the garlic for 2–3 minutes until softened.
- Add the ground beef, break up any clumps, and cook for 6–8 minutes until browned.
- Stir in the bell pepper, chile, and corn. Season with smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another 3–4 minutes, until the vegetables soften and the aromatics open up.
- Cut the cooked sweet potatoes lengthwise and gently fluff the flesh with a fork. Spoon the hot meat filling into each half.
- Scatter the grated mozzarella and cheddar over the top. Return to the oven for 5–7 minutes, until the cheese melts and just starts to brown. For a deeper crust, switch on the broiler for 1–2 minutes.
- Serve immediately, while the cheese is still stretchy and the filling stays juicy.
Nutrition
| Indicator | Per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | ≈ 830 kcal |
| Protein | ≈ 35 g |
| Fat | ≈ 43 g |
| Carbohydrates | ≈ 80 g |
| Fiber | ≈ 10 g |
| Sodium | ≈ 1000 mg |
📹 Watch the video recipe on our Telegram channel: @alwaysyummy
Tips and variations
- Milder version: omit the chile and reduce the paprika.
- Another filling: turkey or chicken work well; for a meat-free version, use beans or plant-based mince.
- Cheese options: swap mozzarella and cheddar for gouda or suluguni, or use just one cheese.
- Perfectly tender sweet potatoes: baking time depends on size. Test with a skewer — it should slide in easily.
- Without corn: replace it with red beans or sweet peas.
Frequently asked questions
Can sweet potatoes be baked faster?
Yes. Prick the tubers and microwave them for 8–10 minutes until partially tender, then finish in the oven and melt the cheese under the broiler.
What can I use instead of ground beef?
Turkey, ground chicken, a mushroom-and-bean mixture, or plant-based mince — keep the seasonings the same.
How do I make the filling less spicy?
Leave out the chile and use sweet paprika instead of smoked paprika; you can add a pinch of sugar or a spoonful of tomato-based sauce for balance.