Sweet potatoes contain 400% more vitamin A than regular potatoes, which is why NASA studied them for Mars missions.
Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Indulge in these mouthwatering stuffed sweet potatoes, bursting with a hearty beef mixture that’s packed with flavor. Topped off with gooey cheese and a dollop of tangy sour cream, this dish is the ultimate comfort food that combines sweetness and savory perfection. Get ready to elevate your dinner game with this easy and satisfying recipe!
Prep
15
min
Cook
60
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(6)
- baby spinach - 2 cups (60 g) (480 ml)
- garlic - 2 cloves, minced
- green onions - slicedoptional
- onion - 1 small, finely chopped
- sweet potatoes - 4 medium (about 2 lb / 900 g)
- diced tomato + avocado + cornoptional
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- ground beef - 1 lb (450 g) (454 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- butter - 2-3 tbsp (28 g)
- shredded cheese (cheddar or mix) - 1½ cups (150 g) (360 ml)
- sour cream - for servingoptional
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- olive oil - 1½ tbsp (22.5 ml)
- olive oil - 1 tbsp (15 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- salt - to taste
- salt & black pepper - to taste
- smoked paprika - 1 tsp (optional) (5 ml)optional
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- salsaoptional
📦Other(1)
- guacamoleoptional
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Wash the sweet potatoes (do not peel). Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 45-55 minutes, until very soft inside.
- 2
While the potatoes bake, heat a pan over medium heat. Add olive oil, onion, and cook 3-4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add ground beef, season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Cook 6-8 minutes until browned. Stir in baby spinach and cook 1 minute, just until wilted. Set aside.
- 3
Remove potatoes from the oven. Slice each one lengthwise. Add butter directly into the hot potato and mash the inside with a fork until creamy.
- 4
Top each potato with beef filling, then sprinkle with cheese. Return to the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, until cheese melts.
- 5
Add a spoon of sour cream and sprinkle with green onions. Serve with guacamole and salsa on top or on the side (or keep it simple with tomato, avocado, and corn).
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pierce sweet potatoes 8-10 times with a fork before baking to prevent bursting, as sweet potatoes contain 20% more moisture than regular potatoes and create more steam pressure.technique8-10 pierces
- ✓Test sweet potato doneness at 45 minutes by gently squeezing - they should yield completely to pressure and reach an internal temperature of 205-212°F for maximum starch conversion to sugars.timing205-212°F
- ✓Add butter to the hot sweet potato flesh immediately after slicing while internal temperature is above 180°F so the butter melts completely and creates a creamy emulsion with the potato's natural starches.technique180°F
- ✓Cook ground beef to 160°F internal temperature but break it into small 1/4-inch pieces for even browning and better distribution across the potato surface.technique160°F, 1/4-inch pieces
- ✓Use low-moisture mozzarella or aged cheddar for the final cheese topping because high-moisture cheeses release excess water during the 8-10 minute melt phase, making the potato soggy.ingredient
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
60
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Sweet potatoes contain 400% more vitamin A than regular potatoes, which is why NASA studied them for Mars missions.
Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Indulge in these mouthwatering stuffed sweet potatoes, bursting with a hearty beef mixture that’s packed with flavor. Topped off with gooey cheese and a dollop of tangy sour cream, this dish is the ultimate comfort food that combines sweetness and savory perfection. Get ready to elevate your dinner game with this easy and satisfying recipe!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(6)
- baby spinach - 2 cups (60 g) (480 ml)
- garlic - 2 cloves, minced
- green onions - slicedoptional
- onion - 1 small, finely chopped
- sweet potatoes - 4 medium (about 2 lb / 900 g)
- diced tomato + avocado + cornoptional
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- ground beef - 1 lb (450 g) (454 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- butter - 2-3 tbsp (28 g)
- shredded cheese (cheddar or mix) - 1½ cups (150 g) (360 ml)
- sour cream - for servingoptional
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- olive oil - 1½ tbsp (22.5 ml)
- olive oil - 1 tbsp (15 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- salt - to taste
- salt & black pepper - to taste
- smoked paprika - 1 tsp (optional) (5 ml)optional
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- salsaoptional
📦Other(1)
- guacamoleoptional
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Wash the sweet potatoes (do not peel). Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 45-55 minutes, until very soft inside.
- 2
While the potatoes bake, heat a pan over medium heat. Add olive oil, onion, and cook 3-4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add ground beef, season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Cook 6-8 minutes until browned. Stir in baby spinach and cook 1 minute, just until wilted. Set aside.
- 3
Remove potatoes from the oven. Slice each one lengthwise. Add butter directly into the hot potato and mash the inside with a fork until creamy.
- 4
Top each potato with beef filling, then sprinkle with cheese. Return to the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, until cheese melts.
- 5
Add a spoon of sour cream and sprinkle with green onions. Serve with guacamole and salsa on top or on the side (or keep it simple with tomato, avocado, and corn).
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pierce sweet potatoes 8-10 times with a fork before baking to prevent bursting, as sweet potatoes contain 20% more moisture than regular potatoes and create more steam pressure.technique8-10 pierces
- ✓Test sweet potato doneness at 45 minutes by gently squeezing - they should yield completely to pressure and reach an internal temperature of 205-212°F for maximum starch conversion to sugars.timing205-212°F
- ✓Add butter to the hot sweet potato flesh immediately after slicing while internal temperature is above 180°F so the butter melts completely and creates a creamy emulsion with the potato's natural starches.technique180°F
- ✓Cook ground beef to 160°F internal temperature but break it into small 1/4-inch pieces for even browning and better distribution across the potato surface.technique160°F, 1/4-inch pieces
- ✓Use low-moisture mozzarella or aged cheddar for the final cheese topping because high-moisture cheeses release excess water during the 8-10 minute melt phase, making the potato soggy.ingredient