Looking for a dinner that’s healthy, delicious, and feels like a fun twist on taco night? Look no further than these Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes! This recipe is the perfect mash up of cozy comfort food and your favorite taco flavors. Imagine a perfectly baked sweet potato, fluffy and sweet, piled high with savory, spiced ground beef, and all your favorite fresh toppings.
It’s a brilliant way to enjoy a satisfying meal that’s naturally gluten free, packed with nutrients, and so easy to customize for everyone at the table. Kids and adults alike will love building their own potato “boats” with all the fixings. Best of all, it comes together in about 30 minutes, making it the ultimate weeknight winner. Let’s get cooking!
Why You’ll Love These Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Healthy & Satisfying: Sweet potatoes are loaded with fiber, vitamins, and natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with the savory taco meat. It’s a balanced meal in one handy package.
- Endlessly Customizable: Set up a toppings bar and let everyone create their perfect potato! Cheese, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, corn, jalapeños; the possibilities are endless.
- 30 Minute Weeknight Hero: Thanks to the microwave for the potatoes and a quick skillet for the meat, you can have this hearty dinner on the table in half an hour.
- Family Friendly & Fun: This is a meal that gets everyone involved. Kids especially love the hands on aspect of loading up their own potato.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Bake a batch of sweet potatoes and cook a big batch of taco meat on the weekend for easy, heat and eat lunches all week.
Let’s Make Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
This recipe is all about efficient multitasking: get the potatoes cooking while you whip up the easy taco filling.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Potatoes & Filling:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (about 12-14 oz each)
- 1 pound lean ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
- 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet (about 2-3 tbsp) taco seasoning
- 1 cup chunky salsa (mild, medium, or hot)
- ¼ to ½ cup water
For the Toppings (Choose Your Favorites!):
- Shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese
- Diced fresh tomato or pico de gallo
- Diced avocado or prepared guacamole
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Sliced black olives
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sliced jalapeños
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice
Step by Step Instructions
1Cook the Sweet Potatoes: This is the hands off step that makes this recipe so fast. Thoroughly wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Use a fork to poke several holes all over each potato (this allows steam to escape).
Microwave Method (Quickest): Place the potatoes on a microwave safe plate. Microwave on high for 8-10 minutes, turning them over halfway through. They are done when you can easily pierce them with a fork. If needed, cook in 1-2 minute increments. Let them cool for a few minutes.
Oven Method (More Caramelized Flavor): Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub potatoes with a little oil, place on a baking sheet, and bake for 45-60 minutes until tender.
2Make the Taco Filling: While the potatoes cook, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic during the last minute of cooking. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
3Season the Meat: Reduce the heat to medium low. Add the taco seasoning packet and 1 cup of salsa to the skillet. Stir until everything is well combined. Let it simmer for 3-5 minutes so the flavors can meld. The mixture will be thick. Add ¼ cup of water to loosen it to a saucy, spoonable consistency. You can add the remaining ¼ cup if you prefer it saucier.
4Assemble Your Masterpieces: Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice each one lengthwise down the middle. Use a fork to gently fluff the soft, orange flesh inside; this makes the perfect bed for the toppings and helps the flavors mix.
Spoon a generous amount of the warm taco meat mixture over each potato.
Let everyone top their own potato with their favorite toppings!
Serving Suggestions & Expert Tips
- The Fluffing Trick: Don’t skip fluffing the potato insides with a fork! It creates little nooks and crannies for the taco meat and toppings to settle into, ensuring you get every flavor in one bite.
- Lean Protein: Using 90% or 93% lean ground beef means there’s very little grease to drain, making the process even easier. Ground turkey or chicken are excellent lean alternatives.
- Customize the Flavor: Use your favorite store bought taco seasoning or make your own blend with chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Adjust the salsa heat level to suit your family.
- Make it a Feast: Serve with a simple side salad, a bowl of tortilla chips, or some Mexican style rice and beans.
- Leftovers: Store components separately for best results. The taco meat will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge. Reheat the meat and potatoes separately before assembling.
This recipe is proof that the best dinners are often the simplest. These Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are guaranteed to become a new family favorite!
Easy Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
For the Potatoes & Filling:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes 12-14 oz each
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 packet 2-3 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 cup chunky salsa
- ¼ - ½ cup water
Suggested Toppings:
- Shredded cheese diced tomato, avocado/guacamole, sour cream, cilantro
Instructions
- Cook Potatoes: Poke potatoes with a fork. Microwave on high for 8-10 mins, turning halfway, until tender. Let cool slightly.
- Make Filling: In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium high until browned. Drain grease. Add garlic; cook 1 min.
- Season: Reduce heat to medium low. Stir in taco seasoning and salsa. Simmer 3-5 mins. Add water to desired consistency.
- Assemble: Slice potatoes open lengthwise. Fluff insides with a fork. Spoon taco meat over potatoes. Add desired toppings.
Notes
- Oven Option: Bake potatoes at 400°F for 45-60 mins for deeper caramelized flavor.
- Protein: Ground turkey or chicken work great.
- Meal Prep: Cook components ahead; assemble when ready to eat.
