These healthy stuffed sweet potatoes feature ground turkey, a quick homemade buffalo sauce AND a homemade ranch drizzle. SO good!
If you're looking for a healthier way to enjoy that lick-your-fingers goodness of buffalo sauce, you've come to the right place!
My healthy stuffed sweet potatoes include ground turkey mixed with a super simple homemade buffalo sauce. Sauteed spinach adds an extra nutritional boost and a quick homemade ranch takes this weeknight dinner over the top.
If you want more ways to turn baked sweet potatoes into an entree, make sure to check out my baked sweet potato filling ideas below the recipe! I would love to hear your favorite toppings in the comments as well.
Buffalo Turkey Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
For the Turkey Stuffed Sweet Potatoes:
- 4 small sweet potatoes
- 1 T olive oil
- 2.5 oz baby spinach
- 1 # ground turkey
For the Ranch:
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 T dill
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup avocado mayonnaise
- 2T - 1/4 cup buttermilk* (or sub almond milk)
For the Buffalo Sauce:
- 1/4 cup grass-fed butter
- 1 T white vinegar
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
Instructions
For the Ranch:
- In a small container combine: 2tsp salt + 1tsp garlic powder + 1tsp onion powder + 1T dried dill + 1/4tsp black pepper.
- In a medium container combine: 2tsp of ranch seasoning + 1/2c mayonnaise.
- Start w/ ~2T buttermilk (or replace w/ almond milk) and stir until desired consistency. Add more buttermilk as needed.
For the Buffalo Sauce:
- In a small pot add: 1/4c hot sauce + 1/4c butter + 1T white vinegar. Heat on medium-low heat and stir until butter is melted and well combined.
For the Turkey Stuffed Sweet Potatoes:
- Pierce 4 sweet potatoes and bake in oven ~ 45 mins to an hour, until knife slices in easily.
- Heat 1T olive oil over med-high heat. Add 1# ground turkey. Cook, breaking up meat, until fully cooked.
- Stir in buffalo sauce (note: buffalo sauce is spicy. Start w/ a few tablespoons for less heat), turn heat to low and simmer 10 mins.
- Stir in 2.5oz spinach and cook 1-2 mins.
- Slice the sweet potato lengthwise, mash the inside and top w/ turkey/ spinach mixture.
- Drizzle top w/ Ranch dressing.
Notes
What is the nutrition like in these healthy stuffed sweet potatoes?
This is definitely the kind of meal that will make you feel good, in addition to tasting good. It has all of the components of a satisfying meal: lean protein, real food carbs and healthy fats. I always say flavor comes first (if no one wants to eat it, who cares how healthy it is?!) but I admit I also enjoy thinking about all of the nutritional goodness in the meals I'm serving my family.
If you love nerding out on nutrition like I do, here are some of the healthy nutrients you'll get from these healthy stuffed sweet potatoes:
Sweet Potatoes (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Manganese, Vitamin B6, Potassium)
Possibly the most nutrient-dense affordable food, sweet potatoes have a special protein that may fight cancer. Furthermore, sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins including 400% of your daily vitamin A needs!
Turkey (B Vitamins, Selenium, Zinc)
In addition to being a low fat source of protein, turkey contains significant amounts of B vitamins, selenium and zinc. B vitamins are important for cell and amino acid formation and energy. Selenium supports your thyroid and metabolism. Zinc is vital for many functions, including your immune system.
Spinach (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folic Acid, Iron, Calcium)
Low in carbs and packed with fiber, spinach is great for your eye health and may help prevent inflammation. Several studies have also shown that eating spinach may help lower blood pressure.
Avocado Mayo (lutein, protein, choline)
Always check the ingredient list to be sure but, in general, avocado mayo can be a healthy component of your diet. I personally always get the Primal Kitchen Avocado Mayo (<< not an affiliate, I just love it!). The ingredients are simply avocado oil, organic eggs, organic egg yolks, organic vinegar, sea salt and organic rosemary extract. I feel good about each of those ingredients individually so I consider the mayo as a whole a healthy item!
Avocado oil provides healthy fats through oleic acid. It's also high in lutein, which is good for your eyes.
Eggs are also high in lutein, as well as protein and choline, which is good for your brain.
Grass-Fed Butter (Vitamin A
If you have it ingrained in you that butter is a “bad” or “unhealthy” food, I gently encourage you to take a look at the nutritional benefits of high-quality grass-fed butter.
Compared to the butter made from milk from grain-fed cows, grass-fed butter has higher levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3s. Studies also show that grass-fed butter is much higher (up to 500%!) in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA may help fight cancer. This is perhaps the greatest nutritional benefit of grass-fed butter.
Grass-fed butter is also higher in Vitamin K2 than conventional butter.
Can I meal prep these turkey stuffed sweet potatoes?
Yes! These turkey stuffed sweet potatoes are perfect for meal prep. Here's how:
First, bake the sweet potatoes. Make sure to let them cool before storing in the fridge.
Next, make the ranch dressing. (Feel free to double up on this one to use as a veggie dip throughout the week!)
Make the buffalo sauce.
Cook the turkey, adding the buffalo sauce and spinach, and store in the fridge.
With these steps completed, all you'll need to do on dish day is assemble! Reheat the sweet potatoes, either in the oven at 350F for 20 minutes, or in the microwave. Reheat the turkey on the stove top. Slice the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise and top with turkey mixture. Drizzle with ranch and buffalo sauce and enjoy!
How else can I use this homemade buffalo sauce recipe?
I don't know about you but I feel like a good homemade sauce can really make or break a meal. In particular, a somewhat spicy sauce like this homemade buffalo sauce, allows you to add spice to your dinner, without burning the kiddos' mouths.
So if you love this sauce as much as I do, here are some more fun ways to incorporate it into your meal plan:
- Mix with slow cooker shredded chicken. Enjoy on salads, in wraps, or atop a baked sweet potato!
- Brush cauliflower with buffalo sauce, sprinkle with salt and roast at 400F for 20-30 minutes.
- Drizzle on simple baked chicken drumsticks or wings.
- Add to fried of poached eggs.
- Use as a dip for these gluten free chicken tenders.
- Drizzle homemade buffalo sauce over your favorite hummus for a spicy kick.
More Baked Sweet Potato Filling Ideas
There are so many directions you can take these stuffed sweet potatoes. Southwest, Mediterranean, you can't go wrong! Here are a few of my favorite baked sweet potato filling ideas but definitely experiment and make this concept your own. (You'll find options for vegetarian stuffed sweet potatoes below too!)
- Southwest toppings: ground beef or black beans, chopped green onions, shredded cheddar, diced tomatoes or your favorite salsa
- Mediterranean toppings: shredded chicken or chickpeas, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley or basil, sliced kalamata olives, scoop of hummus or drizzle of tahini sauce
- Shredded Chicken + a Sauce: This is a very simple recipe for a delicious dinner! Top a baked sweet potato with shredded chicken and add basil aioli, pesto, chimichurri, bbq sauce or my sweet and spicy chili sauce. Super simple, but you'll have a totally different dinner every time!
I want more healthy meal prep sweet potato recipes!
Want more healthy sweet potato recipes? You've come to the right place 🙂 I LOVE sweet potatoes and cook them, in at least one form, almost every week. While I'm a big fan of the simple baked sweet potato, sometimes I like to take it up a notch. Here are three of my all-time favorite sweet potato recipes:
Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls
This is another one you can really vary with the toppings you choose. You'll find plenty of sweet and savory topping suggestions, as well as meal prep instructions.
Sweet Potato Frittata
Frittatas are one of my favorite breakfast options. They're savory, protein-packed and can be completely prepped ahead. What's not to love?? If you haven't tried sweet potatoes in your frittata, I urge you to give this one a try!
Sweet Potato Pear Soup
This silky, pureed soup has only 7 ingredients and comes together quickly. With savory garlic and onions and sweet pears and sweet potatoes, it strikes that perfect balance of sweet and savory. This one also freezes quite well!
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