Description
This Cottage Cheese Ground Beef And Sweet Potato Bowls recipe offers a hearty, nutritious, and flavorful meal combining roasted sweet potatoes, spiced ground beef, fresh greens, and a creamy cottage cheese sauce. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s perfect for a balanced weeknight dinner, blending savory, smoky, and tangy elements in a wholesome bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato and Vegetables
- 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups baby spinach or mixed greens
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or green onions
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
Ground Beef and Spices
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 cup water or beef broth
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (remaining from the divided amount)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (remaining from the divided amount)
Cottage Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup cottage cheese (2% or 4% milkfat)
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce or sriracha (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy roasting and cleanup.
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Place the peeled and cubed sweet potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of black pepper, then toss to coat evenly. Spread in a single layer to ensure even roasting.
- Roast Sweet Potatoes: Roast the sweet potatoes for 20–25 minutes in the preheated oven, flipping them once halfway through. They should become tender inside and slightly caramelized on the edges.
- Cook Ground Beef: While the sweet potatoes roast, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook it, breaking it up with a spatula, until it’s fully browned and no longer pink.
- Drain Excess Fat: If necessary, drain any excess grease from the skillet to reduce fat content before continuing.
- Season Beef: Return the skillet to heat and sprinkle the cooked beef with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, chili powder, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well to coat evenly.
- Simmer with Liquid: Pour in the water or beef broth and scrape up any browned bits from the skillet bottom. Let this simmer for 1–2 minutes until slightly reduced and the beef is juicy and flavorful.
- Make Cottage Cheese Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and hot sauce or sriracha if using. Stir until creamy and well blended. Taste and adjust with additional salt or lemon juice as desired.
- Prepare Garnishes: Thinly slice the red onion and chop the fresh parsley or green onions while the beef finishes cooking.
- Assemble Bowls – Greens: Place a handful of baby spinach or mixed greens into the bottom of each serving bowl.
- Add Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Evenly divide the roasted sweet potatoes among the bowls, layering them over the greens.
- Add Seasoned Beef: Spoon the spiced ground beef over the sweet potatoes in each bowl.
- Add Cottage Cheese Sauce: Dollop or drizzle the creamy cottage cheese mixture over the warm beef and sweet potatoes for a rich, tangy contrast.
- Finish Bowls: Top each bowl with sliced red onion and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley or green onions for freshness and color.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve immediately. Toss all ingredients together just before eating so the creamy cottage cheese coats the beef, sweet potatoes, and greens beautifully.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef (90% lean or higher) to reduce excess fat and grease.
- Sweet potatoes can be roasted ahead of time and reheated to save time during assembly.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce in the cottage cheese mixture to your preferred spice level.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute cottage cheese and Greek yogurt with a plant-based yogurt and soft tofu blend.
- Adding fresh herbs like cilantro or basil can add another layer of flavor.
- Make sure to roast sweet potatoes evenly in a single layer for the best caramelization.
- This recipe can be easily doubled for meal prep or larger groups.
