Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes

These Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes are inspired by the viral TikTok trend but elevated with savory ground beef, creamy cottage cheese, avocado, and a fiery hot honey drizzle. Cozy, filling, and high in protein, this dish makes a satisfying and flavorful weeknight dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

With bold flavors and balanced nutrition, this recipe transforms humble sweet potatoes into a hearty, crave-worthy meal. The rich beef filling, creamy cottage cheese, buttery avocado, and spicy-sweet hot honey come together in a perfect flavor explosion. It’s great for meal prep, easy to customize, and gluten-free.

ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

Sweet Potatoes:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• Olive or avocado oil, for rubbing
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Butter, for serving

Ground Beef:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup beef broth

Hot Honey:

• 1/4 cup hot honey
• 1 tablespoon sriracha
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
• 1/2 tablespoon vinegar (white or apple cider)

Toppings:

• Cottage cheese, as needed
• 1 avocado, thinly sliced or mashed

directions

1. Roast Sweet Potatoes: Wash and pierce sweet potatoes several times. Rub with oil, season with salt and pepper, and air fry at 400°F for 45–50 minutes, flipping halfway, until fork-tender.
2. Cook Ground Beef: Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes until browned.
3. Stir in onion powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch. Pour in beef broth and simmer 3–5 minutes until thickened.
4. Make Hot Honey: In a small bowl, whisk together hot honey, sriracha, red pepper flakes, and vinegar. Set aside.
5. Assemble: Slice open roasted sweet potatoes and add butter. Mash lightly to mix. Top with cooked ground beef, a dollop of cottage cheese, and sliced or mashed avocado.
6. Drizzle with hot honey and serve warm.

Servings and timing

This recipe yields 4 servings.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cooking Time: 55 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Calories: Approximately 480 kcal per serving

Variations

• Vegetarian Version: Use lentils, black beans, or a plant-based meat alternative instead of ground beef.
• Cheese Swap: Replace cottage cheese with Greek yogurt or a soft cheese like ricotta.
• Mild Option: Reduce or omit red pepper flakes and sriracha for a milder flavor.
• Tex-Mex Twist: Add corn, black beans, or chopped tomatoes to the beef mixture.
• Different Protein: Ground turkey or chicken also works well in place of beef.

storage/reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, warm sweet potatoes and beef separately in the microwave or oven. Add toppings and hot honey just before serving.

FAQs

Can I use regular potatoes instead of sweet potatoes?

Yes, but the flavor profile will change. Sweet potatoes add natural sweetness that complements the spicy toppings.

Is this dish spicy?

It has a mild to moderate kick. You can adjust spice levels by altering the hot honey components.

Can I make this dairy-free?

Yes, omit the butter and cottage cheese or use dairy-free alternatives.

How do I make this meal prep-friendly?

Roast sweet potatoes and cook beef in advance. Assemble with fresh toppings when ready to eat.

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

You can bake the sweet potatoes in the oven at 400°F for about 50–60 minutes.

Can I freeze the ground beef mixture?

Yes, it freezes well for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat before assembling.

What can I substitute for hot honey?

Mix regular honey with a bit of cayenne or chili powder if you don’t have hot honey.

Can I make the hot honey less spicy?

Yes, reduce the sriracha and red pepper flakes to your liking.

Is cottage cheese necessary?

No, but it adds creaminess and protein. You can skip or replace it with your favorite creamy topping.

Can I use pre-cooked sweet potatoes?

Absolutely. Just reheat before assembling.

Conclusion

Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes bring a delicious mix of savory, creamy, spicy, and sweet to the table. Packed with protein and customizable to your taste, this simple yet impressive dish is perfect for busy weeknights or casual entertaining.

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