35 Minute Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash Joy

Are you tired of weeknight meals that take forever but still leave you feeling hungry an hour later? Me too! That’s why I always turn back to my skillet when I need something fast, satisfying, and packed with flavor. Today, I’m sharing the recipe that brings back wonderful travel memories: the **Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash**.

When I was exploring markets in Turkey, the air was thick with bold spices and roasted vegetables—I learned how to blend powerful flavors into hearty, honest meals. Recreating that warmth at home inspired this hash. It’s perfect for a high-protein breakfast or a lightning-fast, gluten-free dinner. Trust me, this simple comfort food will become your new go-to, just like it did for me!

You can check out my guide on making dinner ideas foolproof right here!

Why This Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash Works for You

I love this hash because it solves all my weeknight problems without sacrificing taste or nutrition. Seriously, you can have this entire thing on the table in under 35 minutes. That’s barely enough time to decide what to watch on TV!

It’s also incredibly balanced. Whether you need a big, fueling breakfast or a clean, high-protein dinner idea, this recipe fits the bill perfectly. Plus, since we aren’t using any weird binders, this naturally fits into your delicious 5-ingredient meal rotation (even before you swap out the sweet potatoes if you’re going strict keto).

Here’s why you’re going to keep making this over and over again:

• Speed Demon: Ready in just 35 minutes total downtime. Perfect for those nights when you’re starving! Check out my quick dinner tips here.
• Powerhouse Protein: Using ground turkey keeps the fat down but the protein way up, making it really satisfying.
• Flex Appeal: It’s fantastic with a runny egg on top in the morning, or just served straight from the skillet at night.

Gathering Ingredients for Your Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash

Okay, let’s talk about what you actually need to make this magic happen. This isn’t some complicated grocery list that requires a trip to a specialty store, which is why I absolutely love this ground turkey recipe for busy weeks. Everything here is straightforward, but the combination of spices really punches up the flavor profile.

You’re going to need two sections of ingredients—the main chunky stuff and the spices that give it that slight global warmth. Make sure your prep work is clean here, especially with those sweet potatoes; that’s where we get amazing texture!

Main Ingredients for the Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash

For the body of the hash, grab these items:

• 1 pound of lean ground turkey (I always grab 93/7, it keeps things lean but not totally dry).
• 2 large sweet potatoes—you want these chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 1.5 lbs total). Don’t peel them! That skin adds great texture.
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced.
• 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil—just enough to get things started in the pan.
• 1/4 cup of water to help steam those potatoes initially.
• 2 garlic cloves, minced very fine.
• Salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste—and don’t be shy with the fresh pepper!

Turkey Seasoning Blend

This small mix is going to make your whole kitchen smell incredible. We’re making a paste with these to ensure everything coats the meat evenly when we add it in later:

• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Yes, cinnamon in a savory hash! Trust me on this one.
• 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika. This adds such a lovely depth.
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg.
• 1 Tablespoon of water, just to bring the spices together into a workable paste.

Having these spices ready to go in a little dish means you can focus on getting those sweet potatoes tender without scrambling!

Essential Equipment for a Perfect Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash

You don’t need a ton of fancy gadgets for this, which is a win in my book! But you absolutely must have two key pieces. You’ll need a nice large skillet—and I mean large. If your pan is too small, those sweet potatoes will steam instead of getting those lovely little brown edges, and we definitely want browning!

You’ll also want a separate pan to cook the turkey in. Keeping the meat separate while the potatoes soften prevents everything from turning into mush. If you’re looking for more advice on temps and tools, check out my guide on essential dinner gear!

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash

Alright, here’s where the action happens! Making this Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash feels less like following a rigid recipe and more like a fun, rhythmic cooking dance. The key is managing two components—the softening potatoes and the browning turkey—at the same time. Don’t sweat it; I’ll walk you through my exact rhythm so you get that perfect texture!

Preparing the Sweet Potatoes and Aromatics

First things first, prep your stars! Give those sweet potatoes a good wash—we are keeping that skin on for nutrients and texture, remember? Chop them up into nice, even, bite-sized pieces. Think about half-inch chunks. Then, get your personality ingredients ready: dice that yellow onion finely and mince your garlic cloves super small so they melt right into the background flavor.

Cooking the Potatoes Until Tender

Now, time for heat! Get that big skillet going over medium heat and add your tablespoon of olive oil, the minced garlic, and the diced onion. Let that get fragrant for just a minute. Next, toss in your prepared sweet potatoes, the 1/4 cup of water, and season them lightly with salt and pepper. That water is important! Cover the skillet right away and let it simmer for about 5 to 7 minutes. You want them tender but not mushy. Keep stirring them often while they steam; nobody wants burnt bottoms on their sweet potatoes!

Seasoning and Combining the Turkey and Hash

While those potatoes are getting happy under the lid, grab your separate pan. Cook the ground turkey over medium heat until it’s totally done and crumbly—no pink left!

In a tiny bowl, quickly mix your cinnamon, paprika, salt, and nutmeg with that single tablespoon of water to form a thick paste. Stir this seasoning right into the cooked turkey until every piece is coated. Wow, that smells amazing already!

Finally, take the lid off your potatoes, dump that seasoned turkey right in there, and stir everything together vigorously until it’s all one glorious, fragrant hash. That’s it! Dinner (or breakfast!) is served.

Tips for Making Your Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash Amazing

We’ve got the basic recipe down, but that’s just the starting point! To really elevate this hash from ‘good’ to ‘must-make-again,’ you need a couple of little tricks up your sleeve. Remember, that cinnamon and paprika combination is already great, but we can push the texture further.

My favorite trick to get those edges on the sweet potatoes really caramelized is to skip the lid for the last five minutes of cooking. Once the potatoes are mostly tender, take the lid off and turn the heat up just slightly—medium-high should do it. Let that moisture cook off! You’ll hear them sizzle, and they’ll start to crisp up instead of just steaming.

Also, don’t be afraid to double up on the aromatics if you love garlic like I do. And if you want an extra layer of flavor, try tossing in a splash of apple cider vinegar right when you combine the turkey and potatoes. It wakes everything up!

For more ways to nail that perfect texture every time, you should check out my tips on getting things crispy outside and juicy inside. This hash works so well with that technique!

And if you’ve already tried this hash and want to see what another food explorer did, that other recipe link might give you some fun ideas, too!

Variations on This Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash

I think the best recipes are springboards, not dead ends! This ground turkey recipe is so wonderfully neutral that you can send it completely sideways with just a few additions. It’s perfect for when you get bored making the same thing every Tuesday night.

If you want to lean into more of those global flavors I found during my travels, try swapping out the cinnamon/nutmeg combo for something punchier. Smoked paprika, cumin, and a shake of oregano turn this into a beautiful Southwestern hash—amazing with a dollop of avocado!

For extra bulk and greens, wilt in some chopped kale or a cup of brightly colored bell peppers right when you add the turkey back in. The kale gets nice and crispy, and it’s an easy way to sneak in more veggies. Check out all my other fun ideas on the main recipes page!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash

I always cook too much of this hash because it tastes even better the next day, which is perfect for meal prep! When you have leftovers, seal them tightly in an airtight container. It keeps wonderfully in the fridge for about four full days.

When you’re ready to eat the leftovers, please, use the skillet! A quick toss over medium heat gets those sweet potato edges slightly crisp again. That’s the texture you want. Microwaving is fast, sure, but it just steams everything, which ruins the wonderful texture we worked so hard to create!

Frequently Asked Questions About Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash

I always get so many great questions after I post a recipe, and that’s totally fine! It means you’re thinking about how to customize it for your life. This hash is pretty flexible, but here are the most common things people ask me when they want to make this a staple in their rotation.

Can I make this Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash keto-friendly?

That’s the big sticking point, right? Since sweet potatoes have carbs, for a strict gluten free meals adjustment to keto, you definitely need a swap. I personally use butternut squash cubes instead since they behave almost identically in the skillet during that initial steaming phase. Another great option that cooks up nicely is cauliflower florets—they soak up the spices wonderfully!

What other ground turkey recipe spices work well here?

Oh, you can have so much fun here! If you want to take this ground turkey recipe in a totally different direction, forget the cinnamon and nutmeg. Instead, double the smoked paprika, add a teaspoon of cumin, and toss in half a teaspoon of chili powder. It transforms the hash into something with a fantastic Southwestern flair. It’s still quick, but the flavor profile is completely shifted!

If you’re looking for more ideas on balancing those supper flavors, check out my section on simple, balanced suppers.

Is this a good high protein dinner idea for meal prep?

Absolutely, that’s one of the main reasons I developed this! It makes fantastic leftovers. Cooking the turkey separately ensures you don’t overcook it when combining everything, so it reheats beautifully. I portion it out into four separate containers—this makes for an amazing, filling, and quick high protein dinner idea for lunch boxes or quick weeknight meals. Just reheat it slowly on the stove!

For more inspired dinner concepts, browse my list of lightened-up dinner ideas!

Estimated Nutritional Snapshot for Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash

I always get asked about the macros for this hash, especially since it’s one of my favorite high-protein dinner ideas that still feels wholesome. Based on the ingredients listed for four servings, here’s what you’re generally looking at coming off the stove:

• Calories: 254
• Carbohydrates: 21g
• Protein: 17g
• Fat: 11g
• Sodium: 437mg
• Fiber: 3g

Now, remember this is just an estimate! If you use fattier turkey or sneak in extra olive oil, those numbers change immediately. If you’re planning your week’s grocery list, this is a great starting point, which you can see more about in my guide to creating a cheap keto grocery list!

Share Your Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash Creations

Okay, now comes the fun part for me—seeing what *you* do with this recipe! I truly put my heart into this Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet Hash because it’s become such a staple around my house, and now it’s yours too!

Did you stick to the smoky spices, or did you get brave and try those Southwestern flavors I mentioned? Seriously, I’m dying to know how the sweet potatoes turned out for you—did they get crisp, or did you keep them softer?

If you gave this a whirl, please take a second and come back here to rate the recipe. Five stars if you loved it, but even if you only gave it three, tell me why! Your feedback helps me tweak things for the next reader.

I love seeing photos! Tag me on social media so I can ooh and aah over your beautiful skillets. If you have detailed notes or questions, don’t be shy—my contact page is waiting for you right here!