Name: Hot Honey Cottage Cheese Sweet Potato Beef Bowl
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 pound sweet potatoes (about 2 large, cut into ¾-inch cubes); 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean); 2 clove garlic cloves (minced); 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon ground cumin; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ¾ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 2 cup cottage cheese (small curd, 2% or 4%); 4 tablespoon hot honey; 2 scallions (thinly sliced); 1 ripe avocado (sliced; optional)

Instructions

Roast the sweet potatoes
Roast the sweet potatoes:
Preheat the oven to 425°F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss 2 pounds cubed sweet potatoes with 1½ tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder. Spread them in a single layer and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender and caramelized at the edges.
Cook the beef
Cook the beef:
While the sweet potatoes roast, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound lean ground beef and break it up with a spatula. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, until browned. Add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring. Drain any excess fat.
Assemble
Assemble:
Divide the roasted sweet potatoes and seasoned beef evenly among 4 bowls. Add ½ cup cottage cheese to each sweet potato beef bowl.
Hot honey drizzle
Hot honey drizzle:
Drizzle 1 tablespoon hot honey over each bowl. Top each with a quarter of the 2 sliced scallions and a quarter of the sliced avocado, if using, and serve your hot honey beef bowls warm.

Tips

Cut the sweet potatoes into even cubes and don't crowd the pan; use 2 baking sheets if needed so they caramelize instead of steaming. To make your own hot honey, warm ¼ cup honey with 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes and ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar for 1 minute. Using 90% lean beef keeps the bowl lighter while staying juicy.

Storage

For meal prep, store the beef and sweet potatoes together in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and keep the cottage cheese and hot honey separate. Microwave the beef and sweet potatoes for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the cold toppings. The beef and sweet potatoes freeze well for up to 3 months; don't freeze the cottage cheese.

Serving suggestions

Serve the sweet potato beef bowl on its own or over rice, quinoa, or a bed of baby spinach. A fried egg, pickled red onions, or a sprinkle of feta are great extra toppings.