Tacos, the simple, delicious, go-to meal during the weeknights when things are busy and I’m not in the mood to cook. We decided to step up the meal prep game a notch recently by swapping out taco shells for sweet potatoes and boy were we surprised at how good this recipe came out! Sweet potatoes keep extremely well in the fridge and are a great meal prep item, let alone stuffed full of spicy, zesty taco meat and toppings.
Taco Stuffed Sweet Potato Toppings
In this taco stuffed sweet potato recipe we use toppings such as ripe tomatoes, black beans, avocado and cheese. If you’re feeling creative, other great toppings for this recipe include sour cream, lettuce, chickpeas and cabbage. You could even top with a little tropical fruit or salsa to give them that island feel while you’re sitting at your desk eating lunch mid-day. Now who wouldn’t want that?!
Are Sweet Potatoes Good For You
For this recipe we use sweet potatoes, mainly because when we came up with this recipe, that was the type of potato we had in the kitchen. That being said, we do also program sweet potatoes with this taco stuffed recipe to our clients on their customized weekly meal plans because they’re great for building muscle, balancing blood sugar levels, and delivering a wider variety of nutrients.
Sweet Potato Nutrition
- Calories: 103
- Protein: 2.3 g
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbs: 23.6 g
- Fiber: 3.8 g
- Vitamin A: 438% DV
- Vitamin C: 37% DV
- Vitamin B6: 16% DV
- Manganese: 28% DV
- Copper: 9% DV
- Potassium: 15% DV
- Glycemic Load: 50-60
Potato Vs Sweet Potato - Is There A Difference?
Both regular and sweet potatoes provide nutrients and a very similar macronutrient profile. The biggest difference between the two potatoes, and one that you should consider, is the glycemic load and how they affect blood sugar levels when consumed. Regular potatoes, like Russet potatoes for example, are higher on the glycemic index than sweet potatoes and can increase blood sugar mores than a sweet potato. That being said, as compared to a regular potato, regular potatoes have 0% vitamin A, which is the most abundant vitamin found in a Sweet Potato.
RELATED: Sweet Potato Brownie Recipe
Meat For Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
This recipe does call for ground beef, and this is also the type of meat we most often make it with. However, because of the taco seasoning, this recipe can also be made with other ground meats like ground turkey or ground chicken. In fact, you can also make this recipe vegan/vegetarian friendly by using Garden Ground Beef or Impossible plant-based burger meat. If you do wish to make this recipe vegan or vegetarian friendly, we do recommend opting out of the cheese, using a vegan friendly cheese, and using a plant-based sour cream alternative as a topping.
RELATED: Potato vs Sweet Potato - What’s The Difference
Meal Prep Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Serves 8
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs lean ground beef (can also use turkey or chicken)
- 1 medium red onion
- 1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 can black beans
- 1 cup Pico de Gallo
- 8-10 oz sweet potatoes
- 8 Roma tomatoes
- 4 medium avocados
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
Directions
- Wash the sweet potatoes (so you can eat the skin). Use a fork and poke holes in the potatoes, then align them on a baking sheet.
- Roast the potatoes at 425 for 45-60 minutes (or until you can insert a knife and the potatoes are soft/cooked all the way through)
- In a medium pan, add garlic and onion, taco seasoning, and beef, cooking until browned
- Add the salsa to the meat and cook for 2-4 minutes
- Once the potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and line in a row on the counter. Take a knife and cut them in the middle squishing them to open. Spoon in the mixture evenly and top with 1 chopped Roma tomato each, adding avocado and cheese, black beans, as well as sour cream as desired.
- Store in individual containers for up to 8 days.
Sweet Potatoes For Diabetics
For those with type 2 diabetes, not all potatoes are created equal. This is where sweet potatoes can really shine, whether in their natural state or in a powder form. Pro tip? Make sure to eat the skin, as this is where most of the fiber of the potato is. Combine it with a lean protein, like the lean ground beef in this recipe, as well as other non-starch vegetables, like leafy greens or cruciferous vegetables. That being said, you may want to boil the sweet potatoes if you’re making this recipe and do have type 2 diabetes, as this has been found to be the lowest glycemic way to prepare them, as compared to baking, roasting, or frying. [R]
The Best Sweet Potato Powder - Carb Supplement
Your body needs carbohydrates for optimal performance and recovery during high-intensity and endurance training. But, not all carbohydrates are created equal. Swolverine's Clean Carbs is made with 100% natural whole-foods from complex carbohydrates, including Sweet potatoes, Yams, Oats, and Blueberries to provide the long-lasting and sustained energy your body needs to fuel performance and optimize recovery. Delicious and rich you can add it to your smoothies, shakes, or mix with water, for a rich and tasty treat.
Meal Prep Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: Takeaway
Your weekly meal prep doesn't have to be boring and bland, believe it or not. With these easy to meal prep taco stuffed sweet potatoes you're going to be well on your way to your aesthetic and performance goals one delicious bite at a time.
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