Easy Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Lettuce Wraps

Okay, so, ground turkey and sweet potato aren’t the flashiest combo, but listen—these lettuce wraps are the ultimate weeknight hero. They’re filling without being heavy, kinda healthy but definitely satisfying. Plus, wrapping everything up in crisp lettuce leaves gives you that perfect crunch and freshness that just makes the whole thing sing. If you’re trying to eat cleaner, or just wanna feel a little less like an all-carb zombie at dinner, this recipe’s where it’s at.

My husband is stubborn about trying new veggies, but when I brought these wraps to the table, he went back for seconds like three times. I swear, the sweet potato sneakily makes this feel way more indulgent than ground turkey normally would. It’s become one of those go-to “what’s for dinner” answers in our house because it’s quick, it’s not a hot mess to clean up afterward, and it tastes like you actually put some effort in—without, like, actually doing that.

How to Make It

Alright, here’s the deal. You start by browning up that ground turkey in a skillet. Get a little sizzle going—don’t crowd the pan or your meat won’t brown properly, and nobody wants sad gray turkey. While that’s happening, toss in some diced sweet potato right after the turkey starts to lose its pink. The small pieces cook faster, so dice ‘em small unless you want to be waiting forever.

Then, the magic happens—you stir in a mix of soy sauce (or tamari if you’re gluten-free), a little honey or brown sugar if you want that sweet-salty dance, and garlic and ginger for a little punch. Everything simmers just enough to get the flavors cozy together.

Once it’s all cooked through and fragrant, scoop it into washed, crunchy lettuce leaves. I like romaine for the sturdiness or butter lettuce if you want drama. Top with whatever you have on hand—scallions, chopped peanuts, maybe a little hot sauce for a kick.

✔Ingredient Notes

– Ground Turkey: The star protein, lean and quick to cook but can dry out if you overcook it—so keep an eye!
– Sweet Potato: Dice it small! Think tiny cubes so it softens at the same pace as the turkey, and gives little hits of sweet comfort.
– Soy Sauce: Goes in for that salty depth. Swap for tamari if you’re avoiding gluten, same vibe, different bottle.
– Honey or Brown Sugar: Gives you that sweet-salty balance, a little sparkle that makes everything pop.
– Lettuce Leaves: Your wrap vehicle. Romaine is crunchy and sturdy, butter lettuce is softer and more delicate—choose your fighter.
– Garlic and Ginger: Don’t cheap out here! Fresh is best, but if you’re lazy, powder can work in a pinch.

✔Recipe Steps

1. Heat a drizzle of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add ground turkey and break it up with your spoon; cook until no longer pink.
3. Toss in diced sweet potatoes and stir, cooking until they start to soften.
4. Stir in soy sauce, honey (or brown sugar), garlic, ginger, and cook until everything melds together and sweet potatoes are tender.
5. Remove from heat and prepare your lettuce leaves by washing and drying them well.
6. Spoon the turkey-sweet potato mixture into the leaves, top with any extras you like, and dig in!

What to Serve It With

Honestly, these wraps are a meal on their own, but I love pairing them with a simple cucumber salad or some crunchy pickled carrots to balance the sweet and savory. If you’re feeling wild, a side of kimchi or a quick slaw with a zingy dressing amps up the freshness.

✔Tips & Mistakes

Don’t skimp on the washing and drying of your lettuce—you want crisp, not soggy. Also, chopping the sweet potato too big means longer cook times, and nobody’s got that kind of patience on a weeknight. And hey, if the turkey starts to dry out, just splash a bit more soy sauce or a touch of water and cover to steam it briefly.

✔Storage Tips

If you’ve got leftovers (good for you), store the turkey sweet potato filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Lettuce leaves get soggy if stored with the filling, so keep those separate. It actually reheats pretty well—even cold it’s not bad, kind of like a salad topping situation. And no judgment if you eat it cold for breakfast… I’ve been there.

✔Variations and Substitutions

You can swap ground turkey for ground chicken or even beef if you want richer flavor. Sweet potato could be replaced with butternut squash or regular potatoes if that’s what you have—just adjust cooking times. Honey and brown sugar are interchangeable here; I use whatever’s in the pantry. Soy sauce can be swapped with tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free options. Oh, and if you don’t have fresh garlic or ginger, powders work in a pinch but fresh keeps it really bright.

Frequently Asked Questions

Easy Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Lettuce Wraps

These light and flavorful lettuce wraps combine lean ground turkey with sweet potatoes for a delicious, healthy dinner option that’s quick to prepare.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb ground turkey
• ▢ 2 cups diced sweet potatoes peeled
• ▢ 1 tbsp olive oil
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 1 tsp ground cumin
• ▢ 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
• ▢ 1 pinch red pepper flakes optional
• ▢ 8 leaves butter lettuce washed, for wrapping
• ▢ 0.25 cups chopped fresh cilantro
• ▢ 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
• ▢ 0.5 tsp salt
• ▢ 0.25 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Add ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 6-8 minutes.
• Stir in diced sweet potatoes, cumin, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another 8-10 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender.
• Remove from heat, stir in fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro.
• Spoon the turkey and sweet potato mixture into butter lettuce leaves, wrap, and serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight meal and can be customized by adding avocado or your favorite hot sauce.