Protein Loaded Sweet Potato Boats Recipe
These Protein Loaded Sweet Potato Boats are a delicious and nutritious meal featuring roasted sweet potatoes filled with a creamy, spiced mixture of beans, cottage cheese, and cheese. Topped with fresh avocado, lime, cilantro, and pepitas, they’re perfect for a hearty vegetarian lunch or dinner that’s packed with protein and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (10–12 oz each)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, divided
- Black pepper, to taste
Filling
- 1 can (15.5 oz) black or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 4 oz shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, or Monterey Jack), divided
Toppings (optional)
- Hot sauce
- Diced avocado
- Lime wedges
- Pepitas
Instructions
- Roast Sweet Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Slice each sweet potato in half lengthwise, rub the cut sides with olive oil, and season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Place the sweet potatoes cut side down on a baking sheet and roast for 25–30 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
- Prepare Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the drained and rinsed beans, cottage cheese, chopped cilantro, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, half of the shredded cheese, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. If desired, add hot sauce to give it a spicy kick. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Scoop and Mash: Let the roasted sweet potatoes cool slightly. Carefully scoop out the flesh from each skin, leaving the skins intact. Mash the sweet potato flesh into the bean mixture until creamy and well incorporated.
- Crisp Potato Skins: Preheat the broiler. Place the empty potato skins on a baking sheet and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top. Broil for about 2 minutes until the cheese is melted and the skins become crispy. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Assemble and Broil: Spoon the creamy sweet potato and bean filling back into the crispy skins. Top with the remaining shredded cheese and return to the broiler for 2–4 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Add Toppings: Remove from the oven and top each sweet potato boat with diced avocado, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, additional cilantro, pepitas, and extra hot sauce if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Customize toppings to your preference—salsa, Greek yogurt, or shredded chicken are great protein-packed additions.
- This dish is excellent for meal prep; simply reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
- Use your favorite shredded cheese variety such as cheddar, pepper jack, or Monterey Jack for different flavor profiles.
- Adjust spices to taste for more or less heat and smokiness.
Keywords: sweet potato boats, protein loaded, vegetarian, healthy dinner, bean filling, roasted sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, easy meal prep
Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/protein-loaded-sweet-potato-boats-recipe/