These decadent Healthy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Apple & Caramelized Onion is a nutritious and more flavourful take on the classic steak house staple. These healthy stuffed sweet potatoes are twice baked and works as both a main or side dish.
Confession: I love the Keg. And I don’t just love anything about the Keg, I specifically go for their twice baked potato. Cheesy, buttery and as big as my head, I could happily go to the Keg, skip the big steak and make a meal out of a colossal Twice Baked Potato. I’ve really been missing it lately so I decided to make my own at home and share it with you guys!
Table of contents
Why This Recipe Works
This is a simple but delicious recipe that the whole family to love! If that’s not enough to convince you, then here’s a few more reasons of why you’ll love this healthy stuffed sweet potatoes recipe!
- They’re so hearty
- Full of flavour
- Perfect for entertaining or as a weeknight side dish
- Full of toasty cheesy goodness
Key Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes — Sweet potatoes are packed with fibre, minerals, and vitamins. Keep the skins on for extra added healthy benefits!
Onions — You know I love caramelized onions so it’s not surprising that we have some caramelized onions in this healthy stuffed sweet potatoes recipe.
Apples — The apples add a nice natural sweetness to this recipe and is a great way to use up random apples lying around the kitchen.
Turkey Sausage — High in protein, these turkey sausages helps make these stuffed sweet potatoes nice and hearty.
Cheese — We love our cheese around here! We use parmesan and Swiss cheese in our twice baked sweet potatoes.
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350F and line a tray with parchment paper. Scrub the sweet potatoes well, and poke holes into them. Rub with 2 teaspoons of oil, sprinkle with ¼ tsp salt and roast for 1 hour or until very tender when you piece them with a fork. Once cool enough to touch, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides into a bowl, leaving a thin shell around the edges.
Step 2: While the potato is roasting, heat two teaspoons of oil and the butter in a large skillet over medium low heat. Add in the onions and coat them in the oil. Stirring every 5 minutes, let the onions cook until it reaches a caramelized amber colour, about 40 to 50 minutes. Add in the balsamic, thyme, and a pinch each of salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Set aside.
Step 3: Add the turkey sausage to a small skillet with 1 teaspoon of oil and break up the meat into small pieces. Cook until well browned then set aside.
Step 4: In a bowl, mix the sweet potato insides with the cinnamon, maple syrup, caramelized onion, cooked turkey, diced apple, ½ cup Swiss cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper, to taste.
Step 5: Stuff the sweet potato shells with the mixture, then top with pecans, ¼ cup of swiss cheese and 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese. Place them in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes until the skin gets lightly crispy and the mixture warms through.
Expert Tips
Make this vegetarian friendly by swapping the turkey sausage for chickpeas, lentils, or tofu.
Have leftover shredded chicken in the fridge? Use it up in the sweet potato instead of turkey sausage.
Make sure you pick sweet potatoes that are similar in size so they bake evenly.
Be sure to pat dry your sweet potatoes after giving them a good scrub. If the sweet potatoes have water on them, then the oil you add to it to roast them won’t stick to the potatoes.
Recipe FAQs
You can! You can make just the sweet potato ahead of time and the stuffing the day of or make the whole stuffed sweet potato ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container and reheat in the oven. If you’re meal prepping and don’t have an oven, reheat this in the microwave.
I highly recommend you do! Caramelized onions add a layer of sweetness to your healthy stuffed sweet potatoes. Did you know you can freeze caramelized onions? If you don’t want to spend time making caramelized onions often, you can make a large batch ahead of time and freezing them in single serving portions.
Feel free to add more veggies to this to make this healthy stuffed sweet potatoes even more healthy. Try bell peppers, kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. Just be sure you make them bite sized pieces so they fit into your sweet potatoes nicely.
More Recipes You Might Like
Want more delicious recipes like my healthy stuffed sweet potatoes? Try these recipes:
- Crispy Vegan Baked Quesadilla
- Vegan Creamy Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Pasta
- Sloppy Joes with Portobello Mushrooms
- Sweet Potato Grilled Cheese Bites
Have you tried my Healthy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes? Leave me a comment below with your thoughts!
Healthy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Apple & Caramelized Onion
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes:
- 2 sweet potatoes
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Caramelized Onion:
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 sweet onion thinly sliced
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp thyme leaves
Filling:
- 3 lean turkey sausage casings removed
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 red apple finely diced
- 3/4 cup Swiss Cheese shredded, divided
- ¼ cup plus 2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese shredded, divided
- 1/3 cup pecans toasted and crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a tray with parchment paper.
- Scrub the sweet potatoes well, and poke holes into them. Rub with 2 teaspoons of oil, sprinkle with ¼ tsp salt and roast for 1 hour or until very tender when you piece them with a fork. Once cool enough to touch, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides into a bowl, leaving a thin shell around the edges.
- While the potato is roasting, heat two teaspoons of oil and the butter in a large skillet over medium low heat. Add in the onions and coat them in the oil. Stirring every 5 minutes, let the onions cook until it reaches a caramelized amber colour, about 40 to 50 minutes. Add in the balsamic, thyme, and a pinch each of salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Set aside.
- Finally, add the turkey sausage to a small skillet with 1 teaspoon of oil and break up the meat into small pieces. Cook until well browned then set aside.
- In a bowl, mix the sweet potato insides with the cinnamon, maple syrup, caramelized onion, cooked turkey, diced apple, ½ cup Swiss cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper, to taste.
- Stuff the sweet potato shells with the mixture, then top with pecans, ¼ cup of swiss cheese and 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese. Place them in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes until the skin gets lightly crispy and the mixture warms through.
Notes
- Make this vegetarian friendly by swapping the turkey sausage for chickpeas, lentils, or tofu.
- Have leftover shredded chicken in the fridge? Use it up in the sweet potato instead of turkey sausage.
- Make sure you pick sweet potatoes that are similar in size so they bake evenly.
- Be sure to pat dry your sweet potatoes after giving them a good scrub. If the sweet potatoes have water on them, then the oil you add to it to roast them won’t stick to the potatoes.
Nutrition
Updated on August 30th, 2022
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Jillian says
I have sweet potatoes right now that need to be used. This look fantastic!
Abbey Sharp says
Awesome! Enjoy 🙂
Kara Lydon says
This recipe sounds amazing! It sounds like it would make such a cool side dish for Thanksgiving!
Abbey Sharp says
Yes, perfect for fall 🙂
Kelly Jones says
Caramelized onion and anything, yes please!!! This combo sounds perfect for fall especially 🙂
Abbey Sharp says
Yes! totally. Thanks Kelly 🙂
Denise says
What a wonderful combination of sweet, savory and caramel! Can’t wait to give this a try!
Abbey Sharp says
Thanks Denise! Enjoy 🙂
Brynn at The Domestic Dietitian says
When you first wrote “i love kegs” I thought you meant beer kegs and I was going to say “now this is a girl after my own heart”. Lol this recipe sounds amazing!
Abbey Sharp says
haha still amazing lol! Thank you 🙂
Emily | EmPowered Nutrition says
Such a creative flavor combo!
Abbey Sharp says
thanks Emily 🙂
Ilka says
This is one delicious baked sweet potato recipe, Abbey!! Love that you added caramelized onion and apple!
Abbey Sharp says
Thanks Ilka! I hope you try! It’s super delicious 🙂
Esther says
I will have to try these without the onions! Darn allergies!
Love all the flavors represented!
Abbey Sharp says
Still tasty without! Thanks Esther, enjoy 🙂
Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com says
This looks so delicious! I think my entire family will absolutely love these!!
Abbey Sharp says
aw so glad! Enjoy Angela 🙂
lauren O'Connor says
Mmm – sweet potato heaven! And I absolutely love carmelized onions.
Abbey Sharp says
Yes! They’re the best 🙂
Chrissy @ Snacking in Sneakers says
These look like pretty much the most amazing comfort food ever. They will totally be made in my kitchen very shortly!
Abbey Sharp says
They’re sooo delicious! You’ll love it
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says
I could sub out the sausage for some mushrooms looks good!
Abbey Sharp says
yes! Works great 🙂
Kelly @ TastingPage says
I’ve never put caramelized onions on my sweet potato, but I think it’s a brilliant idea. Caramelized onions on anything is fab!
Abbey Sharp says
Yesss totally tasty
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I love this idea!!! I don’t know why, but I saw this and immediately thought “spinach dip.” Probably because that’s my favorite steakhouse app. I bet this would be a great base for a healthier dip!
Abbey Sharp says
Yes for sure! Sounds amazing 🙂
[email protected] says
WOW WOW WOW I love everything about this. Caramelized onions are such a great thing! I like to add Cream cheese in with my twice baked taters to make everything extra creamy
Abbey Sharp says
Mmmm sounds amazing! Thanks Patrick