Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes
This recipe is inspired by the viral TikTok bowl with sweet potato, cottage cheese, honey, ground beef, and avocado—but turned into a loaded baked sweet potato with a spicy hot honey drizzle. It’s high protein, delicious, and anything but boring. Perfect for a cozy and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Servings3 to 4
Ingredients
SWEET POTATOES
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- Olive or avocado oil, for rubbing
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Butter, for serving
GROUND BEEF
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup beef broth
HOT HONEY
- 1/4 cup hot honey
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
- 1/2 tablespoon vinegar, white or apple cider
TOPPINGS
- cottage cheese, as needed
- 1 avocado, thinly sliced or mashed
Instructions
ROAST THE SWEET POTATOES
- Wash and dry the sweet potatoes.
- Carefully pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork or sharp knife (cuts don’t need to be deep).
- Rub each potato with oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Air fry at 400°F for 45 to 50 minutes, flipping them after 30 minutes, until fork-tender and skins are crisp.
COOK THE GROUND BEEF (make while potatoes are roasting)
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until browned.
- Stir in onion powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch.
- Pour in beef broth and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the meat.
MAKE THE HOT HONEY (make while potatoes are roasting)
- In a small bowl, whisk together hot honey, sriracha, red pepper flakes, and vinegar. Set aside.
ASSEMBLY
- Carefully slice open each sweet potato.
- Add a pat of butter, season with salt and pepper, then mash and fluff the flesh with a fork so the butter melts in and the texture is creamy.
- Top each potato with a scoop of ground beef.
- Add a generous spoonful of cottage cheese.
- Finish with sliced or mashed avocado.
- Drizzle with hot honey and serve warm.
Notes
Q: What kind of sweet potatoes can I use?
A: Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are the best — they’re creamy, sweet, and pair perfectly with the flavors here. But you can also use Japanese sweet potatoes for something starchier, or even regular russet potatoes if you’re not into sweet potatoes. The toppings still hit just right. Q: Can I air fry the sweet potatoes instead of roasting them?
A: Yep! I like to air fry at 390°F for about 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway. You can also bake in the oven at 400°F for 45 to 50 minutes. Just keep in mind the exact time depends on the size of your potatoes — they’re done when you can easily pierce through with a fork. Q: How spicy is the hot honey?
A: It has a little kick, but it’s not overwhelming. You can totally adjust the spice level based on how much chili you add — or just stick to regular honey if you want to keep it sweet and mellow. Q: Can I just buy hot honey instead of making it?
A: 100%! If you want to save time, store-bought hot honey works great here. Q: Can I prep anything while the potatoes cook?
A: Definitely. While the sweet potatoes roast or air fry, you can cook the ground beef and make the hot honey so everything’s ready when it’s time to assemble. Q: Can I make this vegetarian?
A: Yes! Just swap the ground beef for your favorite plant-based alternative, like seasoned lentils, tofu crumbles, or veggie ground meat. Q: Can I change up the toppings?
A: Totally. Use Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese, add a fried egg, or throw in some greens. You can really customize it based on what you’re craving. Q: Can I store leftovers?
A: For sure. Store everything separately in the fridge — the beef, cottage cheese, avocado, and sweet potato — and reheat just the potato and beef when you're ready to eat. Then assemble fresh so it still tastes amazing.
A: Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are the best — they’re creamy, sweet, and pair perfectly with the flavors here. But you can also use Japanese sweet potatoes for something starchier, or even regular russet potatoes if you’re not into sweet potatoes. The toppings still hit just right. Q: Can I air fry the sweet potatoes instead of roasting them?
A: Yep! I like to air fry at 390°F for about 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway. You can also bake in the oven at 400°F for 45 to 50 minutes. Just keep in mind the exact time depends on the size of your potatoes — they’re done when you can easily pierce through with a fork. Q: How spicy is the hot honey?
A: It has a little kick, but it’s not overwhelming. You can totally adjust the spice level based on how much chili you add — or just stick to regular honey if you want to keep it sweet and mellow. Q: Can I just buy hot honey instead of making it?
A: 100%! If you want to save time, store-bought hot honey works great here. Q: Can I prep anything while the potatoes cook?
A: Definitely. While the sweet potatoes roast or air fry, you can cook the ground beef and make the hot honey so everything’s ready when it’s time to assemble. Q: Can I make this vegetarian?
A: Yes! Just swap the ground beef for your favorite plant-based alternative, like seasoned lentils, tofu crumbles, or veggie ground meat. Q: Can I change up the toppings?
A: Totally. Use Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese, add a fried egg, or throw in some greens. You can really customize it based on what you’re craving. Q: Can I store leftovers?
A: For sure. Store everything separately in the fridge — the beef, cottage cheese, avocado, and sweet potato — and reheat just the potato and beef when you're ready to eat. Then assemble fresh so it still tastes amazing.
Did You Make This Recipe?
If you make this recipe, leave a comment below and let me know how it turns out. I love hearing from you!