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Hot Honey Beef & Sweet Potato Boats

These Hot Honey Beef & Sweet Potato Boats combine tender baked sweet potatoes with smoky ground beef, creamy cottage cheese, sliced avocado, and a spicy-sweet hot honey drizzle for a cozy, flavor-packed meal perfect for weeknights or special occasions.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Sweet Potato Boats
  • 2 sweet potatoes medium, baked
  • 1/2 lb ground beef lean
  • 1/2 tsp salt for beef and sweet potato flesh
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika or chili powder for beef
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly cracked, to taste
  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese creamy, for topping
  • 1 small avocado sliced
  • 2-3 tsp hot honey or honey mixed with chili flakes
Optional Quick Cucumber Crunch
  • 1/2 cup cucumber thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp vinegar for cucumber salad
  • 1 tsp olive oil for cucumber salad
  • 1/2 tsp salt for cucumber salad
  • 1/2 tsp sesame seeds for cucumber salad

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Scrub sweet potatoes and poke holes with a fork. Bake directly on oven rack or baking sheet for 40–50 minutes until soft. Alternatively, microwave on high for 5–7 minutes, turning halfway.
  2. Step 2: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, salt, and smoked paprika (or chili powder). Break the meat apart and cook until browned and fragrant, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Step 3: Slice baked sweet potatoes lengthwise. Fluff the insides with a fork. Season the flesh lightly with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
  4. Step 4: Spoon the warm, smoky beef evenly over the sweet potato halves. Add a generous scoop of creamy cottage cheese on top of the beef. Arrange sliced avocado on each boat.
  5. Step 5: Drizzle 2 to 3 teaspoons of hot honey over everything for a spicy-sweet finish.
  6. Step 6 (Optional): For a fresh crunch, toss thinly sliced cucumber with vinegar, olive oil, salt, and sesame seeds. Serve on the side.

Notes

Store assembled boats (without avocado and hot honey) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Add avocado slices and drizzle hot honey just before serving. Reheat gently in oven or microwave. Freeze cooked sweet potatoes and beef separately for up to 2 months. This recipe is flexible: try swapping ground beef for turkey or plant-based alternatives, and cottage cheese for ricotta or cream cheese.