Recipe: $6.53 | Per Serving: $1.09 | Yield: ~6 (40 bites)
Looking for the perfect little bites to add to game day eats, lunchboxes, or bento boxes? These turkey sweet potato bites are delicious and simple! Keep them a little under-seasoned for kiddos, or spice them up with habanero peppers and chipotle mayo.
You are going to be surprised at how good these are! I can't stop eating them. They're simple little bites packed with protein with a little dose of fiber from zucchini and sweet potatoes. I love having protein options packed and ready to go for lunches and bento boxes, and these work perfectly.
This recipe is pretty straightforward. Using a box grater or a food processor, shred the sweet potatoes and zucchini, mix with the onion, turkey, spices, and optional habanero. Divide into even little bites and bake! That's it!
I no longer work at the preschool / daycare where I had the good fortune to try so many recipes out on toddlers and preschoolers, so I I had my brother test these out on my nephew (without the habanero) before posting.
I'm happy to say that even though it is n=1, this recipe is toddler approved! If you try them on your kiddos, please let me know what they think!
Paleo: Yep.
Vegetarian: Nope.
Turkey Zucchini Sweet Potato Bites
Ingredients
- 1 medium zucchini grated (about 1 cup)
- 1 medium sweet potato grated (about 2 ½ cups) Yellow or Japanese is best here, but orange works too!
- ¼ onion minced (¼ cup)
- ¼ habanero pepper or ½ jalapeño, minced
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt or ½ teaspoon normal salt
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder use ½ for little kids!
- ½ - 1 teaspoon dried parsley or other herbs of choice
- 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
- 3 Tablespoons arrowroot powder optional
- Optional add ins: love adding 1 teaspoon paprika minced green onion, or Trader Joe's Umami seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Shred or grate your vegetables using a food processor or box grater. You should have about 1.5 cups of zucchini, and about 2 cups of sweet potato. Mince the onion and add all vegetables to a large bowl with the sea salt, garlic powder, and turkey. Optional: mince the spicy pepper and add to bowl.
- Sprinkle with the arrowroot powder and then mix well. I used a stand mixer, but you can use your hands or a fork!
- Using a small ice cream scooper or a Tablespoon, divide into small balls. Roll between hands then slightly flatten each ball. This shape cooks more evenly and reduces the risk of drying out the turkey. (Makes approximately 30-40 bites!) Place on parchment-lined or silpat-lined baking sheet and add to preheated oven. Cook for about 18-20 minutes or until fully cooked.
- Serve! I like them on their own or with a little chipotle mayo.
- Makes about 40 bites; adult serving is about 6 bites.
Notes
Recommended dipping sauce: Primal Kitchens Chipotle Mayo, Sugar-Free (or low sugar) Ketchup, Primal Palate BBQ Sauce
My favorite potato to use in this recipe is the yellow-fleshed Hannah sweet potato, but regular orange ones, as shown in these pictures, will work fine! (Japanese sweet potatoes also work, but they're expensive so I usually save them for roasted whole Japanese sweet potatoes.) And you can use up to 3 cups sweet potatoes in this recipe!
Nutrition
Nutrition label is for 5 bites (out of 40).
My friend brought these to a potluck. These are awesome . No eggs, Dairy or gluten. I’ll be making these soon.
Hi Nola - that's great to hear! So glad you enjoyed them! :)
Interesting combination! They sound tasty!