These Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowls with cottage cheese & sweet potatoes have been all over social media - and for good reason! They are absolutely delicious and such an easy recipe to make. Of course, I had to put my spin on it so this is my version of the viral sweet potato beef bowl!
As a dietitian, I appreciate that this Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowl is high protein, but the protein is balanced our with complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. And it's a quick weeknight dinner (my kind of meal)!
The bowls are a combination of lean ground beef cooked in taco seasoning, creamy avocado, cottage cheese, sweet potatoes, and a drizzle of hot honey on top. I've added greens and tomatoes for more fiber and nutrients, but that part is optional. The best part is you can meal prep these sweet potato bowls in advance and just throw the components together when it's time to eat.
If you like this recipe, you may enjoy some of my other weeknight dinners -Homemade Burger Bowls with Special Sauce, Southwest Chicken Bowls, Turkey Taco Skillet with Salsa, Unstuffed Pepper Skillet with Ground Beef, or Sweet Potato Skillet with Ground Turkey & Black Beans. If you want a little different flavor topping, try serving it with my Homemade Big Mac Sauce!
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Video of How to Make Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowls
Here's a video showing how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
These viral Hot Honey Beef Bowls are made with simple ingredients. Below are the main ingredients and some notes. Check the recipe card at the bottom for measurements.
- Lean Ground Beef - I use 93% lean ground beef for this recipe. If you don't eat beef, ground turkey or ground chicken work great. Use crumbled tofu or black beans for a plant-based alternative.
- Cottage Cheese - creamy cottage cheese adds more protein, calcium, and extra flavor to this recipe.
- Sweet Potatoes - roasted sweet potatoes add a rich texture and nutrients like dietary fiber to support a healthy gut, and vitamins A and C. If you prefer, you can use regular potatoes instead.
- Avocado - avocado adds dietary fiber and healthy fats to support hormone health and brain health.
- Taco Seasoning - I like to make my own taco seasoning with chili powder, cumin, regular paprika, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add red pepper flakes if you like more spice. If you have a favorite packaged taco seasoning, feel free to use it instead! Siete brand has a good one.
- Extra- Virgin Olive Oil - or avocado oil to cook the beef in.
- Hot Honey - topping this viral recipe with spicy hot honey is what makes it so special and a little goes a long way. It adds the perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavor to the cooked beef.
- Optional for topping - I like to add sliced cherry tomatoes and arugula or mixed greens for more nutrients and texture. Cauliflower rice works great for the same purpose. You can also top these hot honey beef bowls with a squeeze of lime juice, lemon juice and fresh cilantro, and hot sauce.
How to Make Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowls
Below are the instructions for how to make this recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425℉ (218°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spray with olive oil spray. Wash and peel your sweet potatoes. On a cutting board, use a sharp knife to cut them into 1 inch cubes. In a large bowl or directly on the baking sheet, coat the sweet potato cubes with olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
- Step 2: Add the sweet potatoes to the baking sheet in a single layer and baked in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Oven times will vary.
- Step 3: Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Add olive oil until heated. Add the ground beef and break apart the beef with a wooden spoon or masher. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the beef starts to brown and then add the seasonings, water, and tomato paste. Continue to cook until the beef is cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Step 4: Assemble the taco bowls by adding the cooked ground beef, cottage cheese, avocado, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes and greens (if using) to a serving bowl. Add a drizzle of hot honey on top.
Hint: if you have an air fryer, you can make the sweet potatoes in it instead. Preheat your air fryer to 400℉ (200°C) for a couple of minutes. Add your seasoned sweet potato cubes to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, giving them a good shake about 5 minutes through. Cook time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer.
Dietitian Tip
Ground beef provides several important nutrients. It's an excellent source of protein, which can help with feelings of satiety and muscle retention. It also provides a significant amount of vitamin B12, zinc, and iron. Pairing lean cuts of beef like 90-93% with nutrient-packed ingredients like the avocado and sweet potatoes in this recipe is an easy way to add nutrition. Cottage cheese provides calcium and an extra protein boost!
Variations
The only thing better than a quick and easy recipe is one that you can customize! And the best thing about these viral bowls is that you can add your own spin. Below are some ideas:
- Ground Turkey or Chicken - if you prefer a leaner protein than taco beef, replace it with ground chicken breast or ground turkey. Add a splash of soy sauce for extra flavor and moisture since poultry is a bit more dry than beef.
- Buffalo - if you're cutting back on sugar, use buffalo sauce instead of hot honey to top these bowls.
- Low-Carb - use cauliflower rice in place of sweet potatoes if you want to make it lower in carbs.
- Spicy - if you like it spicy, add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce.
- Vegetarian - make it vegetarian by replacing the ground beef with beans or tofu.
Meal Prep and Storage for Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowls
- Meal Prep - you can prep ahead of time by roasting your sweet potatoes in advance.
- Refrigerator - you can prep these bowls for the week and portion them in separate airtight containers for up to 3-4 days. Or store the components separately in the refrigerator in airtight containers with a tight-fitting lid for up to 3-4 days and assemble when you're ready to eat.
Expert Tips
- The most time consuming part of this recipe is roasting the sweet potatoes. Go ahead and throw those in the oven first while you make the other components.
- Use pre-cut sweet potatoes to make this recipe even easier.
- Flip the sweet potatoes halfway through cooking.
- If you're using a beef with higher fat content, drain off the excess grease.
- Break up the beef as soon as you add it to the skillet. Then let it sit a bit on each side to let it brown. From there, stir occassionally until it's cooked through.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this recipe is a nutrient-rich option. Ground beef is an excellent source of protein, meaning it provides 25 grams of protein per 3 ounces. It also provides a significant amount of vitamin B12, zinc, and iron.The sweet potatoes provide vtiamin A, antioxidants and dietary fiber to support a healthy gut. Avocados provide heart healthy fats, potassium, and fiber, and cottage cheese provides more protein and some calcium. Hot honey provides antioixdants but also contains sugar so I suggest using just a small amount. A little goes a long way!
Yes, this is a gluten-free recipe.
Absolutely! You can use ground turkey or ground chicken in place of ground beef.
For sure! I like Siete brand of taco seasoning and use the mild one.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowl:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG:@mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Hot Honey Beef Bowl w/Cottage Cheese (TikTok Recipe)
Equipment
- 1 nonstick skillet
Ingredients
For Beef
- 1 lb lean ground beef (once cooked, it's ~¾ c per bowl)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon each: garlic powder, paprika, smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon each: dried oregano, kosher salt (more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ cup water
For Sweet Potatoes
- 1 lb sweet potatoes 2 medium potatoes, (once cooked it's ~¾ cup sweet potato per bowl)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For Assembling the Bowls (divide evenly among 4 servings)
- 2 cups cottage cheese (½ cup per bowl)
- 2 small avocados, diced (½ small avocado per bowl)
- 2 tablespoon hot honey (½ tablespoon per bowl)
- cherry tomatoes & mixed greens optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425℉ (218°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spray with olive oil spray. Wash and peel your sweet potatoes. On a cutting board, use a sharp knife to cut them into 1 inch cubes. In a large bowl or directly on the baking sheet, coat the sweet potato cubes with olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
- Add the sweet potatoes to the baking sheet in a single layer and baked in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Oven times will vary.
- Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Add olive oil until heated. Add the ground beef and break apart the beef with a wooden spoon or masher. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the beef starts to brown and then add the seasonings, water, and tomato paste. Continue to cook until the beef is cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Assemble the taco bowls by adding the cooked ground beef, cottage cheese, avocado, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes and greens (if using) to a serving bowl. Add a drizzle of hot honey on top.
- Hint: if you have an air fryer, you can make the sweet potatoes in it instead. Preheat your air fryer to 400℉ (200°C) for a couple of minutes. Add your seasoned sweet potato cubes to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, giving them a good shake about 5 minutes through. Cook time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer.
Video
Notes
- The most time consuming part of this recipe is roasting the sweet potatoes. Go ahead and throw those in the oven first while you make the other components.
- Use pre-cut sweet potatoes to make this recipe even easier.
- Flip the sweet potatoes halfway through cooking.
- If you're using a beef with higher fat content, drain off the excess grease.
- Break up the beef as soon as you add it to the skillet. Then let it sit a bit on each side to let it brown.
- From there, stir occassionally until it's cooked through.
- Meal Prep - you can prep ahead of time by roasting your sweet potatoes in advance.
- Refrigerator - you can prep these bowls for the week and portion them in separate airtight containers for up to 3-4 days. Or store the components separately in the refrigerator in airtight containers with a tight-fitting lid for up to 3-4 days and assemble when you're ready to eat.
shawnna
the hot honey beef bowl was a hit! i had a feeling i would enjoy it based on the ingredients but i wasn’t sure about my partner bc he’s pretty basic with food 😂 made it last night and we both loved it. i recommend going with the suggested arugula and mini tomato’s. those paired very well with the cottage cheese plus gives you some added veggies. the combination of sweet with spicy was perfect. as a pregnant person, been craving a lot of beef lately and this meal hit the spot! thanks aunty mal 🥰
Mallory
Shawnna!!!! This makes me SO happy, especially that your partner enjoyed it too! So excited for you and your growing family my dear friend!! -Aunty Mal