Savory Bowl with Hot Honey

This savory power bowl combines hearty roasted sweet potatoes with perfectly seasoned ground beef, creamy cottage cheese, and fresh avocado all brought together with a spicy-sweet hot honey drizzle that elevates the entire dish to something truly special.

I created this recipe during a busy week when I needed something nutritious yet satisfying. What started as a simple meal prep solution has become one of my most requested dishes when friends come over for lunch.

Ingredients

• Sweet Potatoes The natural sweetness caramelizes beautifully when roasted giving the bowl a wonderful foundation of flavor
• Ground Beef Grass-fed offers better nutrition and flavor but any ground beef works well
• Cottage Cheese Adds protein and creaminess without overwhelming other flavors
• Avocado Provides healthy fats and a buttery texture contrast to the crispy elements
• Hot Honey The perfect sweet heat that ties all components together
• Salt and Pepper Essential for bringing out the flavors in each component

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare Your Oven

Heat your oven to 400°F and position a rack in the middle. This temperature creates the perfect environment for sweet potatoes to caramelize on the outside while becoming tender inside.

Prep Sweet Potatoes

Cut sweet potatoes into evenly sized 1inch cubes to ensure they cook uniformly. Toss thoroughly with a tablespoon of olive oil making sure every piece is coated. Season generously with salt and pepper then spread them in a single layer on your baking sheet leaving space between pieces for proper air circulation.

Roast To Perfection

Place sweet potatoes in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes. At the halfway mark around 12 minutes flip each piece to ensure even browning on all sides. They should be fork tender with caramelized edges when done.

Cook The Beef

Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add your ground beef. Break it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks creating smaller pieces for better distribution in your bowl. Once no pink remains about 7 minutes add taco seasoning and stir to incorporate completely. Allow the seasonings to toast slightly in the remaining fat about 2 more minutes.

Prepare Fresh Components

While your hot ingredients cook slice half an avocado into thin pieces and set aside. Measure out cottage cheese and prepare your hot honey by mixing regular honey with red pepper flakes or your favorite hot sauce.

Assemble Your Bowl

Start with a base of roasted sweet potatoes about 1 cup per bowl. Add a generous portion of seasoned ground beef approximately ½ cup. Place a few slices of avocado along one side and add a scoop of cottage cheese to another section.

Add The Finishing Touch

Drizzle the hot honey generously over the entire bowl making sure to hit each component. The heat from the sweet potatoes and beef will help the honey spread perfectly. Add a final sprinkle of salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste.

Bookmark

The hot honey drizzle is what truly makes this dish special for me. I discovered it accidentally when I ran out of my usual sauce and needed something quick. Now I make extra batches just to have on hand for other meals too. Something magical happens when the heat from the chili flakes infuses into sweet honey.

Meal Prep Magic

This power bowl was designed with busy schedules in mind. You can prepare all components separately and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. Keep the avocado whole until ready to serve and store the hot honey at room temperature. When mealtime arrives simply reheat the sweet potatoes and beef in the microwave or a quick skillet warmup assemble your bowl and add the fresh components.

Customization Options

The beauty of this power bowl lies in its flexibility. Swap sweet potatoes for butternut squash or regular potatoes. Replace ground beef with ground turkey chicken or even a plant based alternative. For vegetarians black beans or chickpeas make excellent protein substitutions. The cottage cheese can be exchanged for Greek yogurt feta or even a dairy free alternative if needed. The framework stays the same but you can adapt to dietary preferences ingredient availability or simply what you are craving.

Nutritional Benefits

This power bowl delivers a remarkable nutritional profile that supports overall wellbeing. The sweet potatoes provide complex carbohydrates fiber and vitamins particularly vitamin A for eye health. Grass fed beef offers high quality protein omega3 fatty acids and iron for energy and muscle maintenance. Avocado contributes heart healthy monounsaturated fats while cottage cheese adds calcium and additional protein. The combination creates a meal that keeps you satisfied for hours while providing essential nutrients your body needs to thrive.

Your Questions Answered About This Recipe

→ Can I make this bowl vegetarian?

Absolutely! Replace the beef with black beans, chickpeas, or crumbled tempeh seasoned with the same taco spices. You'll still get plenty of protein and flavor.

→ How do I make the hot honey drizzle?

Simply mix 3 tablespoons of honey with red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to taste. For more intensity, warm the mixture gently before drizzling.

→ Can I prep components ahead of time?

Yes! Roast the sweet potatoes and cook the beef up to 3 days ahead. Store separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator, then reheat and assemble with fresh ingredients when ready to eat.

→ What's the best way to achieve crispy sweet potatoes?

For maximum crispiness, soak the cubed sweet potatoes in cold water for 20 minutes before roasting. Dry thoroughly, toss with olive oil and seasonings, then spread in a single layer on a preheated baking sheet.

→ What can I substitute for cottage cheese?

Greek yogurt works perfectly as mentioned, but you could also use ricotta, feta crumbles, or dairy-free alternatives like cashew cream if you prefer.

→ How can I add more vegetables to this bowl?

Great additions include roasted bell peppers, sautéed kale or spinach, pickled red onions, or a simple side salad of mixed greens. The versatile base pairs well with most vegetables.