Ground Beef Hot Honey Bowl

This hearty Ground Beef Hot Honey Bowl has become my weeknight dinner savior, offering the perfect balance of protein, complex carbs, and those irresistible sweet-spicy flavors that keep everyone coming back for more.

I created this bowl during a particularly busy month when I needed high-protein meals that would keep me satisfied through long workdays. The combination of sweet potatoes and hot honey was a happy accident that's now requested weekly in my household.

Ingredients

• Lean ground beef 93% lean: provides ample protein while keeping the dish from becoming greasy
• Sweet potatoes: their natural sweetness pairs perfectly with the hot honey and adds complex carbs
• Cottage cheese: adds unexpected creaminess and extra protein many guests are surprised by how well it works
• Avocado: provides healthy fats and a cooling contrast to the spicy elements
• Yellow onion: creates the aromatic base that elevates the beef flavor
• Taco seasoning packet: saves time but homemade gives you control over sodium and spice levels
• Hot honey: the star ingredient that brings everything together with sweet heat
• Olive oil: helps the sweet potatoes caramelize properly in the oven
• Spice blend (paprika, garlic powder, and cinnamon): create depth in the sweet potatoes
• Salt and pepper: essential for bringing out all the flavors

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep and Roast Sweet Potatoes:

Begin by peeling and dicing your sweet potatoes into half-inch cubes for even cooking. Toss them thoroughly with olive oil until each piece has a light coating this ensures proper caramelization. Add the paprika garlic powder cinnamon salt and pepper mixing until evenly distributed. Spread them in a single layer on your baking sheet giving each piece space to roast properly rather than steam. The 40-45 minute roasting time allows them to develop a slight crust outside while maintaining a tender interior.

Cook the Ground Beef:

While the potatoes roast heat your remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent and starting to golden. This develops essential flavor compounds. Add the ground beef breaking it apart with a wooden spoon into small crumbles. Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the meat and stir thoroughly to incorporate. Cook for 7-8 minutes until completely browned with no pink remaining and the meat has absorbed all the seasoning flavors.

Assemble Your Bowls:

Start with a base of the roasted sweet potatoes arranging them to cover about one-third of your bowl. Add the seasoned ground beef beside the potatoes covering another third of the bowl. Place several slices of avocado alongside the beef arranging them in a fan pattern. Scoop cottage cheese into the remaining section of the bowl creating distinct components that can be mixed as you eat.

Finish with Hot Honey:

Drizzle approximately 1-2 teaspoons of hot honey over the entire bowl concentrating slightly more over the sweet potatoes and cottage cheese. The hot honey should be the final touch added just before serving to maintain its vibrant flavor and prevent it from being absorbed completely into the other ingredients.

Save This

The first time I served this to my skeptical brother-in-law who claims to hate cottage cheese he cleaned his plate and asked for seconds. The way the hot honey transforms ordinary cottage cheese into something crave-worthy convinced me this recipe was special enough to share.

Meal Prep Magic

This bowl was designed with meal prep in mind. Store each component separately in airtight containers with the cottage cheese and avocado kept apart from the hot items. The sweet potatoes and ground beef will last 4-5 days refrigerated while avocado should be sliced fresh before serving. The flavor actually improves after a day as the taco seasoning continues to develop in the meat.

Substitution Guide

For a vegetarian version substitute the ground beef with crumbled tempeh or a mixture of black beans and chopped walnuts keeping the same seasonings. Greek yogurt works in place of cottage cheese though it provides a tangier profile. If sweet potatoes aren't your preference butternut squash offers similar nutritional benefits with a slightly different flavor profile that still complements the hot honey beautifully.

The Hot Honey Secret

Store-bought hot honey works perfectly but making your own allows you to control both sweetness and heat. Simply warm half a cup of honey with two tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce or a teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Let it infuse for at least 30 minutes before straining if you used flakes. Homemade hot honey keeps for months in an airtight container and can transform everything from pizza to roasted vegetables.

Common Queries

→ Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?

Yes, ground turkey or chicken works well as a substitute for beef, offering a lighter flavor profile.

→ How do I adjust the spice level?

Control the spice by adding more or less hot honey or by sprinkling with red pepper flakes for extra heat.

→ Is this bowl good for meal prepping?

Absolutely! Store each ingredient separately for the best texture and assemble just before eating.

→ What can I use instead of cottage cheese?

Greek yogurt, ricotta, or even a dollop of sour cream offer creamy alternatives to cottage cheese.

→ How do I get crispy sweet potatoes?

Toss diced sweet potatoes with oil and roast in a single layer, stirring halfway to ensure even crispness.