Joe introduced me to what we always called “fries with hamburger” when we first started dating. Basically it was a bag of frozen waffle fries cooked until crispy topped with cooked ground beef and shredded cheese, then broiled. It was delicious! I’ve mixed it up over the years and used the all-natural frozen sweet potato fries and added a few veggies to the meat mixture to make it a little more healthy.
Joe said he wanted “fries with hamburger” for dinner last week and I decided that we would up the health factor a bit by making our own sweet potato fries this time. I’ve made baked sweet potato fries more times than I can count, but never considered using them for the base of this meal. I used grass-fed beef from the farmer’s market and added some tasty yellow squash and bell pepper to the mix along with some spices. I then topped it with grass-fed cheddar that I’ve been getting at Trader Joe’s. Added some hot sauce and this meal felt super indulgent but was really healthy and perfectly Paleo-friendly. If you added bacon, these would be over the top!!
I did soak my sweet potatoes for 45 minutes before baking, but that’s an optional step. It’s supposed to help them get a little crispier so if you don’t have time to do that, I believe the recipe will turn out just as great.
Only one more day until we can call Thing 3 our baby boy or girl! I thought this week would drag but it’s actually gone pretty fast. Joe and I have been trying to spend more quality time together and enjoy the outdoors since the weather has still been fairly cool in Austin. I feel on edge though waiting for the inevitable heat.
We also started a garden! I’ve tried in the past with little (aka no) success and am really hoping that this time it will work out. Joe built me a raised garden bed from reclaimed wood and it looks super cute. I want to paint a flower next to the word “grow” since I was a little off center but this will do for now.
Right now I have zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant, a mix of winter squash, basil, cilantro and rosemary growing. I may have crammed things in a little bit too much so it’s going to turn into survival of the fittest. Hopeful that at least one plant will survive this time!
Loaded Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- sweet potatoes (cut into fry shapes)
- Olive oil
- ground beef
- summer squash (chopped)
- bell pepper (chopped)
- Paprika (to taste)
- Onion powder (to taste)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Directions
- Place sliced sweet potatoes in a large bowl filled with cold water. Let soak for 45 minutes drain and dry well. If you don\t have time skip this step. The fries may not come out quite as crispy.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat sweet potatoes with olive oil and season with paprika onion power salt and pepper. Place sweet potatoes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven about 25-30 minutes flipping once halfway through.
- While potatoes are cooking heat large skillet with olive oil and add ground beef. Season with paprika onion powder salt and pepper. When beef is almost done about 10 minutes add in squash and green pepper. Season more if desired. Cook about 5-10 minutes more until vegetables are tender and meat is cooked through.
- When sweet potatoes are done turn the oven to broil. Pour meat and vegetable mixture on top of potatoes and top with cheddar cheese if using. Place under the broiler for about 5 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly. Add some hot sauce and enjoy!