Animal Style Cheeseburger Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
These animal style cheeseburger stuffed sweet potatoes are a high-protein, meal-prep-friendly and made with ground beef, caramelized onions, and burger sauce.
Creator: Leslie Stokes
There’s something about the week after Christmas that feels… strange.
The holidays are over, the house is quieter, the kids are back into routines, and suddenly you’re staring into the fridge thinking, I want real food again… but I still want comfort.
That’s exactly how these Animal Style Cheeseburger Stuffed Sweet Potatoes were born.
I wanted something that felt indulgent — like a cheeseburger — but also something that worked for meal prep, felt balanced, and didn’t leave me feeling sluggish. And honestly? This ended up being one of my favorite things I’ve made in a long time.
Like top tier, make-again-immediately status.
Comfort Food, But Make It Meal Prep
I love a good cheeseburger. Always have. But for everyday eating — especially during the week — I don’t necessarily want a bun, fries, and the whole thing.
Using sweet potatoes as the base completely changes this meal.
They’re naturally sweet, super filling, packed with fiber, and they roast up perfectly soft on the inside with a caramelized edge on the outside. Once you flip them over and mash the centers, they become the perfect little boats for all the cheeseburger goodness.
This is one of those meals that feels cozy and satisfying, but still aligns with high-protein, real-life eating.
Why “Animal Style”?
If you know, you know.
The inspiration here is very much animal-style cheeseburger vibes:
Seasoned ground beef
A drizzle of yellow mustard while cooking (this is key)
Melted cheddar cheese
Caramelized onions
And my homemade burger sauce
All the flavors you want — just layered into a roasted sweet potato instead of a bun.
It sounds simple, but the combination is unreal.
Why This Works So Well for Meal Prep
This recipe was made with meal prep in mind.
The sweet potatoes hold their texture beautifully in the fridge. The beef reheats well. And the flavors honestly get even better after a day.
You can prep a batch and have multiple meals ready with very little effort.
This is the kind of meal prep that actually gets eaten.
How I Like to Serve Them
These are great on their own, but you can also make them work a few different ways:
As a complete meal with just the stuffed sweet potato
Paired with a simple side salad
With extra veggies like roasted broccoli or green beans
Topped with chopped pickles or shredded lettuce after reheating
They’re filling enough to stand alone, but flexible enough to build around.
Meal Prep & Storage Tips
If you’re making these for the week, here’s what I recommend:
Storage:
Store fully assembled sweet potatoes in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
Reheating:
Microwave for 1½–2 minutes or reheat in the oven or air fryer until warmed through.
Sauce tip:
Add burger sauce after reheating for best texture and flavor.
Protein swaps:
Ground turkey or lean ground beef both work well.
Animal Style Cheeseburger Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 –2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt
Cheeseburger Filling:
- 1 lb lean ground beef 90/10 recommended
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 –2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Caramelized Onions
- 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Pinch of salt
Toppings:
- Burger sauce see recipe below
Let's Make It
- Roast the Sweet Potatoes: Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place cut-side down on a sheet pan and roast for 30 minutes until tender.
- Caramelize the Onions: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15–20 minutes until soft and golden. Set aside.
- Cook the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with salt, pepper, and onion powder until browned. Drizzle yellow mustard over the beef and stir to coat. Turn off heat and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top, allowing it to melt.
- Assemble: Flip sweet potatoes over and gently mash the centers. Stuff with the cheeseburger mixture, top with caramelized onions, and drizzle with burger sauce.
- Enjoy immediately or portion into containers for meal prep.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (Estimated Per Serving – 1 Stuffed Sweet Potato)
Calories: ~480
Protein: ~32g
Carbohydrates: ~38g
Fat: ~22g
Fiber: ~6g
(Nutrition will vary based on beef leanness, cheese amount, and burger sauce used.)
