Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health & Fitness
  3. Features

The high-protein sweet potato bowl taking over social media (and how to make it)

How to make the viral hot honey sweet potato bowl

By
Happy bearded man is using his smartphone while he preparing a meal
My Ocean studio / Adobe Stock

Cottage cheese had its moment on social media recently, and health & fitness junkies have creatively find new ways to use it as a source of protein. From cottage cheese wraps to baked cottage cheese chips, cottage cheese is undeniably a versatile, low-fat, high-protein staple. If you thought the cottage cheese trend was over, think again.

The viral sweet potato bowl recipe has found a new way to incorporate cottage cheese into a dinner meal, complete with sweet potatoes, lean ground beef, and hot honey. I agree that sweet potato and cottage cheese sound like a questionable ingredient combination. But social media is hooked on this sweet potato bowl craze, which made me believe it likely tastes better than it sounds (it turns out, it does).

How to make the sweet potato bowl everyone’s talking about

@maryswholelife

VIRAL GROUND BEEF SWEET POTATO COTTAGE CHEESE BOWL- what a mouthful 😂 I eat some version of this bowl most days – it’s delicious, has amazing macros (509 calories, 43 carbs, 21g fat, 40g protein), and keeps me feeling full and satisfied! . Makes 4 servings: 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced Avocado oil spray 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 lb grassfed ground beef 3/4 tsp salt 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder Avocado 1 container @good_culture cottage cheese Crushed red pepper Hot honey (I like @mikeshothoney) . Add sweet potatoes to your air fryer and spray with oil. Sprinkle with seasonings and toss to coat. Air fry for 18 minutes, shaking halfway. You can also bake them at 400 for 25-30 mins tossing halfway! . Sauté the ground beef and seasonings for 5-7 mins until cooked through. . Add 1 cup sweet potatoes, 4 oz ground beef, 1/3 avocado and 1/2 cup cottage cheese to your bowl. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper and drizzle with hot honey. Enjoy! . #viral #viraltrends #groundbeefsweetpotatobowl #cottagecheese #cottagecheesebowl #protein #macrofriendly #healthyfood #easymeals #glutenfree

♬ original sound – Mary Smith

A quick search on social media for the viral cottage cheese sweet potato bowl will lead you down a rabbit hole of dozens of variations. Ultimately, how to make the bowl is up to your personal taste and dietary preferences. Most bowls have slight variations, but include the same basics: lean ground beef, taco seasoning, sweet potatoes, avocados, hot honey, and of course, cottage cheese. Additional seasonings, vegetables, and other additions allow you to customize your bowl (and have fun making it).

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups cottage cheese
  • 1 to 2 sliced avocados
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (you could also try it with ground turkey or ground chicken)
  • 1 packet of taco seasoning
  • 2 sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed or diced)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 to 1 cup cilantro (fresh, chopped)
  • Hot honey

Method

  1. Prepare, cut, and roast sweet potatoes (I like using the air fryer)
  2. Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil over medium heat in a pan. Add ground beef and taco seasoning. Cook thoroughly.
  3. Once the beef is done cooking, begin assembling your bowl. Add 1/4 of the meat, 1/4 of the sweet potatoes, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, and 1/2 an avocado to each bowl. Add cilantro as desired and drizzle hot honey over the top.
  4. Optional: Squeeze fresh lime juice or add jalapeno slices, if desired.

A go-to dinner option

@thehealthylittlefoodie_

the viral hot honey ground beef bowls are absolutely worth the hype and weirdly addicting !!!🔥🥑🍠🥩🍯 packed with protein and nutrient dense…this is a trend you need to jump on for a healthy dinner idea🍽️ makes 2 bowls: • 1 lb. grassfed ground beef • 1 container cottage cheese • 2 sweet potatoes, cubed and seasoned with @Lawry’s Seasoning and 2 tbsp. avocado oil • 1/4 chopped yellow onion • 1 packet Siete taco seasoning • 1 avocado • drizzle of hot honey • red pepper flakes #viralrecipes #highprotein #groundbeefbowl #easydinner #easydinnerideas #foodisfuel #nutrientdense #healthyrecipes #wholefoods #healthydinner

♬ original sound – officialmooli

Creative and health-focused minds have developed many trending high-protein dinner recipes that can make it easy to enjoy dinner and stay on track with your diet. Yet, the flavorful and somewhat questionable flavor combinations in the sweet potato bowl pair well together for a healthy and hearty dinner you’ll look forward to. The hot honey drizzle atop this bowl adds a slight heat and sweetness. There’s also something to be said for enjoying all of these flavors mixed into one big bowl (it gives me chipotle bowl vibes).

Recommended Videos

Also, the nutritional content of this dinner bowl is nice and well-balanced, with a great serving of lean protein, vegetables, and healthy fats from the avocado. To me, the sweet potato bowl stands out as a healthy staple that fitness enthusiasts following any diet can find a way to adapt to their needs. Whether you’re on a low-carb, a paleo diet, or generally want a well-rounded meal, this all-around healthy bowl fits a wide range of nutritional needs.


Emily Caldwell
Emily Caldwell
Contributor
Emily is a Features Writer at The Manual, where she specializes in food, beverage, and travel content. She focuses on weaving…
Topics
From wheelchair to walking: The power of mindset, movement, and never giving up
Sometimes it's the hardest roads that lead us to a deeper sense of purpose
Steph Zee Christmas Secret Music Video Steph Green

I never expected I'd have to learn how to walk again. That journey took me from writing for doctors and magazines to spending thousands of hours researching health and autoimmune disease. When we have excellent health, many of us don’t give it much thought until those sneaky symptoms start to show, and one day it all comes crashing down. Now, our health becomes one of the most important priorities. When we feel good, we can be more productive and chase our dreams. When our health declines and we don’t feel so good, one of our biggest dreams is just to feel better. 

I became a health writer 12 years ago, shortly after graduating with my creative writing degree and getting a diagnosis of the autoimmune bone condition, ankylosing spondylitis. In an effort to improve my health, stay mobile, and help prevent my bones from calcifying and fusing, I spent thousands of hours studying everything from nutrition and naturopathy to conventional medicine and holistic healing. I heard this somewhere, so I can’t take credit, but I like to say I went to “save my ass university”, because pain and illness are some of the biggest motivators.

Read more
I tried Magic Mind for a month and here is what happened to my productivity
Does Magic Mind really help with your productivity or is it just another buzz.
Furniture, Business Card, Paper

I am proudly an all-brown beverage man. I say it often: I am coffee in the morning, bourbon in the evening, and Pepsi/Coke in between. I know what you're thinking: What about water? Well, all of those are mostly water. And who wants to drink the same thing they bathe in? That sounds gross. All jokes aside, the coffee addiction is real, and I am not alone. Who thinks they can truly conquer a day without a hard shot of caffeine? I would get it in an IV if it were feasible to do on the subway instead of a cup to go. But that doesn't have to be the only way you develop your productivity. Instead, you can look to the more natural and healthy methods to maintain and increase your effectiveness. I got my hands on some Magic Mind recently, one of the many different products that claim to elevate brain health, increase mental performance, and, of course, replace the coffee without losing the energy boost. But does it work?

The scientific hoolah

Read more
NOBULL debuts new colorways for daily running shoe, Journey 2
Four new colorways just dropped for NOBULL's best-selling Journey 2 sneaker
NOBULL

NOBULL's Journey 2 sneaker is one of my favorite go-to sneakers for the gym (and my husband's, too). There's really something to be said about a sneaker that adds comfort, style, and durability to your gym outfit. I've been wearing these weekly for awhile now -- but now NOBULL has dropped even more fun colors in the same comfortable show. Just in time for the summer, NOBULL just dropped four new colorways in the Journey 2, including Classic White Cayenne, Classic White Signal Pink, Lunar Mineral White, and Blue Haze. These fun, vibrant colors add a touch of color to every gym outfit.

With a plate-less design, Journey 2 delivers a naturally smooth, cushioned ride. A multi-surface outsole provides reliable grip across varied terrain, while NOBULL’s unique stability chassis keeps your foot locked in through every stride and transition, so you can move freely wherever the miles take you. While I'm not usually one to make a statement with my athletic footwear, I have to admit I'm pretty excited about the drop of these new colors. The four new colors join the line up that still includes the classic colors, such as Classic White, Jet Black, and Molten.

Read more