Preheat the oven: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Bake the sweet potatoes: Place the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork. The skin should look slightly wrinkled when they are ready.
Prepare the filling: While the sweet potatoes bake, take a large mixing bowl and combine 2 cups of shredded turkey, 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce, 1/4 cup of cream cheese (if using), 1/4 cup of chopped green onions, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of dried thyme (if using). Mix thoroughly until well combined.
Prepare the sweet potatoes: Once sweet potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly. Cut each potato in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out some of the flesh, leaving approximately 1/4 inch of sweet potato inside the skin to help maintain structure.
Stuff the potatoes: Take the turkey mixture and generously stuff it into each potato half. Top each stuffed potato with 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.
Final bake: Return the stuffed sweet potatoes to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
Garnish and serve: Finally, remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm and enjoy this delightful dish!