Easy Ground Turkey Casserole Recipe

Comfort food needs to have a few qualities to really hit the mark. First and foremost, it should be absolutely delicious, and, well, comforting! It also needs to be filling and hearty. Ideally, it should be relatively simple to prepare as well. This easy ground turkey casserole hits all of those marks and then some, and in the case of chef and recipe developer Carlos Leo of Spoonabilities, it even comes with a rich side serving of family history. "This recipe was inspired by a casserole that my father used to make all the time," Leo says, adding, "It's my favorite pasta casserole, but I use ground salami instead of the ground turkey in his recipe. This recipe has sentimental value for me."

This casserole will surely impress your taste buds, and you'll appreciate the fact that prep work takes all of 10 minutes. And while we're on the topic of value, Leo calculates that "the cost for the whole recipe was around 15 to 17 dollars." Considering this meal yields eight hearty servings, that's a price of around only $2 per person, also known as an amazing price for a meal that will be total hit with the family and won't leave anyone feeling hungry. But if you do want to round things out into a larger meal, Leo suggests, "The best pairing idea is a nice green salad and a buttery garlic toast." Yum!

This recipe calls for ground turkey (ideally 85% fat, 15% lean), olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, sea salt, ground pepper, one box (16 ounces) of penne pasta, a decent dose of sea salt for the pasta water, lots of Parmesan cheese (divided), butter, milk, a cube of chicken bouillon, a can of seasoned tomato sauce, and a can of condensed cheddar cheese soup.

Note that Leo says, "[As far as] the ground turkey [is concerned, you] can select any kind. I selected the 85% fat, because it will give me more flavor and be less dry after a double cook in the oven." He also notes some flexibility with the ingredients in general, saying, "Everything is pretty simple in this recipe, but if [you] want a more saucy pasta, [you] can add another can of the tomato sauce ... if you want more ground turkey [you] can add a ½ pound more."

Start by preheating your oven to 425 F and coating a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Cook the penne pasta as per the box directions, usually for around eight to 10 minutes, preferably leaving it still al dente, because it will finish cooking in the oven. Add 2 tablespoons of sea salt to the pasta water while it's boiling.

Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil, and brown the ground turkey until it is almost cooked. Then, add the sea salt, oregano, garlic powder, and ground pepper, and stir to mix everything together. Set the seasoned meat aside.

In a microwave-safe cup, add the butter, milk, and the chicken bouillon, then place the cup in the microwave on the normal high setting for 60 seconds, or until the butter is fully melted. Mix to combine the ingredients in the cup, ensuring the chicken bouillon is fully broken up and dissolved.

Meanwhile, drain the cooked pasta, and add it to the buttered (or greased) baking dish. Next, add the butter-milk-bouillon mixture, the tomato sauce, the condensed cheddar cheese soup, a cup of the grated Parmesan cheese, and the browned ground turkey to the dish. Mix to combine everything well.

With all of the casserole ingredients in the dish and mixed, your work is almost done! Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of Parmesan cheese on top of the pasta and turkey blend, then pop the dish in the oven and bake it uncovered for 30 minutes at 425 F. Once it's done, let the casserole rest a few minutes before serving, and then enjoy. If you have some extra, which may very well be unlikely considering how scrumptious the dish is, Leo says: "Store [any leftovers] in an airtight container in the refrigerator or the freezer. This meal is freezer-friendly — [you simply need to] re-heat in the microwave like any other pasta dish."