healthy casserole recipe
This nourishing turkey casserole features ground turkey, a creamy sweet potato cheese sauce, and tender pasta shells, all baked to golden perfection. Packed with protein and wholesome ingredients, it's a family-friendly weeknight dinner that delivers comfort without the guilt.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 0.5 medium yellow onion (minced)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.125 tsp salt
- 0.125 tsp black pepper
- 0.25 tsp powdered mustard
- 3 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 medium sweet potato (cooked and puréed) about 1 cup purée
- 0.5 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup Colby jack cheese (shredded)
- 16 oz shell pasta (or whole wheat penne)
- 0.5 cup extra shredded cheese for topping (optional)
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare sweet potato purée by peeling, roasting, and blending 1 medium sweet potato with a splash of water until smooth (yield: ~1 cup).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shell pasta and cook for 7-8 minutes until just shy of al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil, then add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Stir in minced onion, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and powdered mustard. Cook for 4-5 minutes until turkey is browned and onion is tender. Remove from heat.
- Lower oven temperature to 375°F. In a blender or food processor, combine sweet potato purée, tomato purée, chicken broth, and Colby jack cheese. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
- Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with olive oil. Add cooked pasta, turkey mixture, and sweet potato cheese sauce. Stir until everything is well coated. Sprinkle extra cheese on top if desired.
- Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the top is golden and casserole is bubbling. Watch top closely; if browning too quickly, tent with foil.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
For a saucier casserole, double the sweet potato cheese sauce. This recipe works well with a lean ground chicken or lentil base too. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for best texture.