Turkey-Vegetable Bake with Cheesy Topping

A comforting and protein-packed casserole featuring ground turkey, vibrant vegetables, whole wheat pasta, and a rich tomato sauce, all topped with melted cheddar cheese for a satisfying, make-ahead meal.

• Prep: 25 min
• Cook: 35 min
• Total: 1 hr
• Servings: 6
• Cuisine: American
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $4.03/serving

Dietary

• High-Fiber
• High-Protein

Tags

• one-pot
• bake
• crowd-pleaser
• comfort food
• savory
• healthy

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1.5 pound ground turkey (lean)
• 1 yellow onion (large, chopped)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 2 bell peppers (chopped)
• 15 ounce black beans (rinsed and drained)
• 15 ounce corn (drained)
• 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 0.5 pound whole wheat penne pasta
• 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese (sharp)
• 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground, to taste)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add chopped yellow onion and bell peppers to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in black beans, corn, crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
5. Add the uncooked whole wheat penne pasta to the skillet and stir to combine. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until pasta is almost al dente, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
6. Pour the turkey and pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

This casserole freezes well. For best results, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 480
• Protein: 38.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 46.2 g
• Fat: 16.5 g
• Fiber: 12.6 g
• Sodium: 780 mg
• Saturated Fat: 8.1 g
• Sugar: 8.5 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg