Casseroles are one of the heartiest meals to come home to on a chilly evening, and these lean, nutritious ground turkey recipes will satisfy the whole family throughout the colder seasons. When the cold weather sets in, motivation to eat healthy can wane so these simple ground turkey casserole recipes will prove a lifesaver on days where enthusiasm is low but there are hungry mouths to feed. From Mexican inspired casseroles to rice and pasta dishes, these casseroles benefit from the addition of ground turkey which is leaner than other ground meat options.
One of the best things about casseroles is that once the minimal prep work is done, it goes into the oven and that’s it! Quick, easy and generally using ingredients you’re likely to already have on hand, any of these ground turkey casserole recipes will be a welcome addition to your family meal plan!
1. Ground Turkey Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Full of protein and healthy fats, this keto-friendly recipe combines ground turkey, ranch dressing, kale and spaghetti squash into a beautifully crispy baked casserole for the whole family to enjoy. A great option for meal prep to have in the fridge or freezer for a quick lunch or dinner, this casserole is also paleo, gluten free, dairy free and whole30 friendly!
2. Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Bake
This one is super low effort, packed with nutritious vegetables and lean ground turkey and cheese. Made with ingredients you likely have in your kitchen already, there is very little active prep time with this recipe. Simply cook up the ground turkey, dice the vegetables and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and you’ll have a hearty casserole in 10 minutes!
3. Cheesy Eggplant Casserole with Ground Turkey
A comfort food classic made lighter, this casserole layers eggplants, cheese and perfectly-seasoned ground turkey into a high-protein dinner option. This recipe is a great one for leftovers, so even if you’re not feeding a crowd it’s worth making a large batch of this as it reheats beautifully. Even if you’re not a fan of eggplant, give this recipe a try. It cooked the eggplant in a beautiful sauce so it takes on all the flavors without becoming soggy. It’s like lasagna but with eggplant slices!
4. Southwestern Turkey Rice Casserole
A bunch of delicious southwestern spices, juicy ground turkey and tender rice all cooked up in less than half an hour? Yes please! As a bonus, this casserole has only 267 calories per serve so you can enjoy a hearty serving on a chilly day without the guilt. The best thing about casseroles is how easy they are to make, and this one is no different. The everyday ingredients are placed into an oven dish and out comes a dinner everyone will enjoy. Great for weekend lunches when you don’t want to leave the house for food.
5. Turkey Enchilada Stack
If you have ground turkey, tortillas, spices, cheese and tomato sauce you have everything you need to have this on the table within the hour. A unique twist on a turkey lasagne, the tortilla stack is packed with Mexican flavor and is low fat, high protein and absolutely delicious. Wrapping and folding burritos or wraps can be time-consuming and fiddly but this delicious stack takes all the effort out of enjoying delicious meaty tortillas, plus it’s covered in cheese.
6. Easy Turkey Shepherd’s Pie with Vegetables
This recipe is a meaty, vegetable-laden casserole topped with fluffy mashed potatoes for a learner version of the traditional Shepherd’s Pie. A healthy option when comfort food is calling, make this pie by simply cooking up the beef and vegetables, piling on the potato and baking. A food the whole family will love, made lighter and more nutritious so you can add this to your weekly meal roster more often.
7. Ground Turkey Pasta Bake
By baking pasta, ground turkey and cheese all together in a casserole, you have a full meal with minimal mess and effort. The kids will love this recipe too, the pasta and saucy meat are comforting and delicious but it’s also got plenty of good stuff in it! Ready in 45 minutes, the most labor-intensive part of this recipe is browning the turkey, the rest of the time it’s baking in the oven.
8. Healthier Tater Tot Casserole with Veggies
This is another casserole to whip out when you have kids to feed. It’s somewhere between a shepherd’s pie and a pot pie, the golden crunchy tots on top add a unique texture to this casserole. Plus it utilizes frozen vegetables so you can have all the ingredients for this recipe in the freezer ready to go. The tater tots will appeal to them, but the lean ground turkey and plenty of vegetables underneath will keep the parents happy too!
9. Easy Baked Gnocchi
One pan, plenty of beautiful potato dumplings and high-protein ground turkey this skillet bake casserole is warming, hearty and comforting after a long day. Also a great one to whip up if you have company, as it looks super impressive but in reality only takes 5 minutes to put together. So next time you’re looking for a quick weeknight family-friendly meal, swap your regular pasta bake for this ground turkey gnocchi recipe.
10. Stuffed Pepper Casserole
When energy-levels are low but stomachs are growling, this easy, throw-together casserole-version of the classic stuffed peppers will hit the spot. This is an all-in-one meal that contains protein-rich turkey, wholegrains and plenty of vegetables for a meal that is sure to satisfy that craving for comfort food. So much easier than stuffing bell peppers, but it with the same delicious flavor!
