Description
This Southwestern Ground Turkey Casserole is a delicious and hearty meal combining lean ground turkey, brown rice, flavorful spices, and fresh vegetables. Baked to perfection with a melted Monterey Jack cheese topping, it’s a nutritious, quick, and convenient dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 3/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 3 ounces canned diced green chiles
- 1 14-ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cup salsa (your favorite kind)
- 1 cup canned reduced sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup corn kernels
- 1/4 cup minced cilantro
- 1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat an 11- by 7-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Turkey and Onions: Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and chopped onions. Cook, breaking up the turkey with a spoon, until the turkey is just cooked through and onions are soft.
- Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in the minced garlic, ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to evenly distribute the spices.
- Combine Ingredients: Remove the skillet from heat. Add cooked brown rice, diced green chiles, diced tomatoes with their juice, salsa, black beans, corn kernels, and minced cilantro. Stir everything thoroughly to combine all ingredients well.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the turkey and rice mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle the grated Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving warm. Enjoy your flavorful Southwestern Ground Turkey Casserole!
Notes
- This casserole is a nutritious and well-balanced meal combining lean protein, whole grains, and veggies.
- Using reduced sodium beans and salsa helps control the sodium content.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Feel free to substitute Monterey Jack cheese with cheddar or a Mexican cheese blend.
- For added heat, add chopped jalapeños or a dash of cayenne pepper.
- This dish can be made ahead and baked just before serving to save time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 267 kcal
- Sugar: 4.2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 10.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 5.5 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 48 mg
