Ground Meats
$1.50per plate
Prep
15 min
Ground Meats · Ground Turkey
Ground Turkey Casserole
A casserole is the cheapest way to turn one pound of ground turkey into a dinner that feeds six with leftovers. This one browns the turkey into a quick tomato sauce, folds it through penne with a handful of spinach, then bakes it all under melted mozzarella until the top is bubbling and lightly browned. It is a hands-off, beginner-friendly baked pasta dinner that costs about a dollar and a half a plate and reheats beautifully. It joins the rest of our ground turkey recipes, all cheap dinners built on the same lean pound. It is also one of our comforting casserole dinners, priced per plate.
$1.57per plate
Estimated recipe total
$9.39 · serves 6
Cook
30 min
Total
50 min
Serves
6
Recipe from Budget Plates · https://www.budgetplates.com/ground-turkey-casserole
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
- Large skillet
Variations
- Use ziti, rigatoni, rotini, or shells instead of penne.
- Use a 24 oz jar of marinara instead of the crushed tomatoes and paste.
- Use frozen broccoli or diced bell pepper instead of the spinach; thaw and drain first.
- Use cheddar or an Italian blend instead of mozzarella for the top.
1 How to make it
1
Heat the oven and boil the pasta
Heat the oven to 375 F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta about 2 minutes shy of al dente; it will finish cooking in the oven, so it does not go mushy. Drain and set aside.
2
Brown the turkey
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high and soften the onion for a few minutes. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it into crumbles, until no pink remains and some of it browns, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes for the last minute. Ground turkey is done at 165 F; spoon off any excess grease from a fattier blend.
3
Make the tomato sauce
Stir the tomato paste into the turkey and cook it for a minute, then add the crushed tomatoes and the squeezed-dry spinach. Simmer for 5 minutes to pull the flavors together, then taste and adjust the salt.
4
Combine
Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until every piece is coated in sauce. Stir in about half the mozzarella so it melts through the middle of the casserole.
5
Assemble and bake
Spread the mixture into the baking dish, then scatter the rest of the mozzarella and the Parmesan over the top. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbling at the edges, and lightly browned on top.
6
Rest and serve
Let the casserole rest 5 minutes so it sets and scoops cleanly. Serve with a simple green salad or a piece of garlic bread.
2 Cheaper ingredient swaps
- Any short pasta for the penne. Ziti, rigatoni, rotini, or shells all bake up the same. Use whatever shape is cheapest or already open.
- A 24 oz jar of marinara for the crushed tomatoes and paste. One jar stands in for the tomatoes if you keep it on hand. The from-scratch sauce is cheaper and lower in salt.
- Frozen broccoli or diced bell pepper for the spinach. Any chopped vegetable works. Thaw and drain frozen vegetables first so the casserole is not watery.
- Cheddar or an Italian blend for the mozzarella. Any good melting cheese browns nicely on top. A blend adds a little more flavor for the same price.
3 Budget tips
- Ground turkey is lean and cheap, and a single pound plus a box of pasta bakes into a full six-serving dinner.
- Build the sauce from a can of crushed tomatoes instead of a jar; it costs less and you control the salt.
- Shred your own mozzarella from a block. It melts smoother and costs less per cup than the pre-shredded bags.
- Assemble it ahead and refrigerate, then bake when you get home. One dish covers dinner and a couple of lunches.
- See more recipes priced per serving in the Budget Plates Index.
4 Storage, freezing & reheating
Fridge
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Like most casseroles, the flavor settles overnight and it reheats well.
Freezer
Freeze it baked and fully cooled, whole or in portions, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat covered in a 325 F oven until hot through, or microwave a portion with a splash of water so the pasta stays moist.
5 Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
495
Protein
32g
Fat
18g
Carbs
53g
Estimates per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not a substitute for medical advice.
6 Frequently asked questions
Do I need to cook the pasta all the way?
No. Boil it about 2 minutes shy of al dente. It soaks up sauce and finishes cooking in the oven, which keeps it from turning mushy.
Do I need to drain the ground turkey?
Usually no. Lean ground turkey renders very little fat. If you used a fattier blend and see grease pooling, spoon it off before you add the tomatoes.
Can I assemble it ahead of time?
Yes. Build the casserole, cover, and refrigerate up to a day, then bake. Add a few minutes to the bake time if it goes in cold from the fridge.
How is $1.57 a plate figured?
About $9.39 for the whole 9x13 casserole, six servings, so roughly $1.57 each. The pound of turkey and the cheese are the biggest costs, so watch for sales on both.
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
As an Amazon Associate, Budget Plates may earn from qualifying purchases.
- 9x13 baking dish. A 9x13 dish is the standard size for casseroles and baked pasta, so one dish feeds the whole table. Best for casseroles, baked pasta, stuffed peppers, and baked oatmeal.
- Mixing bowls set. A set of nesting bowls handles prep, mixing, and marinades without dirtying every dish in the house. Best for mixing meatball and patty mixtures, tossing ingredients, and holding prepped components.
- Measuring cups and spoons set. A basic set of measuring cups and spoons keeps amounts consistent, which keeps budget recipes reliable. Best for rice, liquids, and any recipe where the ratio matters.
- Instant-read meat thermometer. An instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness, so lean or cheap cuts stay juicy instead of overcooking. Best for chicken, pork, and meatloaf, where a few degrees decides juicy or dry.
Feeding a crowd tonight? This one is also part of our Easy Family Dinner Recipes collection.
Cook next
All recipes Related recipes
From other tables
All recipes 
