Delicious Recipe
This Ground Turkey Taco Casserole is a hearty, flavorful one-dish meal perfect for busy weeknights. Packed with lean ground turkey, black beans, vegetables, and melted Colby Jack cheese, it combines the vibrant flavors of a taco night into a comforting baked casserole. Easy to prepare and customizable with your favorite toppings, it’s a nutritious and delicious option for the whole family.
- Author: Maya
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course, Casserole
- Method: Baking, Sautéing, Broiling
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
- Diet: Low Fat
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa
- ⅔ cup white rice (uncooked)
- 1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained
- 1 (7-oz) can green chilis
- 1 tsp sea salt (to taste)
- 3 cups grated Colby Jack cheese
For Serving
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- 3 stalks green onion, chopped
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ to 1 cup salsa
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a 13” x 9” casserole dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Sauté Aromatics and Turkey: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add ground turkey and break it into bite-sized pieces with a spatula. Cook until mostly no longer pink but not fully cooked through. Lightly season with sea salt.
- Combine Casserole Ingredients: In the prepared casserole dish, combine chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, chili powder, chicken broth, salsa, uncooked white rice, drained black beans, drained green chilis, and sea salt. Stir well to evenly mix all ingredients.
- Incorporate Turkey Mixture: Add the turkey and onion mixture from the skillet into the casserole dish and mix until well combined. Evenly sprinkle the grated Colby Jack cheese on top of the mixture.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. This allows the rice to cook and absorb the liquid flavors.
- Broil Cheese Topping: Remove foil and switch the oven to high broil. Place the casserole under the broiler for 5 to 8 minutes until the cheese on top is bubbly and slightly golden brown. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve with Toppings: Let the casserole rest briefly so remaining liquid absorbs into the rice. Serve with sliced avocado, chopped green onion, sour cream, salsa, and any additional toppings like guacamole, corn chips, shredded lettuce, or diced tomatoes as desired.
Notes
- The casserole will appear slightly liquidy when removed from the oven, but the liquid will absorb into the rice as it rests.
- Use fresh salsa for better flavor or substitute with homemade salsa if preferred.
- Ground turkey should be partially cooked before mixing to ensure even cooking in the casserole.
- Feel free to adjust the chili powder amount based on your preferred spice level.
- For a gluten-free version, confirm the salsa and broth are gluten-free or use certified gluten-free alternatives.
- This dish can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add extra baking time if baking from cold.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: ground turkey casserole, taco casserole, healthy taco bake, weeknight dinner, easy casserole, Mexican casserole, turkey recipes