Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 1/2 cups Elbow noodles (the smallest you can find)
Meat & Vegetables
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 lb Ground turkey
- 2 cups Cooked cauliflower rice
- 1 large Red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup Chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup Chopped carrots
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
Sauce & Seasonings
- 1 15oz Can of tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp Brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp Dry mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and cook pasta: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set aside to keep warm.
- Brown the turkey: Heat olive oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is lightly browned, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Sauté the vegetables: Add the cooked cauliflower rice, chopped red bell pepper, chopped yellow onion, chopped carrots, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
- Prepare the sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Stir the cooked elbow noodles into the turkey and vegetable sauce mixture, ensuring the pasta is evenly coated.
- Bake with cheese topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the skillet. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake until the cheese is melted and slightly bubbly, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve hot. Enjoy your flavorful and comforting Turkey Sloppy Joe Casserole!
Notes
- Use small elbow noodles to ensure every bite is well coated with sauce.
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or lean ground beef if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper when adding the tomato sauce.
- This casserole is great for meal prep and reheats well for leftovers.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free elbow pasta and ensure Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
