This straightforward no-boil macaroni casserole is made with floor turkey and greens, with the pasta cooking proper within the sauce. Easy to prep, comforting, and minimal cleanup.
Simple Macaroni Casserole
This straightforward, no-boil Macaroni Casserole is a longtime favourite for a cause. As an alternative of cooking the pasta individually, the macaroni bakes proper within the dish with the sauce and water, absorbing taste because it cooks. The result’s a comfy, comforting casserole with fewer steps and fewer cleanup—no additional pot required. It’s the identical streamlined methodology I take advantage of in my Sausage Macaroni Casserole, and it’s good for busy nights whenever you need one thing heat, easy, and satisfying.
Why This Recipe Works
I come from the college of cooking pasta in loads of water, so when somebody kindly shared this recipe with me over a decade in the past, I received’t lie, I used to be skeptical! However I liked the end result, and since then I’ve made it many instances, tweaking it to my style. We find it irresistible!
- Household-friendly: Nice for youths and even sneaks in some veggies!
- One-pan comfort: No have to boil the macaroni individually. It bakes in the identical dish as all the things else.
- Simple to make forward and bake proper earlier than dinner. It reheats effectively, too!
Elements You’ll Want
Right here’s extra data on all of the macaroni casserole substances. See the recipe card under for the precise measurements.
- 93% Lean Floor Turkey retains it mild whereas including protein.
- Olive Oil for sautéing the veggies
- Greens: Onion, purple bell pepper, celery, carrots, and mushrooms (white button or child bella)
- Diced Tomatoes: Drain a can of petite-diced tomatoes. In case you don’t have petite tomatoes, common diced tomatoes may also work.
- Marinara: Make my fast marinara sauce or use your favourite jarred sauce to avoid wasting time.
- Water: Though we’re not boiling the pasta individually, we nonetheless want water to assist it cook dinner within the oven.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt and Italian seasoning
- Mozzarella Cheese: I used whole-milk mozzarella on high as a result of I like my cheese melty and gooey, however you should use part-skim mozzarella should you favor.
- Elbows (AKA macaroni): I by no means used to love complete wheat pasta till I tried DeLallo. I’m so impressed with the way it tastes. It’s change into my household’s favourite.
Easy methods to Make Simple Macaroni Casserole
After making the tomato sauce with turkey and greens, mix all the things with the raw pasta in a dish and bake till heat and tacky. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.
- Brown the bottom turkey in a nonstick skillet. Season with salt, then break it into smaller items because it cooks. Switch to a plate.
- Sauté the greens: Add the oil, then cook dinner the onion, bell pepper, celery, and carrots till tender.
- Mix all the things: Add the turkey to the greens together with the mushrooms, diced tomatoes, marinara, water, salt, and Italian seasoning.
- Simmer: Deliver the skillet to a boil, cut back the warmth, and simmer for 20 minutes. Style the sauce to test the flavour; add extra salt or Italian seasoning if wanted.
- Assemble the macaroni casserole: Spoon the turkey combination right into a 9-by- 13-inch pan to cowl the underside. Then layer with the raw macaroni, the remaining sauce, and mozzarella.
- Bake: Cowl the dish with foil and bake at 350°F for 50 to 55 minutes. Let it relaxation for quarter-hour earlier than serving.
Variations
- Meat choices: Swap turkey for floor hen or sirloin. You might additionally use candy or spicy Italian turkey sausage.Marinara Sauce: Save time and use your favourite jarred sauce.
- Vegetarian macaroni casserole: Skip the turkey and add extra veggies.
- Don’t like mushrooms? Omit them. Be happy so as to add extra of one other vegetable or attempt one thing new, reminiscent of chopped zucchini, yellow squash, or eggplant.
- Swap water with hen broth for extra taste or hen bone broth for additional protein.
- No Italian seasoning? Season the casserole with dried oregano, parsley, thyme, or a mix of all three. You might additionally use onion and garlic powders.
- Make it spicy: Use a spicy marinara or add crushed purple pepper flakes.
- Pasta: Use any small pasta form, reminiscent of ditilini, or mini shells. It’s also possible to use common pasta, which cooks sooner than complete wheat, so test it round 30 to 40 minutes.
- Can I take advantage of cooked pasta? In case you favor to boil the macaroni individually, omit the water and bake the casserole for 25 minutes, or till heated via.
- Dairy-free pasta: Skip the cheese or use a plant-based different.
- Wash even fewer dishes. Brown the turkey and sauté the greens in a Dutch oven. After the sauce simmers, stir within the pasta, high with cheese, and bake in the identical pot.
Correct Storage
- Can I make this baked macaroni casserole forward of time? If you wish to assemble it early, put together it via step 8. Cowl the dish with foil and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours. Whereas the oven preheats, let it sit at room temperature, then bake as instructed.
- Refrigerate leftover baked pasta for as much as 4 days.
- Not feeding many individuals? Halve this recipe and bake it in a 9-by-9-inch baking dish to serve 4.
- Easy methods to freeze after baking: Let the casserole cool earlier than freezing. For particular person servings for future lunches, retailer the pasta in 1.5-cup glass containers. Alternatively, freeze half in a bigger dish for a future household dinner. Leftovers will preserve for as much as 3 months within the freezer.
- Easy methods to thaw: Place the dish within the fridge the day earlier than consuming. Then microwave or bake at 350°F till heat.
For extra dinner concepts utilizing macaroni, try these 5 scrumptious pasta recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!
Yield: servings
Serving Dimension: 1 /sixth slice
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In a big deep non-stick skillet, brown the bottom turkey over excessive warmth till cooked via, seasoning with a pinch of salt and breaking it up into smaller items because it cooks. Put aside on a dish.
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Add olive oil to the skillet, cut back warmth to medium and add the onion, purple pepper, celery and carrots; sauté till the greens delicate, about 6 to 7 minutes.
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Return the turkey to the skillet together with the remaining substances apart from the pasta and cheese. Deliver to a boil after which decrease warmth to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes.
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Whereas simmering, warmth oven to 350°F.
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Spoon simply sufficient of the turkey/vegetable combination to cowl the underside of a 9×13 pan. Cowl with raw pasta. Spoon remaining sauce combination evenly excessive and sprinkle with cheese.
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Cowl with foil and bake 50-55 minutes. Take away from oven and let stand, coated, for quarter-hour.
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Divide into 6 servings.
Final Step:
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Serving: 1 /sixth slice, Energy: 456 kcal, Carbohydrates: 40.5 g, Protein: 28.5 g, Fats: 19.5 g, Saturated Fats: 8 g, Ldl cholesterol: 89.5 mg, Sodium: 825 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 85 g
