Easy Macaroni Casserole
This incredibly simple macaroni casserole features a delightful combination of ground turkey, vegetables, marinara sauce, and gooey cheese all baked together. It's a family-friendly dish that requires no prior cooking of the pasta!
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Ingredients
- 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
- 1/4 cup finely diced celery
- 1/4 cup finely diced carrots
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 oz uncooked DeLallo whole wheat elbows
- 1 medium red pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
Instructions
- 1
In a large, deep non-stick skillet, cook the ground turkey over high heat until it is fully browned, adding a touch of salt and breaking it into smaller chunks as it cooks.
- 2
Transfer the cooked turkey to a plate and set it aside.
- 3
Pour olive oil into the skillet, then lower the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion, red bell pepper, celery, and carrots; sauté the mixture until the vegetables are tender, which should take about 6 to 7 minutes.
- 4
Add the browned turkey back to the skillet along with the other ingredients, making sure to leave out the pasta and cheese for now.
- 5
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- 6
While the mixture simmers, preheat your oven to 350°F.
- 7
Spread a thin layer of the turkey and vegetable mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- 8
Layer the uncooked pasta on top of the sauce.
- 9
Pour the remaining turkey mixture evenly over the pasta and sprinkle cheese on top.
- 10
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 50 to 55 minutes.
- 11
Once done, take it out of the oven and let it rest, covered, for 15 minutes.
- 12
Cut into 8 portions for serving.