Summary
This Southwestern turkey rice casserole is a game-changer. Not only does it taste good, but it’s also relatively healthy and easy to make. Another win? The recipe is so versatile that once you’ve got this casserole down, it can be switched up and made into a hundred different casseroles!
Your grocery list
Produce
- Onion (yellow, red, or white will work for this recipe)
- Garlic
- Bell Peppers (I used green and red, but any color will work)
- Cilantro
Pantry Items/Seasonings
- Olive oil
- Ground cumin
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Salt
- Black pepper
Canned Items
- Diced green chiles
- Diced tomatoes
- Salsa
- Reduced-sodium black beans
- Corn
Grains
- Brown rice (should be cooked before beginning this recipe)
Protein
- Ground turkey
Dairy
- Cheese (Monterey Jack, Pepperjack, Cheddar – whatever you like. I just suggest buying a block and then grating it at home)
Equipment/tools you’ll need
- Large nonstick pan or cast iron pan
- Baking dish (7×11″ or 9×13″ will work, the 7×11″ will create a deeper casserole, but there will be enough for a 9×13″ dish if that’s what you have)
- Aluminum foil
Tips and things to consider
- Southwestern turkey rice casserole is great for meal prep. It will keep in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Just transfer it from the baking dish to an airtight container and store it.
- You can freeze this dish; HOWEVER, the rice gets very mushy after defrosting so I’d suggest cooking the casserole with everything except rice if you need to freeze it. Make sure the dish is freezer-safe (an aluminum pan works well) and wrap it with a few layers of plastic wrap. Then cover in aluminum foil and label with the contents and date. The casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To warm (in the oven):
- From frozen: preheat an oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Unwrap the dish and cover it with foil. Heat until warmed through, 30-45 minutes.
- From the refrigerator: preheat an oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer the casserole to an oven-safe dish, if necessary. Heat until warmed through, about 20 minutes.
Switching it up
The beauty of casserole recipes is that they all follow the same process, making it very easy to switch up the flavors depending on what’s available in your kitchen and what you have a taste for.
Start by cooking the protein (ground or even small, bite-sized pieces) with diced onion, add garlic, herb, and spices. Reduce or remove from the heat, then mix in the prepared/cooked vegetables of your choice. It’s a good ideas to add a sauce of some sort to keep the casserole from drying out, and any other extras to make it really pop.
Transfer everything to a baking dish, top with a cheese that fits the flavor profile you’re going for, and bake for 20-30 minutes to heat through. That’s it. Every single time.
- Proteins to try: Ground chicken, lamb, or beef instead of turkey
- BBQ Chicken + Rice Casserole – ground chicken. rice. bbq sauce. diced red onions. corn. cheddar + pepper jack cheese.
- Mediterranean Lamb + Rice Casserole – ground lamb. rice. crushed tomatoes. parsley + oregano. crumbled feta.
- Teriyaki Turkey + Rice Casserole – ground turkey. rice. diced squash and/or zucchini. broccoli. teriyaki sauce.
Southwestern Turkey and Rice Casserole
An easy weeknight dinner recipe filled with lean protein, rice, vegetables, bold spices, and herbs.
Servings 12 servings
Cost $20
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter, salted or unsalted
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 onion diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 bell peppers diced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 3-ounce can of diced green chiles
- 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes
- 1 cup salsa your favorite kind
- 1 cup canned reduced-sodium black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn steamed or from a can
- ¼ cup minced cilantro
- ½ cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup grated pepper jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly coat your baking dish with cooking spray or spread butter across the bottom and sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until they start to brown. Add ground turkey and cook, stirring and breaking up the turkey until the turkey is just cooked through.
- Add the garlic, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper, and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the rice, diced green chiles, diced tomatoes, salsa, black beans, corn, and cilantro. Stir to combine. Make sure to taste and add any more seasoning, if needed.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top with cheese. Cook until heated through, 20-30 minutes. Serve with a side salad, salsa, or steamed vegetables.
Notes
- If using salted butter, remember to adjust the amount of salt (and seasonings containing salt) used at later stages of cooking
- Substitute all of the seasonings listed above for low-sodium taco seasoning in the packet. It works wonders in a pinch.
- Feel free to use the fresh versions of any of the canned ingredients added to this recipe.
- Dice 14 ounces of fresh tomatoes.
- Beans should be soaked overnight and cooked before adding them to the casserole.
- Corn can be par-boiled, grilled, or steamed before adding it to the casserole.
- You can even make your own salsa and use that instead as well.
- The brown rice can be substituted for white rice, of course.
