Ground Turkey Hamburger Casserole

This tasty turkey hamburger casserole is perfect for a simple meal that comes together in no time. It only takes minutes to prepare and it's so tasty that everyone will love it. It's especially great because the kids will devour this just as easily as the adults at your dinner table!

What Goes with Turkey Hamburger Casserole?

This casserole is delicious on its own, but you could also serve it with a side of vegetables. I love to serve this casserole with steamed broccoli or green beans. Another idea is to make roasted vegetables. You could also serve with a simple side salad if you prefer.

Some other ideas include this spinach casserole, the asparagus casserole, or this tasty healthy broccoli casserole.

To complete the meal, add some crusty bread and a sprinkle of fresh chopped green onions or chives over the top.

white baking dish of pasta casserole on table by fresh herbs

Ingredients

1 ½ cups dry elbow pasta (3 cups cooked - 170g dry)
1 pound of ground turkey (500 g)
1 medium onion
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon mustard (15 ml)
3 ¼ cups tomato passata/sauce (770 ml)
1 ½ teaspoons salt (9 g)
½ teaspoon black pepper (3 g)
½ teaspoon garlic powder (3 g)
⅔ cup shredded cheddar cheese (85 g)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (25 g)

Note: While you can use a simple tomato sauce or favorite pasta sauce in this recipe, you can also make homemade tomato passata for a more authentic Italian flavor.

white bowls and ramekins filled with ingredients including raw ground turkey and dry pasta

Kitchen Tools You May Need

white oval baking dish of cooked pasta casserole on table by blue striped napkin

How to Make a Ground Turkey Hamburger Casserole

Video Recipe:

Begin by cooking the pasta for half of the time listed. Drain the pasta and set it aside to mix with the sauce later.

Now, preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C and spray your baking dish (10") with non-stick spray then set it aside.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the onions and cook, stirring regularly, for 5 to 6 minutes, until tender. Then, add in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until aromatic.

minced garlic in skillet with cooked onions

Now, add in the ground turkey. Cook this for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring it regularly to break up the meat as it cooks. Once it is no longer pink, season the meat with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and mustard.

raw ground turkey on top of cooked onions in skillet

Then, pour in the tomato sauce and sugar, and stir well. Once combined, simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

spices on top of red sauce in skillet of ground meat

Pour the pasta into the cooked sauce, and stir to combine before pouring this into the prepared baking dish.

spoon stirring pasta and meat sauce together

Cover the top with shredded cheese and bake for 25 minutes until the cheese is all melted and beginning to brown around the edges.

white baking dish of turkey hamburger casserole on gray table with blue and white napkin

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Tomato Sauce goes in Hamburger casserole?

I like to use tomato passata/tomato sauce in this casserole, but you can choose different options depending upon the flavor you want. Crushed tomatoes work great, but will be a bit less thick than sauce. Another option is to use a favorite jar of pasta sauce. If using ready0-made sauce, you can probably skip the sugar addition as it will be milder and not as acidic as straight tomato sauce.

Can I Freeze This Hamburger Casserole?

This casserole can be frozen before or after cooking. If you freeze it before cooking, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then bake according to the recipe instructions. I like to use a disposable pan so that I know that it is freezer safe as well as keeping my daily use pans from being out of use.

If you freeze it after cooking, let the hamburger casserole cool completely. Once it is cooled, move it to an airtight container. Once it is in the container, I like to add another layer of protection, like adding plastic wrap or foil. Place the container in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months.

Another idea is to freeze the casserole in individual serving sizes. This lets you take out what you need when you need it. You can use small containers or quart-size freezer bags for this method.

Can I Add Vegetables To This Hamburger Casserole?

While it has garlic and onion, you may also want additional vegetables to make it a one-pot meal. If that is the case, I recommend things like bell peppers, mushrooms, squash, zucchini, or just chopped tomatoes for both texture and flavor. These will all go well in this dish and give it more of a chunky pasta sauce texture.

Do you want more easy-to-prepare and flavorful recipes? Check out my cookbooks. The Mediterranean Air Fryer Cookbook, Clean Eating Air Fryer Cookbook, The Complete Dutch Oven Cookbook, and the recent The Complete Cookbook for Beginners all share my favorite recipes along with handy tips for succeeding in the kitchen.

More Easy Main Dish Casseroles

Are you looking for more ideas to fill in your menu plan? This turkey hamburger casserole is delicious, but you may prefer something different next time. Below are a few more of our favorite recipes that are ideal as a main dish. Make sure you bookmark these, print out the recipes, or pin them to Pinterest to make soon!

Yield: 8

Ground Turkey Hamburger Casserole

This ground turkey hamburger casserole is a healthier spin on a classic meat and pasta dish! Topped with cheese and richly flavored, it's a perfect weeknight meal!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 ½ cups dry elbow pasta (3 cups cooked - 170g dry)
1 pound of ground turkey (500 g)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon mustard (15 ml)
3 ¼ cups tomato passata/sauce (770 ml)
1 ½ teaspoons salt (9 g)
½ teaspoon black pepper (3 g)
½ teaspoon garlic powder (3 g)
⅔ cup shredded cheddar cheese (85 g)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (25 g)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C and spray a 10" baking dish with non-stick spray then set it aside.
Cook the pasta for ½ the time listed on the package, then drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and saute the onions for 5 to 7 minutes until tender. Then, add in the garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
To the onions, add in the ground turkey, and cook for an additional 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up the meat as it cooks.
Then, season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and mustard, then pour in the tomato sauce. Stir well to combine.
Add the sugar and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Stir in the par-cooked pasta and then pour the mixture into the baking dish.
Top with shredded cheese, and cook for 25 minutes to heat through and melt the cheese.