I grew up on casseroles, they usually’ll all the time have a particular place in my coronary heart. There’s one thing comforting a couple of dish that’s baked to bubbly perfection and served family-style. As an grownup, I nonetheless love them, however my palate has undoubtedly grown up, too. This Turkey Sausage and Kale Casserole is scrumptious and just a bit subtle. I’ve given this straightforward pasta bake a heat, autumn-inspired twist through the use of turkey sausage, mushrooms, kale, and a touch of nutmeg! It’s budget-friendly whereas nonetheless feeling elevated, comes collectively in about an hour, and makes sufficient to feed a household of 6!
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Tacky Turkey Sausage and Kale Pasta Casserole
This turkey sausage casserole is the proper mixture of straightforward and comforting, good for a busy evening. I begin with rigatoni and smoky browned turkey sausage (or leftover roast turkey after I’ve received some!), then toss in sautéed mushrooms and onions for earthy depth. The silky creamy sauce will get successful of garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a whisper of nutmeg—aka my secret contact to make it style like fall in a casserole dish. Recent kale and cream cheese add richness, and a layer of mozzarella on high bakes up golden and bubbly. This straightforward pasta casserole is my form of consolation meals, proper right here. 🤤
Get inventive with the protein. Turkey smoked sausage is incredible right here, however you might simply use rooster sausage, Italian sausage, floor turkey, cubed or shredded rooster, and even leftover roast turkey from the vacations. For those who’re utilizing floor meat, crumble and brown it as a substitute of slicing.
Not a kale fan? I like kale, nevertheless it does are usually bitter. If in case you have youngsters or choosy eaters, it’s possible you’ll wish to swap it out with spinach or one other leafy inexperienced like Swiss chard. Are you staff kale? Let me know within the feedback beneath!
Prepare dinner the pasta till simply tender. It’ll proceed cooking within the oven, so that you don’t need it overdone!
Regulate the seasonings. I seasoned this straightforward turkey sausage and kale casserole with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. You would omit the nutmeg in case you don’t have it, however you might additionally add onion powder, paprika, cayenne, or different spices and herbs to fit your style.
The butter and flour are the bottom for the roux, which is a thickening agent that’s about equal elements fats and flour. It helps give the sauce a creamy consistency, with out including heavy cream or canned soups, so don’t skip this step!
Turkey Sausage and Kale Casserole
Value $10.84 recipe / $1.81 serving
Collect and put together all components. Preheat the oven to 375°F, grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, and set it apart.
Deliver a medium-sized pot of water to a boil for the pasta. As soon as boiling, add the pasta and cook dinner for about 10 minutes, or simply till tender. Drain and funky the pasta in a colander, then place it in a big bowl for later.
Whereas the pasta is cooking, in a medium skillet over medium warmth, add the oil and sliced sausage. Brown for five minutes on one aspect, then flip and proceed to brown for a further 5 minutes. Take away the sausage from the pot and set it apart.
Add the mushrooms and onions. Proceed cooking for five minutes, stirring often.
Soften the butter within the pan, then sprinkle within the flour and cook dinner for 1 minute.
Add the milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and nutmeg. Prepare dinner till the liquid has thickened, about 2 minutes.
Add the kale and cream cheese and stir till the kale is wilted and the cheese is melted, for about 2 minutes.
Add the sausage and any drippings again in and fold to mix. Pour this combination into the massive bowl with the pasta and fold till mixed.
Switch the combination into the 9×13 casserole dish and unfold evenly.
High evenly with the mozzarella. Bake, uncovered, within the oven for 25-Half-hour.
Serve and luxuriate in!
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Medium Pot
Colander
Medium Skillet
Giant Bowl
9×13” Casserole Dish
**I extremely suggest utilizing contemporary kale in case you can! It holds up nicely within the casserole, including shade and texture with out getting mushy. Nonetheless, you can too use frozen kale in case you don’t thoughts the feel being a bit softer! Spinach and different leafy greens may even work.
***You should utilize different cheeses like provolone, Parmesan, Swiss, or your favourite blends.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 623kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 25gFats: 39gSodium: 1221mgFiber: 3g
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diet disclaimer right here.
find out how to make Turkey Sausage and Kale Casserole step-by-step pictures
Collect all your components and preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, after which set it apart for now.
Prepare dinner the pasta: Add water to a medium-sized pot and convey it to a boil on the stovetop. As soon as the water is boiling, add 8 oz. rigatoni pasta and cook dinner for about 10 minutes, or simply till tender. Drain and funky the pasta in a colander. Place the cooled pasta in a big bowl and put aside.
Brown the turkey sausage: In the meantime, warmth a medium skillet over medium warmth and add 1 Tbsp vegetable oil and 13 oz. sliced turkey smoked sausage. Brown the sausage on one aspect for five minutes…
…then flip them over and brown for an additional 5 minutes on the opposite aspect. Take away the sausage from the skillet and set it apart.
Sauté the veggies: Add 8 oz. sliced white mushrooms and 1 diced onion to the identical skillet you browned the sausage in. Sauté the greens for five minutes, stirring often to forestall sticking.
Make a roux: Soften 2 Tbsp butter within the pan with the mushrooms and onions. Then, sprinkle ¼ cup flour into the skillet, stir, and cook dinner for 1 minute.
Make the casserole filling: Now, add 2 cups milk, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, and ⅛ tsp nutmeg. Prepare dinner till the liquid has thickened, about 2 minutes.
For those who haven’t already, take away the powerful stems from 1 bunch washed kale and chop the leaves into bite-sized items.
Add the kale and 4 oz. cream cheese to your skillet. Stir and mix till the kale wilts and the cheese is melted. This took about 2 minutes for me.
Now add the browned sausage (and any drippings) to the skillet and fold to mix with the creamy sauce.
Pour your turkey sausage casserole combination into the massive bowl with the pasta and fold till mixed.
Bake: Pour the casserole combine into your ready 9×13 casserole dish. Unfold it out evenly and high with 1½ cups shredded mozzarella.
Bake the casserole in your preheated oven, uncovered, for 25-Half-hour till golden and effervescent. Serve and luxuriate in!
Serving Options
This turkey sausage pasta bake doesn’t want a lot to make it a whole meal. I often serve it with a easy aspect salad created from blended greens and a balsamic French dressing. A slice of garlic bread or crusty baguette can also be a terrific alternative! If I’m feeding a much bigger group, I’ll throw collectively some roasted greens like Brussels sprouts or inexperienced beans on the aspect. This dish is hearty sufficient to face by itself, so you’ll be able to hold sides minimal and nonetheless have everybody leaving the desk happy.
Storage & Reheating
You’ll be able to retailer this turkey and kale casserole in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-4 days, making it good for meal prep or having fun with leftovers all through the week. You may as well freeze it for as much as 3 months in an hermetic container. I like to recommend thawing it in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. Whenever you reheat it (both within the microwave or again within the oven at 350°F), it’s possible you’ll want so as to add a splash of milk if the pasta has absorbed an excessive amount of sauce.
