This healthy, easy, weeknight dinner idea is insanely cheesy, oh so flavorful, bursting with nutrition, and made with love! This specific recipe makes a ton, so there was enough for each of us to have seconds and some even thirds 😉
First of all, ground turkey mac and cheese is such a great comfort food that I highly recommend it to anyone in need of some comfort 🙂 This mac and cheese is to die for and the ground turkey is an added bonus!
This would be the perfect meal to whip up on a cozy fall Sunday afternoon with your little family or serve it at your next football Sunday Funday to satisfy all your guests. Whenever you choose to make this dish it will surely be a crowd pleaser.
Looking for more comfort food ideas, then you must try my One Pot Cauliflower Mac and Cheese or my Swedish Meatball Stroganoff with Creamy Mushroom Sauce!
Ingredients for this dish
Here is a list of the ingredients you'll need for this dish, plus some tips on a few below.
- macaroni - can totally sub for your favorite noodle! When I say comfort food, you want to make this meal your own. If your mama used spiral noodles for your mac and cheese growing up then you do you 😉
- ground turkey - your ground turkey needs to be cooked prior to adding it to your pasta. Adding in the ground turkey gives this dish that added protein, which I always enjoy because it keeps you fuller for longer. If you are looking for a vegetarian mac and cheese then just leave this out of your recipe.
- medium onion - the more your onion is chopped up the better it will be in this dish. I like to dice mine before adding them in. Sometimes, my kids don't even notice they're in the meal if they're diced small enough.
- garlic cloves - minced - my favorite way to cut corners 😉 Spice World Pre-Minced Garlic is something I always have on hand!
- whole wheat flour - adding flour into your dish helps to thicken up your ingredients. The flour really ties everything together and makes the cheese gooier, yum!
- shredded cheddar cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese - cheese, cheese, and more cheese! I recommend shredding your cheese before adding into your pot. It melts much easier than if you were to add blocks.
Cookware for this meal
I made my mac and cheese in a cast-iron skillet. I love my Lodge Cast-Iron, but use any brand you have. I prefer cast-iron mac and cheese because the pan adds some extra flavor to your dish and cast-irons can go from the stove to the oven and straight to the table. I find that ideal when you're making any kind of pasta. You will also need a large pot for boiling your pasta.
How to make this easy mac and cheese
Step 1 - First, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of the salt, then add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta!
Step 2 - Meanwhile, brown the ground turkey in a cast iron skillet or other heavy pot over medium heat. Transfer the meat to a bowl and set it aside.
Step 3 - In the same skillet, add the butter, onion, and garlic and sauté until the onions are softened, about 4 minutes.
Step 4 - Stir in the flour and cook, stirring for about 2 minutes.
Step 5 - Next, pour in the milk, stirring, and bring to a simmer. Season with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt, pepper, and paprika.
Step 6 - Stir in the cheese until melted.
Step 7 - Last, combine the pasta in with the cheese sauce. Fold in the ground turkey and serve!
Substitutions
Here are a few suggestions on some of the ingredients you can swap out if you're looking to change the dish up a bit.
Ground Turkey - of course, if you are looking for a vegetarian mac and cheese then you can completely omit the meat. Now, if you are a meat lover, like some people in my house, try adding in ground beef, ground chicken, crispy bacon bits, or some diced taylor ham. I wouldn't be from Jersey if I didn't add in taylor ham as an option.
Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese - if you aren't a fan of these 2 kinds of cheese there are a bunch you can pick from. Try swapping them out for parmesan, gruyere, brie, smoked gouda, Monterey jack, or fontina just to name a few. The possibilities are quit endless.
Whole Wheat Macaroni - if you don't like the taste of whole wheat noodles, I've also tried your regular pasta noodle, or I have even used chickpea pasta which I am a big fan of. Banza chickpea pasta is one of my favorite brands to use.
Tips and FAQ's
You can store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or you can also freeze it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you're looking to pair this dish with another meal and eat it as a side, here are some options. This can totally be eaten as your main dish though!
Some ideas are
1. meatloaf
2. BBQ pulled chicken or pork
3. applesauce
4. sloppy joes
5. or some yummy cornbread
If you want to make this dish even creamier than all you have to do is to cook your noodles in milk instead of water. This will help to make your sauce even creamier before adding the cheese.
More comfort dishes to try
If you give this dish a try don't forget to rate the recipe below! Always love hearing what you all think. You can also Stay in touch with me through social media on @Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my healthy recipes!
Mac and Cheese with Ground Turkey
Equipment
- cast iron skillet
- cutting board
- paring knife
- large pot
- whisk
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 16 oz whole wheat macaroni
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter or ghee
- ½ medium onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ⅓ cup whole wheat flour
- 3 cups 2 % or reduced fat milk
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp paprika
- 3 cups shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese
- ½ tbsp parsley for topping (optional)
Instructions
- First, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tsp salt and pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Meanwhile, brown the turkey in a cast-iron skillet. Drain in a colander and then transfer the meat to a bowl and set aside.
- In same skillet, add butter, onion, garlic and saute until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes.
- Whisk in flour and whisk for about 2 minutes. Until flour makes a rouge. A roux is basically the consistency of a liquid from thin and drippy to a classic sauce consistency that coats the back of the spoon.
- Pour in milk and stir, bring to a boil then simmer for 15 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Season with remaining ½ tsp salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix to combine.
- Sir in the cheese and mix until melted.
- Combine pasta with the cheese then fold in the ground turkey! Top with parsley then serve!
Notes
1. meatloaf
2. BBQ pulled chicken or pork
3. applesauce
4. sloppy joes
5. or some yummy cornbread
I like this site its a master peace ! Glad I discovered this on google .
Never got a roux.. just got lumpy onions. Even tried adding another tablespoon of butter. Continued with recipe anyway and we will see how it turns out.....
You can always add a little milk or water to thin it out some. I add cheese to mine