The Best Turkey and Squash Casserole Recipe

This time of year, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. And what would Thanksgiving be without a turkey casserole? This dish is the perfect mix of savory and sweet, and it’s sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Not to mention, it’s also relatively healthy, so you won’t have to feel guilty about indulging. So, without further ado, here is the best turkey and squash casserole recipe that you’ll ever taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pound butternut squash, diced
• 1 Cup spinach, chopped
• 8 Ounces frozen hash brown potatoes
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• ½ large sweet onion, diced
• 2 Teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 Pound ground turkey
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 2 Teaspoon poultry seasoning pepper to taste
• 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ Cups milk
• ½ Cup parmesan cheese, shredded and divided
• Tortilla chips, for serving (optional)
• Sour cream, for serving (optional)
• Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease an 8 x 11-inch baking dish.
2. Add squash, spinach, and potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Set aside. 
3. In a medium saucepan melt the butter and cook onions for about three minutes or until translucent.
4. Add the garlic, turkey, salt, poultry seasoning, and pepper to the onion mixture. Cook until the meat has browned.
5. Once the meat has browned coat with flour and stir in the milk. Let the mixture simmer and stir often until it has thickened. If you want your casserole to be extra creamy, you can substitute the milk for heavy cream.
6. Remove from heat and stir in ¼ cup parmesan cheese and add to the bowl of squash, spinach, and potatoes.
7. Add mixture to the prepared 8 x 11 baking dish, cover with foil and cook for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for additional 20 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven and top the casserole with the remaining parmesan cheese and bake for five minutes then serve. You can add cilantro, sour cream, and chips as desired.
9. Enjoy!

Keep reading for more tips and tricks on how to make the perfect turkey and squash casserole.

How to Prepare Your Turkey

Since this dish is all about the turkey, you want to make sure that it’s cooked to perfection. The best way to do this is to use a quality turkey breast, which you can either roast or smoked. If you’re short on time, you can also use a rotisserie chicken. Just make sure to remove the skin to keep it healthy.

If you’re using roasted or smoked turkey, you’ll want to shred it into bite-size pieces. You don’t want it to be too chunky or too small. The perfect size is about the size of a golf ball.

The Best Squash for Casserole

This casserole calls for butternut squash, but you can really use any type of squash that you like. If you’re not a fan of butternut squash, feel free to substitute it with acorn squash, pumpkin, or even sweet potato.

Just like with the turkey, you’ll want to dice the squash into small pieces. Again, you don’t want them to be too big or too small. The perfect size is about the same as the turkey.

The Perfect Spinach to Potato Ratio

This casserole calls for a 1:1 ratio of spinach to potatoes. However, if you’re not a fan of spinach, you can easily reduce the amount or leave it out altogether. Just keep in mind that the more spinach you add, the healthier the dish will be.

On the other hand, if you love spinach, feel free to add a bit more, but make sure not to add too much or it will overpower the other flavors.

The Best Cheese for Casserole

This casserole calls for parmesan cheese, but you can really use any type of cheese that you like. If you’re not a fan of parmesan, feel free to substitute it with cheddar, Swiss, or even mozzarella.

Just like with the spinach, you don’t want to add too much cheese or it will overpower the other flavors. A general rule of thumb is to use about ¼ cup of cheese for every 1-2 cups of casserole.

How about the Leftover Casserole?

Just like any other dish, this casserole is best enjoyed fresh. However, if you have leftovers, you can easily store them in the fridge for up to four days.

To reheat, simply place the desired amount of casserole in a microwave-safe dish and heat for about 2 minutes or until warm. You can also reheat it in the oven, but it will take longer.

Final Thought

This casserole is the perfect Thanksgiving dish. It’s easy to make, relatively healthy, and absolutely delicious. Your family and friends will be begging you for the recipe. Whether you’re a fan of squash, spinach, or potatoes, this dish is sure to please. So go ahead and give it a try!

For a vegan version, simply substitute the dairy milk for almond milk, use vegan cheese, and leave out the turkey. You can also add in some extra veggies like carrots, corn, or peas. The possibilities are endless!