Healthy Mexican Casserole - w/ Ground Turkey & Quinoa (2024)

This Healthy Mexican Casserole is full of good for you ingredients like ground turkey, quinoa, black beans & bell peppers! Healthy Mexican food? Yes please!

This Healthy Mexican Casserole is one of our mostpopular recipes (originally posted October 27, 2015), so I’ve updated it to include a how-to video! Enjoy!

If you love this healthy Mexican inspired recipe, you’d also love: crockpot salsa chicken, turkey tacos, and instant pot carnitas.

I’m gonna let you in on a little secret….I love Mexican food! Oh wait. I’ve probably told you that like 1,000,000 times, but for those of you just joining us… I LOVE Mexican food.

Every Friday night, while Trevor and I were living in Seattle, you could find Trevor and I sitting in the same Mexican restaurant (we miss you Plaza Garibaldi)… at the same table…eating the same thing.

Exciting right? 🙂

I can’t help it. It was like clockwork.

Friday night rolls around and I’m majorly craving my favorite chips and salsa, margarita, and Pollo Macho <– literally to die for.

Now that we’re in Madison, and trust me, I’ve done my research, I can’t for the life of me find Mexican food that I’m craaaaazy about. Any Madison readers out there?

HELP. ME.

But maybe it’s for the best, because Trevor and I are actually going to Cancun (eeeeek!!!!) in December, so maybe I should lay off the chips and salsa for a bit?

Maybe.

To get my Mexican food fix in a muchhealthier way, enter: Healthy Mexican Casserole.

This Healthy Mexican Casserole came to be, because it was Friday and naturally, I was craving Mexican food. But like I said, Trevor and I are heading to Cancun in December.

But howcan I make Mexican food healthier while still tasting totally drool worthy?

Ingredients in ground turkey healthy mexican casserole

• Quinoa
• Chicken broth
• Olive oil
• Turkey
• Chili powder
• Cumin
• Salt and pepper
• Jalapeno
• Onion
• Bell peppers – I use 1 green, 1 yellow, 1 red, and 1 orange
• Garlic
• Black beans
• Corn
• Enchilada sauce
• Cheese

How do i make the best mexican casserole?

1. Cook the quinoa according to package directions, but use chicken broth instead of water. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a very large sauté pan over medium heat.
3. Add in turkey and spices and cook, breaking up the meat as you go, until the turkey is no longer pink.
4. Stir in the jalapeno, onion, peppers, and garlic, and cook until they’re tender crisp.
5. Then stir in some black beans, corn, enchilada sauce, your cooked quinoa, and a bit of cheese.
6. Transfer mixture to a 9 x 13 in baking dish, top with a bit more cheese, and bake in the oven until it’s hot and bubbly!

You guys. That’s only TWO dirty dishes and it makes a ton, so you won’t have to cook again for days….DAYYYYS 🙂

This Healthy Mexican Casserole will come of the oven and I promise you, you’lljust die from the amazing smell.

And thetexture of this Healthy Mexican Casserole? It’s crazy good. I love the combo of the grainy quinoa, with tender ground turkey, and the crunchy veggies. Just. Yum!!

Oh and the flavor? Yeah. Ah-mazing. I <3 the combination of enchilada sauce with the spices: chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.

I also have to say, these leftovers make really incredible nachos.

I couldn’t resist.

I layered some tortilla chips (um, they were organic 😉 ) on a baking sheet, topped them with a bunch of this Healthy Mexican Casserole, a bit more cheese, and broiled them until the cheese was melty.

Served with salsa and sour cream or non fat plain greek yogurt?

Um. Yes please!

– Jennifer