When you have a lot of time today but no time tomorrow, prep this Take & Bake Turkey Casserole! You know you have to eat, so you might as well throw the tender turkey in with bouncy noodles and a creamy sauce and let it soak up all the goodness overnight! Then, when you have a million things to do the next day, drop Take & Bake Turkey Casserole in the oven and shazam! You’ve got yourself a tasty meal, even on your busiest, most bustling day!
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package medium-size egg noodles
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper
- 3 cups turkey, cooked and diced
- 1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimientos, drained
Directions
Step 1 –Lightly grease a 12×8-inch baking dish.
Step 2 –In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the noodles to al dente, according to the package directions. Drain the noodles well.
Step 3 –In a Dutch oven over medium heat, add the onions, the green peppers, and the butter and sauté until the veggies are tender.
Step 4 –Add the flour to the veggie mixture and stir until it is smooth.
Step 5 –Cook the veggie mixture, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
Step 6 –Gradually add the milk to the veggie mixture and cook, while stirring, until the sauce thickens and bubbles.
Step 7 –Stir the cooked noodles, 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese, the poppy seeds, the salt, the red pepper, and the turkey into the sauce mixture.
Step 8 –Add the pimientos to the turkey mixture and gently stir to combine.
Step 9 –Spoon the turkey mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cover it with foil and let it chill in the refrigerator, for at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
Step 10 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 11 –Transfer the baking dish from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature, about 30 minutes.
Step 12 –Bake the casserole, covered, about 45 minutes.
Step 13 –Uncover the baking dish and discard the foil. Sprinkle the casserole with the remaining parmesan cheese.
Step 14 –Bake the casserole until it is thoroughly heated, about 10 minutes.
Step 15 –Serve.
