Phyllo Dough Ground Turkey Casserole with Veggies
I love a good casserole, like my tuna casserole or fajita chicken casserole. However, I’m always looking for ways to switch things up, and this phyllo dough ground turkey casserole does exactly that! Honestly, it’s one of the most unique ones I’ve ever made… in the best way. It starts with ground turkey and veggies simmered in curry-inspired spices, creamy coconut milk, and Greek yogurt, keeping everything so hearty and flavorful.
Then comes my favorite part: the scrunched phyllo on top. It’s SO good! It bakes up golden, flaky, and perfectly crisp, creating the BEST contrast with the creamy filling underneath. It’s comforting, high in protein, and just different enough to make dinner feel exciting again. I love serving it over rice for an easy, satisfying family meal that gets my littles to actually eat their veggies. Wins all around!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick + Easy – With minimal prep, everything comes together super quickly, and the casserole is ready to eat in 45 minutes.
- Meal Prep-Friendly – Leftovers store and reheat super well, and I usually have a few servings left over for quick lunches I look forward to eating.
- 63 Grams Protein – With ground turkey and Greek yogurt, this casserole is super filling.
- Texture – The contrast of the crispy topping and soft filling makes for an irresistible combination. I can’t get enough! Even my kids ask for seconds.
RELATED: Easy Turkey Casserole
Ingredients
- Avocado Oil
- Veggies – Yellow onion, red bell pepper, garlic, fresh spinach, and frozen peas form the bulk of the filling.
- Ground Turkey – I prefer using dark meat turkey or a combination of light and dark meat turkey to prevent the meat from drying out. Lean ground turkey works, too, but it’s a lot less forgiving.
- Tomato Paste – This adds depth to the filling, enhancing the flavor of the spices.
- Spices – Curry powder, turmeric, ground cumin, salt, and pepper infuse the casserole with warm, savory flavor.
- Yogurt – I highly recommend using full-fat Greek yogurt for the best taste and texture! Look for high-protein yogurt to boost the protein content even further.
- Coconut Milk – Full-fat canned coconut milk gives the filling a creamy consistency and balances some of the warmth of the spices.
- Fresh Cilantro – This adds a pop of brightness and a fresh finish.
- Phyllo Dough – I typically find this in the frozen section of my local grocery store and always make sure to thaw it first.
How to Make Phyllo Dough Ground Turkey Casserole
Thanks to the crumbly phyllo, this recipe looks super impressive, but it’s secretly super simple to make. All you need is a large, wide Dutch oven or oven-safe casserole dish with a lid! Here’s how to make Ground Turkey Casserole with Phyllo Dough:
- Sauté the veggies – Heat oil in a Dutch oven or oven-safe casserole dish with a lid over medium heat. Add the onion and pepper, and sauté just until they begin to soften. Then, stir in the garlic, and continue to cook until fragrant.
- Brown the turkey – Mix the turkey in with the veggies, breaking it into pieces, and cook until it is nearly done, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to overcook, or it’s likely to be dry!
- Combine and simmer – Stir in the tomato paste, spices, yogurt, and coconut milk, and let the mixture simmer. Then, stir in the spinach, peas, and cilantro, and turn off the heat.
- Layer – Stack three sheets of phyllo dough on top of each other, and scrunch them evenly over half of the dish. Repeat with the remaining three sheets, covering the second half of the casserole.
- Bake – Spray the phyllo with cooking oil spray, and bake until the phyllo is golden brown and crispy. Cool slightly, and enjoy warm!
Tips
- Don’t skip sautéing the spices with the tomato paste. Letting them cook briefly helps deepen the curry-inspired flavor.
- Use full-fat Greek yogurt and full-fat coconut milk for the creamiest texture. Lower-fat versions may make the filling thinner and less flavorful.
- Make sure your phyllo dough is fully thawed before using. Cold or partially frozen phyllo is difficult to work with and may make the filling soggy.
- Scrunch the phyllo loosely over the top instead of laying it flat. This creates more crispy edges and better texture.
- Thicken the filling. If the filling seems too thin, let it simmer for a few extra minutes before adding the phyllo.
RELATED: Eggplant Ground Turkey Moussaka
Variations
- Swap the turkey. Replace part of or all of the turkey with drained chickpeas. I recommend using 1 cup of chickpeas for every 1/2 pound of turkey! You can also use ground chicken instead.
- Add extra veggies. Include any vegetables you have on hand in addition to or in place of the existing vegetables. Zucchini, mushrooms, or shredded carrots all work well!
- Increase the heat. Stir a teaspoon or so of red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños into the filling to add a kick of spice.
- Add cheese. Stir crumbled feta into the filling, or sprinkle it on top for a melty texture and salty taste.
My Favorite Ways to Serve
This ground turkey casserole can easily be served on its own. However, I like to serve it over Instant Pot brown rice to help soak up all the filling. It’s also delicious with naan or pita bread for scooping! For a little extra freshness, I sometimes add a simple cucumber or tomato salad on the side, too, but it’s definitely not necessary.
How to Store
To store, transfer leftovers to an airtight container, and store them in the fridge for 4-5 days. For the best results, I prefer warming leftovers in the oven at 350°F just until they’re heated through and the phyllo is crisp. You can also microwave individual portions, but the topping tends to stay a little soggy.
I don’t recommend freezing the assembled casserole, because the phyllo becomes too soft and watery. However, you can freeze the filling on its own for up to 2 months! Thaw it in the fridge overnight, and add the phyllo topping before reheating.
More Wholesome Turkey Recipes
- Turkey Sage Meatballs
- Healthy Turkey Swedish Meatballs
- Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe
- Homemade Turkey Soup
- Healthy Ground Turkey Taco Salad
- Paleo Turkey Meatballs Meal Prep Bowls
Healthy Easy Casseroles You’ll Love
- Taco Pasta Casserole
- Butternut Squash Casserole
- Healthy Big Mac Casserole
- Paleo Chicken Mushroom Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
- Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole
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Phyllo Dough Ground Turkey Casserole
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced small)
- 1 medium red bell pepper (diced)
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 pounds lean ground turkey (or a combo of breast and dark meat, or dark meat works amazing too)
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk (stirred before pouring)
- 3 cups fresh spinach (chopped)
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (plus more for garnish)
- 6 sheets phyllo dough (defrosted)
- avocado oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large wide dutch oven (or deep oven safe casserole dish/braising dish), heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and pepper and sauté for 6-8 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Mix in the turkey and break into small pieces. Cook for 8-10 minutes, mixing occasionally and breaking pieces apart often until mostly cooked through.
- Add the tomato paste, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, salt, yogurt and coconut milk. Mix and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Mix in the spinach, peas and cilantro. Turn off the heat.
- Layer 3 sheets of phyllo dough and scrunch over half of the dish. Repeat with remaining 3 sheets of phyllo dough on the other half of the dish.
- Spray phyllo all over with avocado oil spray.
- Bake for 14-15 minutes, until the phyllo is golden brown and crispy.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
K says:
I tried this tonight!! Omg really good!
JOL Team replied:
So glad you enjoyed it!