Mexican Spaghetti Squash Casserole with Ground Turkey, Black Beans, and Corn Recipe
A flavorful and healthy Mexican Spaghetti Squash Casserole featuring ground turkey, black beans, corn, and cheese. This lower-carb dish is easy to prepare, baked to perfection, and makes excellent leftovers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
For the Casserole
- 2 lbs spaghetti squash (cooked & cooled slightly; see note 1)
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 bell peppers, chopped into small pieces
- 11.5 oz can of corn, drained (341 mL)
- 18 oz can of black beans, drained & rinsed (541 mL)
- 4.3 oz can of green chiles (127 mL)
- 18 oz can of diced tomatoes, including juices (541 mL)
- 10 oz can of mild enchilada sauce (300 mL)
- 1 tablespoon mild chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups cheese (mozzarella or Monterey Jack), divided
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti Squash: Cook the spaghetti squash by baking, boiling, or microwaving until tender. Once cooked and slightly cooled, cut in half, scoop out the seeds, and shred the flesh into noodles using a fork.
- Cook Turkey: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the ground turkey until no pink remains, about 7 minutes. Break it up with a spatula as it cooks. Allow it to cool slightly.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti squash, cooked ground turkey, chopped bell peppers, drained corn, rinsed black beans, green chiles, diced tomatoes with juices, enchilada sauce, chili powder, cumin, salt, eggs, and 1¼ cups of the cheese. Mix thoroughly. Transfer the mixture into a deep 9×13 inch casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining ¾ cup cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake the Casserole: Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for an additional 15 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted and golden.
- Serve: Let the casserole rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This allows it to firm up, making it easier to slice and serve.
Notes
- Note 1: To cook spaghetti squash, you can bake it whole at 400°F for about 40-50 minutes, microwave it for 10-12 minutes, or boil it until tender.
- Note 2: Ground turkey can be substituted with ground chicken or lean ground beef if preferred.
- Note 3: Use mild enchilada sauce to keep the casserole flavorful but not too spicy.
- Note 4: Eggs help bind the casserole ingredients together for a firm texture.
Keywords: Mexican, spaghetti squash, casserole, ground turkey, black beans, healthy, low carb, easy dinner
