Low Carb Turkey Cheese Bake

This casserole yields a fair amount of leftovers, which is why I like to make it a few days before my busiest day. The leftovers are a quick and ready dinner for those nights I need to get out the door by 5pm.

Also, I'm actively trying to cut the amount of time I spend cooking in anticipation of warmer weather. I don't know about you, but I want to spend Spring outside and Summer at the beach, not sweating in the kitchen.

So I'm making a lot of meals that can be served again a few days later. Living a leftover life, that's me!

Anyway, this casserole bake is a twist on an old church pot luck recipe. It's comfort food without the carbs. It's also a very flexible recipe, don't be afraid to toss in veggies that are languishing in the fridge even if they aren't on the ingredient list. (Dirty secret: I put spinach in this time. Next time it might be broccoli.)

Enjoy!

Ingredients for 8-10 servings

• 1 pkg ground turkey (can, of course, substitute ground beef)
• 1 onion diced
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 cans tomato sauce (total of 15-16oz)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Veggies of your choice--I used spinach and some diced Hungarian hot peppers
• 2 cups cauliflower cooked and coarsely mashed (we're going for lumpy, not smooth) OR Carba-Nada noodles

Instructions

1.Saute onion in olive oil (along with peppers if you're using them) and add turkey.

2.Once turkey is cooked through, add tomato sauce. Stir until warm and set aside.

3.Cook noodles, if you're using them and/or prep the cauliflower. Set aside.

4.Mix sour cream and cottage cheese together and season well with salt and pepper.

Tip: Use a fairly large bowl due to step 5.

5. Combine pasta or cauliflower with the sour cream/cottage cheese mix.

6.In a 9x13 casserole dish, alternately layer meat, cheese mix, and shredded cheese.

7.Top with cheese and bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes.

Ground Turkey Moussaka: Like Lasagna Only Weirder

I don't remember which magazine gifted me with this recipe, in fact I don't even have the recipe anymore, I make it from memory, but oh! is this a gem of low carb goodness. The flavors are fantastic. The vegetables are legion and there's feta cheese.

I love feta cheese.

So this low carb casserole always makes my parts quiver.

By the way, I'm not sure why it's called a Moussaka, there's no eggplant, although I supposed you could add it in.

Nor does it have much in common with lasagna but, yet, at the same time, is just like lasagna. Weird, I know. Just trust me on this one. (You could actually take out the feta and add in some mozzarella and it really would be a noodleless lasagna.)

This also freezes well.

The only down side? The cheese components can be expensive. So look for coupons and sales. Athenos will usually have a coupon somewhere for their feta.

Oh and before I forget, if you are shopping Amazon this year, please consider using my affiliate link. Proceeds go toward replacing my Kitchen Aid mixer, which I rely on heavily due to a bum wrist. It doesn't cost you anything, I don't know who orders what or where things go or even if people clicked from this post.

Ingredients:

This makes around 10 servings, great for a crowd!

-1 package of Butterball or Jennie-O ground turkey (ground beef would work too)
-1 onion, diced
-1 tbsp garlic powder
-1 green pepper diced
-1 can red beans, drained (omit if this is a major carb sin for you)
-1 zucchini either diced or shredded on a cheese grater
-Any other veggies you think would be a good idea
-2 cans tomato paste
-1/2 cup ketchup
-1 big container of Ricotta cheese
-1 container feta cheese
-3 eggs

Instructions:

1.Saute the onions in a little oil.

2.Add the meat and garlic powder and cook.

3.Add the veggies once the meat is done.

4.Dump in the tomato paste, thin it with the juices already in the pan (or if the pan is dry, add some water).

5.Give a generous squirt of ketchup and stir to combine.

6. If there is any extra juice at this point, drain it off. You don't want the meat mix to be too wet.

7.Transfer mix to a casserole dish. My 9x13 dish is always too small so I end up using two.



8. Mix Ricotta, feta and eggs until incorporated.





9.Spread on top of meat mix.



10.Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes.